When “Nip/Tuck” burst on the scene five seasons ago, I was firmly planted in its rooting section, applauding the show’s brazen, in-your-face attitude and its willingness to examine America’s troubling obsession with body image. It was timely, it was provocative and it was immensely entertaining.

But eventually the plastic surgery drama evolved into a grotesque freak show, becoming self-consciously over-the-top and plagued with ridiculous plotlines and tiresome characters completely divorced from reality.

If any show needed a change of scenery it was “Nip/Tuck” and it gets one tonight when Sean(Dylan Walsh) and Christian (Julian McMahon) flee Miami to set up shop in star-studded Beverly Hills. The makeover doesn’t automatically absolve “Nip/Tuck” of all its creative sins (our memories aren’t that short), but at least over the first couple of episodes it gives the show a welcome jolt of energy and revives its breezy sense of humor.

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Ah, you gotta love the Fox network. Not so much for their shows (although they do have some good ones), but for the all-out effort they put into the press tour.

Fox’s spot on the tour schedule was a case of perfect timing. Just as most of us were dragging and everything was starting to become a boring blur, they arrived to shake things up with their offbeat presentations, and a DJ (named The Angel), great snacks and, yes, a special happy hour (at 9:45 in the morning!).

The creativity continued through the network’s two-day tour stop, culminating with a party out on the expansive lawn behind the Ritz, complete with white tent cabanas, misters and big fans (to ward off the heat). Then there was the ice cream bar from Stone Cold Creamery and a team of masseuses offering chair massages. (Of course I had one, are you kidding?).

Even the final press conference of the Fox tour was a breath of fresh air. Actually, it was presented by Fox’s sibling, FX, to promote the upcoming fourth season of “Nip/Tuck.” Now, toward the end of the tour, most press conferences start to take on that Charlie Brown ‘blah-blah-blah” sound. But with “Nip/Tuck,” you just know you’re going to get something offbeat and peculiar.

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