(FORTUNE Magazine) – For better or worse, nobody does reality TV like Fox. After floundering last year, the network is now thriving, thanks to such addictions as American Idol and Joe Millionaire, whose finale was the highest-rated nonsports show in Fox history. (We also can thank Fox for Man vs. Beast, but that's another story.) We sat down with Fox Entertainment president Gail Berman, 46, a former Broadway producer, to get the real story on the granddaddy of reality, the death of the sitcom, and prime-time marriages. --Alynda Wheat

Q: Fox seems to be the home of reality TV. Why is that?

A: Reality television has always been a part of Fox. If you look at the origins of the network, there are shows like Cops and America's Most Wanted. Lately we've had some clever ideas. As for American Idol, it was a phenomenon that could never have been anticipated. We just got lucky.

Q: What was your reaction when you heard the pitch for Joe Millionaire?

A: We'd done a lot of relationship reality shows, dating back to Temptation Island [2001]. But this was one of those ideas where your jaw drops and you go, "Wow, that's a real one!"

Q: Why do shows like Joe Millionaire have such short seasons?

A: They burn bright, and they burn fast. You don't want to overstay your welcome.

Q: A big criticism of reality TV is that it panders to base instincts. What's your response?

A: I just don't agree. The people turning to reality television represent a cross section of America, including the most desirable segment of the advertiser population: $75,000-plus-income households. Civilization as we know it will survive reality TV.

Q: Will sitcom writers survive?

A: TV is a cyclical business. We read that the drama was dead several years ago. We've read that the sitcom is dead many times. Reality TV is popular now, but somebody will break through with a scripted program again. We're trying to use reality programming to help our scripted programming. For example, the American Idol performance show leads into 24 and the American Idol results show leads into the Bernie Mac Show.

Q: Which show on another network do you wish Fox had?

A: Survivor. That's the granddaddy of this form, and it allowed a scripted show [CSI] to grow on its back.

Q: So tell us about your next big launch, Married by America. You're really going to have the American public fix up five strangers and marry them off on air?

A: With the divorce rate as high as it is, how much worse can we do? The interesting part is how available the contestant pool has been. A lot of people have thrown up their hands and said, "Let me try this."