Doug Herzog, president of entertainment at the Fox television network, is leaving his post only a year into his tenure.
    The announcement comes at a critical time for the network as it struggles with a schedule of aging hits and newer flops while trying to shed an unsavory public image.
    Herzog came to Fox last January after achieving great success as the head of the cable channel Comedy Central.
    He suffered an indignity in November, when Sandy Grushow was named chairman of the Fox Television Entertainment Group.
    Grushow's new title gave him authority over the network as well as 20^th Century Fox Television studio, relegating Herzog to a secondary position.
    Grushow had been entertainment president from 1992 to 1994, a period when the network’s identity as a source of truly original programming was forged with such hits as "Melrose Place" and "Party of Five." 
    Herzog had presided over the extremely disappointing launch of the 1999-2000 season, during which such highly-hyped shows as the Hollywood send-up "Action" and "Ally," the half-hour repackaging of "Ally McBeal," fell flat. Of all the new series, not one was a hit.
    Apparently interpreting Grushow’s appointment as a vote of no confidence from his bosses, Herzog has reportedly been casting around for new job offers for some time now. Since resigning he has expressed his interest in finding a position in new media, with one report holding that he is considering an offer from pop.com.
    Inevitably, Herzog also caught some of the fallout from "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?," the special which, though it produced sky-high ratings, provoked widespread contempt from critics and viewers alike, especially once the groom’s shady background came to light.
    This despite the fact that Herzog, along with Grushow, had repeatedly publicly disavowed such reality programming and promised to wean the network off it.
    That has proved a difficult promise to keep, as Herzog has had to deal with an increasingly problematic lineup. With surefire hits such as "Beverly Hills 90210," "Party of Five" and "The X-Files" drawing to a close, the network has been tempted more and more by the "ratings crack" of reality shows like "When Animals Attack" and "Busted on the Job."
    However, there are signs of life: Both "Malcolm in the Middle" and "Titus," two offbeat new sitcoms crafted in the Fox mold, are looking to be mid-season hits. Herzog has told reporters that he considers "Malcolm" his legacy.
    Reportedly being considered for Herzog’s job is Gail Berman, president of Regency Television, the production company behind both "Malcolm" and the WB’s "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

-Dave Lindorff is a staff writer for Media Life.

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