Fox TV Executives Promise to Drop the Mayhem Genre

Viewers have seen the last of so-called shockumentary specials such as “When Animals Attack” and “When Good Pets Go Bad” on Fox, executives said Tuesday, reiterating that the network is undergoing a withdrawal from a genre that, they say, took a toll on its image.

Top Fox executives made their pledge at a semi-annual gathering of TV reporters in Pasadena. They were then peppered with questions about their commitment to ending the network’s reliance on programs that specialize in video of real-life mayhem, which have often generated high ratings but not much enthusiasm among critics and advertisers.

Recently installed Fox Television Group Chairman Sandy Grushow said the low-brow image of such specials “diminishes us in the eyes of our audience,” promising Fox would never again consider such a stunt as crashing a jet plane in the Mojave desert, as had been discussed.

“I, personally, would rather fail with quality than succeed with garbage,” he said.

Fox has already taken some steps in this direction. In November, the network pulled the plug at the last minute--after TV Guide ads had run--on “Celebrities Out of Control,” and Grushow indicated some other specials that have been ordered will not be broadcast.

Still, establishing these standards remains a work in progress. Fox Entertainment Group President Doug Herzog defended motorcycle daredevil Robbie Knievel’s live jumps, for example, maintaining they are no different than the sort of death-defying acts one might see at the circus.

Regarding the emphasis on quality, Fox rolled out the usual roster of impressive names developing programs for the network. They include a deal with Michael Crichton--the novelist responsible for such mega-hits as “Jurassic Park” and NBC’s “ER”--to create an as-yet unspecified dramatic series for next season through Michael Ovitz’s Artists Television Group.

Fox has also secured a first-look relationship with David E. Kelley--the Emmy-winning creator of “The Practice” and “Ally McBeal”--on his future series. The network’s drama from “Titanic” director James Cameron, a once-delayed sci-fi concept titled “Dark Angel,” is now being targeted to next fall.

Fox officials freely acknowledge the network has struggled this season, canceling most of its new series. “We had a bad fall,” Herzog quipped. “Not like Sofia Coppola in ‘Godfather III’ bad, but really bad.”

That’s one reason, Grushow said, the network is discussing whether to extend the aging “Beverly Hills, 90210” at least through the summer--and possibly into next season--with more original episodes.

“We’ve got to try to buy ourselves a little bit of time,” he said.

Fox only has about a month, meanwhile, to determine if there will be an eighth season of “The X-Files,” as negotiations continue with Carter and star David Duchovny regarding an additional year. A decision must be made soon so Carter can try, if necessary, to wrap up the show.

Grushow described the odds as “no better than 50-50 the show would be back, adding that it’s up to Carter whether he would be willing to proceed if terms can’t be reached with Duchovny, who has a lawsuit pending against Fox over profits from the series. Co-star Gillian Anderson previously signed to do an eighth year, and though she has expressed a possible desire to quit as well, Grushow said, “Talent expects us to honor our deals, and we expect talent to honor theirs.”