One Less Turkey on the Table -- Thankfully!

In what must rank as one of FOX's better decisions so far this season, the O.J. Simpson special "If I Did It" has, after considerable public outcry, been consigned to the ash-heap where it belonged.

Rupert Murdoch, chair of FOX's parent entity News Corp., announced, "I and senior management agree with the American public that this was an ill-considered project." Awfully decent of you to say so, Rupe! The intended sweeps special had to qualify as one of the all-time worst concepts in programming for any network. It was not merely tasteless, it was repugnant.

Kudos to the many FOX affiliates who flatly refused to air the program. It's refreshing to know there are still folks who hold to standards beyond just the bottom line.

FOX Right Wing? It Ain't So

For two weeks in a row, FOX has aired an anti-military episode of THE SIMPSONS.

Last week, the producers of the show used Treehouse of Horror regulars Kang and Kodos to comment on the war in Iraq.

This week, the skewering was courtesy Keifer Sutherland's guest appearance.

Last week, SIMPSONS' message was particularly noticeable because the episode was followed by an episode of AMERICAN DAD that tweaked the Republican stand against gay marriage and a FAMILY GUY episode that saw Stewie and Brian enlist, only to become stationed in Iraq.

Last week's three episode mini-theme aired two days before a national election that lurched the nation to the left.

This week's tweaking of the military aired on Veteran's Day weekend.

The next time you think FOX's parent company, Newscorp, is conservative - think again.

When it comes to FOX, Rupert Murdoch is an equal opportunity offender.

FOX Premieres Tank

*Glossary note: 1 share point equals 1% of the viewers watching at any one time.

Imagine the chagrin in the Suits' offices Thursday when they saw the big fat 4 share THE RICH LIST posted Wednesday night. MEDIA LIFE MAGAZINE says it's the single worst debut of any new show this season. It may be the most popular game show in England, but in the U.S., it's a one hit wonder. THE RICH LIST has been de-listed. If you saw it, congrats - you've seen every episode ever aired in America.

On Thursday, the news at FOX got worse.

'TIL DEATH returned from the baseball break to a 4 share. HAPPY HOUR dropped off to a 3 share. The bleeding continued when THE O.C. returned to a paltry 3 share as well. THE O.C. has lost 50% of its audience base since last year's September debut. Ouch.

The solution to the bleeding? Run more O.C. apparently. THE RICH LIST has been replaced with a new episode of THE O.C. this week.

(If no one watched THE O.C. last week, what makes anyone think America will tune in for the second episode on a different night? How are the 97% of Americans who didn't watch it Thursday supposed to understand what's going on?)

HAPPY HOUR has also been canned - and replaced with encores of 'TIL DEATH. Presto! It's a 33% improvement for the time period!

What's gone wrong at FOX? The fixes aren't working, and it's a long haul until the return of AMERICAN IDOL and 24.

I had every expectation FOX was eventually going to win the season in their beloved 18-49 demographic. Now, I ain't so sure.