Probe Absolves ‘Multi-Millionaire?,’ Fox Says

Fox has completed an “internal review” into events that led to its national embarrassment following the broadcast of “Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?,” with an outside law firm finding there was no negligence by the network or production company, Next Entertainment.

The high-rated February sweeps special became fodder for jokes nationwide when it was revealed that a former girlfriend of the “groom”--a stand-up comic named Rick Rockwell--obtained a restraining order against him in 1991. Questions related to Rockwell’s financial status and employment history also surfaced.

Fox retained the law firm of Greenberg, Glusker, Fields, Claman & Machtinger to conduct the investigation, which determined that Next took the necessary precautions by hiring a private investigator and national search firm to handle the background check on Rockwell.

Those investigators, however, were prevented from divulging information going back more than seven years under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, which says a consumer reporting agency can’t report findings older than that except for criminal convictions. The restraining order was initially exposed by the Smoking Gun, an online news site.

“They all worked to the fullest extent within the law,” a Fox spokesman said. “There was no negligence.” Citing attorney-client privilege, the law firm said it could not discuss its conclusions.

Fox has stressed that the producers were responsible for checking out Rockwell, though Fox’s executive in charge of specials, Mike Darnell, reportedly played an active role in selecting him from among several candidates.

“We’re proud of the work we did on the show, and we’re proud of the show,” said Next’s Mike Fless, one of the show’s executive producers, reached at his office. “It’s become a cultural icon and something the television business will always remember.” Asked if he had any regrets, he declined further comment.

Rockwell’s marriage to the pageant’s “winner,” Darva Conger, was annulled last week by a Las Vegas judge. Fox has acknowledged that both Conger and Rockwell signed an agreement prior to the show saying they could annul the marriage at any time--a fact not conveyed to viewers during the live broadcast.