Out of the mouths of Foamation babes and cartoon characters is coming language you never thought you would hear on TV. But some networks are counting on words and actions never tolerated in human actors to salvage slumping ratings.

Both Fox and UPN have seen their slates of new shows decimated by viewer disinterest, with Fox canceling all but one of the comedies it debuted in September and UPN notching some of the lowest ratings in TV history for its new half-hour sitcoms.

Both networks need a bracing shot of cheap, attention-getting programing - fast. So it's no coincidence that Fox has three animated projects on its schedule this spring: Eddie Murphy's controversial new "Foamation" project, The PJs (which made its debut Sunday and airs at 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays), 25-year-old creator Seth MacFarlane's Family Guy (bowing Jan. 31, after the Super Bowl) and Futurama, a new show from The Simpsons creator Matt Groening (airing in March).