When it launched last spring (as an absurd companion to the critically hailed "Wonderfalls"), FOX's "Playing it Straight" failed dismally. Only 3.94 million viewers tuned in for each of the show's first three episodes before FOX pulled the show from the air. Fans of the gaydar melodrama and this fall's equally unsuccessful reality spoof "My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss" will be able to catch up on all of the action when FOX makes the unaired episodes of both series available on the network's website.

Viewers can hardly be blamed for forgetting the saga of Jackie, a Wisconsin student who put her gaydar to the test to try to select a heterosexual mate from a dating show field that included a number of gay guys masquerading as straight. If Jackie chose a straight guy, they split a million dollars. If she picked a gay guy, he got the million to himself.

At the time, nobody cared. Now, though, FOX thinks that there will be demand to distribute the show on a pay-per-view platform starting on Monday, Jan. 17. If you think it's odd that FOX would be charging fans for a show that virtually nobody was willing to watch when it was on for free, there's an extra twist: FOX has already made the complete results of the show available on its website.

Don't read any farther if you want to pay for the surprise, but FOX announced that Jackie selected Banks, a straight guy. Not only did the duo pocket the loot, but as of the middle of the summer, they were still together as a couple.

FOX's press release on the "Playing it Straight" availability makes no mention of how much the formerly free entertainment will now cost.

Episodes of "Boss" will, reportedly, be a more financially feasible proposition. Some time in the near future, the final episodes of that series, including the reveal of the show's mystery boss and the winner of the $250,000, can be downloaded for free. FOX pulled "Boss" after five episodes, which averaged barely more than 4 million viewers and replaced it with repeats of "Family Guy."

Although viewers will now finally be able to see the conclusions of those not-so-favorites, there appear to be no plans to provide resolution for "Forever Eden."