• by January 19, 2001

(broadcastingcable.com) - "Temptation Island" kept Fox flying on Wednesday night, taking its third straight primetime of the week. The new reality show topped its own debut, drawing 17.6 million viewers with a 9.6 rating, 23 share among adults 18-49 in national Nielsen numbers. Fox Television, however, said it would stop airing promos for Temptation Island during "The Simpsons," "Malcolm in the Middle" and the two other family-oriented shows in the Fox lineup.

Fox officials decided to kill promos during those shows after FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani complained that that the ads violated the spirit of Fox's promise not to accept advertising for R-rated movies.

"Many American parents have contacted me regarding the airing of promotional advertisements," Tristani wrote in a letter Wednesday to Rupert Murdoch, chairman of Fox parent News Corp. "They complain that their children should not be exposed to advertisements for programming that is inappropriate for children."

Fox officials said future promos will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Fox's other family shows are "King of the Hill" and "Futurama."

Also this week, "Grounded for Life" hit a 6.1/16. So Fox averaged a 7.7/19 among 18-49ers, while NBC edged it out in total viewers, 14.9 million to 14.4 million. A "West Wing" repeat scored a 5.1/12 against "Temptation," following the strongest showing by replanted "Ed" (5.2/14) since October. "Law & Order" scored a 7.2/18, drawing 18 million viewers.

ABC's "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?" drew 20.7 million viewers. But "Drew Carey" and "Spin City" only drew a 5.6/14 and a 5.0/12, respectively, against "Temptation."

Meanwhile, "Bette" bombed with its lowest number of its rookie year, a 2.2/6, drawing less than 6.6 million viewers.