ABC rebounds from giving Adam Lambert the heave-ho

In the latest episode of its new reality series "Sanctimoniously Dumping Adam Lambert," ABC has announced he will, in fact, perform on its airwaves again.

Lambert is scheduled to sing on the network's daytime yakker "The View" on Thursday. That's the day after Lambert talks with Babs Walters on ABC'S "10 Most Fascinating People of 2009."

Only, unlike three other planned Lambert performances that ABC has canceled in recent days, this week's performance was taped in advance.

This gives ABC time to surgically remove any naughty bits.

During her also pre-taped "Fascinating People" chat with Lambert, Babs is expected to scold the "American Idol" runner-up, and he will again express his regret for having ambushed the network with his performance at the American Music Awards. (This according to someone close to the show who asked to remain anonymous because he wasn't authorized to speak -- and vet bills are expensive these days.)

In the course of that interview, Babs suggested that the second Station of the Cross should be that Lambert perform on her talk show "The View" to demonstrate he can behave -- except, of course, it's taped. But "The View" will do a big number Thursday. Clever Babs.

Last week ABC dumped the "American Idol" runner-up from not one but two of its programs: "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and its "New Year's Rockin' Eve." This was somewhat surprising since both air late at night, and the Federal Communications Commission pulls in its Decency fangs at 10 p.m.

Those cancellations came on the heels of ABC's decision to scotch Lambert's scheduled performance on its morning infotainment show "Good Morning America" after he handed ABC the American Music Awards' biggest audience in seven years with his much-buzzed-about show-closing performance of his new tune "For Your Entertainment."

Disney-owned ABC was fine with the tune's "Imma hurt you real good baby . . . Imma hold ya down until you're amazed, give it to ya til you're screamin' my name" lyrics. Ditto Lambert leash-walking guys on all fours, and those chicks lounging around in various states of skeevitude.

But ABC drew the line at Lambert kissing a guy, which, the network pointed out, was not in the script.

Likewise, ABC took a dim view of some unscripted choreography in which a male dancer appeared to shove his face in Lambert's crotch.

In ABC's defense, while Lambert's exhausting performance aired at 10:55 p.m. on the East Coast, it appeared at 9:55 p.m. in flyover country.