ABC cancels more Adam Lambert appearances

Can a network be happily mortified?

Since then, Lambert has gone on Ellen DeGeneres's syndicated talk show and said, of his AMA performance: "I think in hindsight, I look back and I go, 'Okay, maybe that wasn't the best first impression to make.' I had fun up there. I had a good time. . . . But you know what, I respect people and I feel like people walked away from that feeling disrespected, and I would never intend to disrespect anybody. So that was not my intention."

Even so, ABC decided Lambert is now so radioactive it needs to get out of the Adam business altogether. So it's pulled his scheduled Dec. 17 appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- the ABC late-night show best known for its "I'm [shagging] Matt Damon"/"I'm [shagging] Ben Affleck" videos.

He's also been barred from performing on ABC's "New Year's Rockin' Eve" even though his old pal "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest is executive producer.

"Yes, sadly friends, ABC has cancelled my appearances on Kimmel and NYE. :(" Lambert tweeted Thursday, adding, "Don't blame them. It's the FCC heat."

We called the Federal Communications Commission to ask about Lambert's AMA performance. A spokesman could not say how many complaints have been received about the incident.

Of course, FCC indecency regs do not apply to late-night TV -- or, for that matter, the 10:55 p.m. spot when Lambert gave his now-infamous AMA performance.

But ABC is not out of the Adam Lambert business altogether. He's still scheduled to be among those 10 Most Fascinating People that Babs Walters cozies up to in her annual taped special, airing Wednesday.

Unless, of course, that broadcast becomes the season finale of "Sanctimoniously Dumping Adam Lambert."