The latest on ''Dark Angel'' and more

In TV land, summer is really the time to sweat: It’s when the networks gather to show off their new and returning series. With some controversial time changes, gross-out humor, and big-screen talent like Diane Keaton and James Marsden (”X-Men”), Fox’s lineup is ready for your inspection. Here’s the latest on the upstart network’s plans for fall.

”Dark Angel”
The sci-fi action series kicks off its second season on September 21, but star Jessica Alba has more to worry about than wiping the floor with evil government agents this year. She’s been bumped to a new time slot, Fridays at 8 p.m. ”I don’t know if the time will be a plus or a minus,” says executive producer James Cameron (”Titanic”). ”The show owns the narrow demographic of 18 to 24 year olds, which would be most hurt at that time, but does that mean we have access to kids that might have gone to bed by 9 p.m. on a Tuesday? I don’t know.”

If the preteen set doesn’t tune in, it could be a pricey mistake for Fox. Even with one of the heftiest budgets in the history of the network (each episode reportedly costs $2.3 million), the series still struggled to stay within its budget last season. But Cameron, who says the show is now fiscally fine thanks to some retooling behind the scenes, believes a new slant will draw in the sci-fi faithful. ”We’re not going to put in time travel and intelligent computers and things like that because the show really isn’t about technology.” Fans can expect Max’s genetic freakishness to be revealed to disastrous results. ”In the past, she always felt alienated but nobody knew it,” says Cameron. ”Now they will.”

And as for all that offscreen mushy love stuff between newly engaged costars Michael Weatherly, 33, and Alba, 20, Cameron’s only worried about how to keep the sparks flying on screen. ”If people feel the relationship is resolved, interest is going to wane,” he says. ”So we’re going to put the relationship under siege with obstacles great and small.” And you thought their age difference alone was enough of a problem.

”Ally McBeal”
It’s official: Marsden — also know as ”X” guy Cyclops — will join ”Ally”’s constantly rotating cast. No word on which of his leading ladies the actor will woo first, but Marsden’s trying to keep an open mind. ”I want to be dating all of the women on the show at the same time and not have any of them know it,” he says. And what song would he like to croon with Vonda Shepard at the bar? ”The Macarena,” he jokes. Be careful what you wish for, pal.

”Malcolm in the Middle”
Star Frankie Muniz may be ready for the November 4 third season premiere of the hit sitcom, but he isn’t so sure about showing up for the Emmy Awards in September. ”It’s awesome, but I don’t know what they were thinking,” says Muniz, 15, who’s nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy. ”I shouldn’t even go. I’m no use there.” If he wins, he won’t be bringing crib notes to the podium. ”I hate when people take out pieces of paper. It’s so cheesy! It’s like, ‘Oh yeah, I knew I was going to win so I wrote this down.’ When I win something, I just go up there and say whatever I say.” Any hints on the new season? ”All I know is in the first episode we’re filming on a houseboat and I catch a fish. I don’t know if I fall in the water or anything.” Better make that sunscreen the waterproof kind.

”Titus”
The sitcom moves from Tuesday nights to Wednesdays at 9 p.m. against such stiff competition as the ”The West Wing” and ”The Drew Carey Show.” ”It’s one of those things,” sighs creator/star Chris Titus. ”Death, taxes, network programming. What are you going to do?” Titus is striking back with material that’s sure to be an equal opportunity offender. Not only will Rachel Roth (”Grounded for Life”) join the cast as the hero’s 15-year-old, drug dealing, sexually molested niece, Phyllis Diller is set to star as Titus’ grandmother, a retired schoolteacher who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. ”She goes back to her old school and flips out,” says Titus. ”We find her in the boys’ locker room, naked. Which may not sound funny, but it really was.” Ohhh-kay.

”The Tick”
Though the big blue bug wiped out as an animated show after three seasons in 1996, Fox is bringing him back as a live-action series on Thursday nights starring Patrick Warburton (Puddy on ”Seinfeld”) and Nestor Carbonell (”Suddenly Susan”). Carbonell, who played hot-blooded photographer Luis Rivera on ”Susan,” will be revving up his Latin accent as Bat Manuel, a fame-hungry superhero in saucy leopard print pants. ”I’m taking the piss out of Latin stereotypes,” he says. ”It was a reservation of mine to do another accent, but as I read the script, I said, ‘I don’t care, I’m doing this show.”’ But does he have any reservations about going up against surefire ratings powerhouse ”Survivor” 3? ”We’re gonna kick Mark Burnett’s ass, so Jeff Probst can start looking for another show right now,” he jokes. ”It’s a done deal.”

”Pasadena”
It wouldn’t be a fall TV preview without talk of panicked, last-minute reshoots, and this year ”Pasadena” (Fridays at 9 p.m.) is the latest to get a quick, well-publicized overhaul. Directed by Diane Keaton and created by Mike White (”Chuck & Buck”), the pilot introduces a wealthy and powerful family that’s torn apart by scandal after a stranger commits suicide in their home. However, several scenes are being redone to emphasize the dark tone of the material, and that’s just fine with star Natasha Gregson Wagner (”Two Girls and a Guy”). ”We’re fans of dark and creepy,” she says.