EYE INFECTION MAKES ABDUL AN OPTICAL EXCLUSION FOR TV CRITICS.

Byline: David Kronke Television Writer

The controversy that would not die rose from a simmer to a boil Tuesday at the Television Critics Association's semiannual press tour in Pasadena, exacerbated by a conveniently timed eye infection.

``American Idol'' judge Paula Abdul, who came under attack last season due to allegations of an improper relationship with Corey Clark, a contestant from season two, was a last-minute no-show at ``Idol's'' press conference. She was at the eye doctor, reporters were told, though she looked to be in fine condition during her appearance Monday on ``The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.''

Fellow judge Simon Cowell mirrored the level of concern among the press when he joked of Abdul's eye, ``It fell out.''

Earlier, Fox Broadcasting Co. Entertainment president Peter Liguori, who took the job last year, long after the incident was said to have occurred, declared that an ``extremely thorough investigation'' found that Clark's claims were ``unsubstantiated.''

``We stand behind those findings,'' Liguori said. ``There was no need for any action on our part. We clarified and reclarified our position on fraternization.''

``Idol's'' executive producers refused to comment further on the matter. ``The rules are the same as they've always been,'' said Nigel Lythgoe. ``No fraternization between judges and contestants.''

Reporters remained skeptical. One, speaking of a bizarre contestant who appeared on Tuesday's season premiere, pointedly noted, ``He wasn't accused of anything so he didn't get an eye infection,'' while another spoke of ``whatever credibility you have left.''

``Last year, there was so much controversy - I love the controversy,'' Cowell said, wandering off script. ``I hope there's more.''

Producers did suggest that this year's contestants are a bit more contentious than in previous years, when they appeared to be big happy families on the show. Cowell says that's never been true.

``Ask Carrie (Underwood, last year's winner) how many congratulatory e-mails she received from the other contestants,'' Cowell said. ``I like (the friction) because they've entered the show because they want to win. They hate each other.''

Another controversy may be brewing over the fact that first-season winner Kelly Clarkson has apparently declined to allow her music to be played on the show, although producers admitted this particular roundelay may be a simple case of innocent miscommunication between Clarkson and her managers.

Which didn't stop Cowell from scolding Clarkson: ``If you're ignoring the show, you're ignoring the people who put you there, which is the audience,'' he stated flatly.

LAME-DUCK SITCOMS: Meanwhile, sitcoms are dropping like flies at Fox, which announced Tuesday that series finales of former hits ``Malcolm in the Middle'' and ``That '70s Show'' will air at the end of this season.

Add to that ``Arrested Development,'' which Fox appears to be giving something less than a Viking funeral by airing its final four episodes on Feb. 10 - opposite the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. Nonetheless, Liguori said he has not definitely canceled the series. (ABC and Showtime are said to be interested in reviving it when Fox does pull the plug.)

Moreover, long-running animated series ``King of the Hill'' has not been in production all season (the series had enough stored up to run through 2005-06) and seems unlikely to return, though again, Liguori said no final verdict has been reached. ``The Bernie Mac Show'' likewise has lost a lot of viewers, but Liguori offered hopefully, ``Creatively, we feel the show is strong.'' Critics forgot to ask about ``Stacked,'' starring Pamela Anderson, but maybe they're hoping Liguori will, too (it's not on the March schedule).

Liguori said the success of the network's development of new series for the 2006 season will decide the fates of sitcoms on the bubble. ``It's daunting'' to create a successful new comedy, Liguori said, ``but you're always one great show from turning that around.''

The network introduced two new comedies on Tuesday that will premiere in March: ``The Loop,'' about 20-something friends in Chicago, and ``Free Ride,'' a partially improvised comedy about a boomerang kid forced to return to live with his parents in his small-town Midwestern home after enjoying the good life at UC Santa Barbara.

David Kronke, [phone]

david.kronke(at)dailynews.com

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``American Idol's'' surly judge Simon Cowell says he's hoping for even more controversy in the coming season.