Fox execs are vowing to move even further away from the reality genre following the eruption of a major scandal surrounding last week's high-rated but much-lambasted spec "Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire?"
As a short-term measure in response to the revelation that the groom from last week's spec had a restraining order issued against him in 1991, a network spokesman confirmed Monday that the net has dropped tentative plans for a "Millionaire" sequel in development for the May sweeps.
Fox has also nixed tonight's condensed one-hour rebroadcast of the spec, as well as the possibility of a "Multimillionaire" follow-up at any time in the future, the rep added.
Longer-range, Fox insiders said Mike Darnell, the net's exec VP of specs and alternative programming, will be under an increasing mandate to come up with aud-grabbing fare that stays within socially acceptable parameters.
Ironically, Fox's "Multimillionaire" spec was supposed to rep just such a departure from the net's previous reality-based M.O., which included notorious hours such as "When Animals Attack" and various caught-on-tape specs.
Instead, last Tuesday's spec ended up causing more headaches than any previous offering from the web. It did score in the ratings, however, attracting nearly 23 million viewers and helping Fox win the night with adults 18-49, according to Nielsen.
Decision to pull the plug on more "Multimillionaire" follows the disclosure Saturday that Rick Rockwell, the standup comic/millionaire at the center of last week's spec, was accused of hitting and threatening to kill ex-g.f. Debbie Goyne in 1991. A Los Angeles judge ordered Rockwell to stay away from Goyne for at least six months.
Rockwell was never formally charged with any crime, and on Monday he denied hitting Goyne.
"At no time have I ever struck any of my girlfriends, ever, for any reason," Rockwell, 42, told KGTV outside his home in Encinitas.
"I don't condone it under any circumstances. It goes against my core beliefs and I was not raised that way," he said. "You know, relationships have ups and downs, but getting physical for me is not an option."
Rockwell and bride Darva Conger returned from their honeymoon Monday, but are still living in separate houses.
Fox execs found out about Rockwell's past Sunday after the New York Post reported the existence of legal documentation of the 1991 restraining order. Web site the Smoking Gun posted a copy of the two-page order Saturday.
Fox Television Entertainment Group topper Sandy Grushow then quickly pulled the hastily skedded rebroadcast of the "Multimillionaire" spec. A repeat edition of "TV Guide's Truth Behind the Sitcom Scandals" will air tonight at 8 instead.
A broadcast date for "World's Sexiest Commercials," which Fox had planned to air in the slot before the boffo Nielsen's for last week's spec came in, has not been determined. Industry insiders said the net wasn't happy with the creative content of the "Commercials" spec.
Basic format of "Multimillionaire" had a mysterious mogul -- Rockwell -- choosing a bride from an assembled group of single women. After he made his choice, the two were wed on the spot.
In addition to the accusations of abuse, questions have also been raised about Rockwell's real net worth. Fox officials insist he's worth at least $2 million.
For the past year, Fox programmers have been actively trying to move away from what they've termed the "heroin" of reality specs such as "When Animals Attack." While such fare provides a short-term ratings boost -- particularly needed when a fall sked collapses, as Fox's did this season -- Fox execs believe it's also weakened the net's brand identity as a home to daring and unique scripted entertainment skeins.
Fox's effort to kick the reality habit pushed into high gear last month when Grushow emphatically stated that the net would no longer produce original segs of boundary-pushing shows like "When Animals Attack" and would instead move to entertainment-based reality specs such as "Multimillionaire." In light of this weekend's scandal, insiders said Darnell will have no choice but to prove he can "expand his repertoire."
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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