In an unconventional move, FOX has decided to schedule the series finale of "Paradise Hotel" for the week of September 24, 2003 -- the same week that most other television networks are launching their new Fall 2003 schedules.
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According to TV Week, the decision is part of the network's new strategy of dealing with its October Major League Baseball playoff schedule commitments -- an event that has had a disastrous impact on the FOX Fall slate in previous seasons. "We're making some changes to how we end the summer this year," Fox Entertainment President Gail Berman said. "Both 'Paradise Hotel' and 'Temptation Island' are scheduled to conclude during the traditional 'Premiere Week'-just before we begin to cover the baseball playoffs and World Series. We hope to use these big finales to our advantage, keeping us competitive at a time when everyone else is launching their new series."
Although unconfirmed by FOX, assuming the "Paradise Hotel" finale retains the series' normal Wednesday timeslot, the program will conclude on Wednesday, September 24. That would result in it airing up against ABC's two hour premiere of the fourth edition of its "The Bachelor" series. Similarly the "Temptation Island 3" finale will air on Thursday, September 25, versus the premiere CBS' powerhouse "CSI" program. Good luck FOX... something makes us think you're going to need it.
Meanwhile, in related finale news, there's still no word on exactly what the "Paradise Hotel" winner will be winning... there's a shocker. Not.