The Moment of Truth: FOX Losing Confidence in Lie Detector Show?

Strange as it may seem, FOX’s The Moment of Truth became the surprise hit of the 2007-08 midseason schedule. Though many audience members are made uncomfortable by the tabloid-like competition, the reality series consistently performed in the ratings. The American Idol lead-in was certainly a large contributing factor to the show’s viewership, Truth held onto more viewers than many of the network’s previous attempts.

The ratings for Truth started off at 23 million, ranking third for the week. A very impressive start but viewership declined quickly, reaching a low of 8.6 million. The ratings have naturally fallen lower in the Summer months but many believe that audiences are losing interest in the series.

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Truth was renewed for a second season and was set to return on September 4th with a two-hour episode. FOX has now pushed Truth’s return back to mid-season, replacing it with yet another game show, one called Hole in the Wall. The premise for Hole (hard as it may be to believe) is that contestants must quickly contort themselves to fit through strangely shaped holes in a moving wall.

With the series’ decline in ratings, it’s likely that Truth wouldn’t have performed very well on the competitive Thursday night schedule this Fall. FOX is likely hoping that viewers just need a break from the series and will start watching again when it returns in early 2009.

If the ratings don’t rise, with or without the advantage of an Idol lead-in, it’s likely that Truth won’t stick around very long and surely won’t be renewed for a third season. Stay tuned!