Fox drops more stealth bombs

Fox is premiering a couple more "reality" shows this week and, as seems to be the network's policy, it didn't make them available to critics to review.

For one simple reason — Fox execs know the shows are bad and will get beaten up by critics. They won't admit that, but that's the truth.

Why anyone at Fox is afraid of the critics I can't fathom. After all, most critics (including yours truly) hate "The Swan" and "Trading Spouses," but those shows have done relatively well in the ratings.

The next time you're tempted to ask why such junk is on TV, remind yourself that it's because so many people watch it.

Fox's new series — scheduled for limited runs — are:

The Complex: Malibu (7 p.m., Ch. 13) is sort of a competitive "Trading Spaces" and is far from a new idea. Fox tells us it's "inspired by Australia's smash-hit show 'The Block,' " but it's the same concept we saw last year on TBS's "House Rules" and USA's "House Wars."

Not that anybody would ever accuse Fox of stealing ideas for reality shows or anything.

Anyway, "The Complex" features eight couples who remodel four units at a cliffside complex, putting their "construction, interior design and, most importantly, their relationship skills to the test with a large cash prize on the line."

In tonight's two-hour premiere, the couples work on master bedrooms, and one duo is eliminated.

Been there, seen that.

"The Complex" moves to its regular one-hour time slot on Friday at 7 p.m.

On Wednesday, it's the two-hour premiere of Renovate My Family (7 p.m., Ch. 13), featuring Jay McGraw (riding the coattails of his father, Dr. Phil) on a "life-improvement program."

In the premiere, a "full-force makeover team" goes to the home of the Biggins family (veterans of "Trading Spouses") and completely demolishes the place, rebuilding it "from foundation to rooftop."

Any similarities to ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" are purely coincidental, I'm sure.

It's more than just the house that will get made over, however. We're promised that issues ranging from obesity to physical disabilities to car trouble to problem pets will be addressed.

"Renovate My Family" moves to its regular one-hour time slot on Monday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m.

Between the two, we're going to get a two-hour "special edition" of Fox's lamentable Trading Spouses, this one subtitled "Meet Your New Daddy."

(Lest you think Fox is trying to move away from ripping off ABC's forthcoming "Wife Swap," that network has already announced its plans for "Husband Swap" and "Family Swap," which Fox will no doubt rip off as well.)