Cheat Wave

Were participants encouraged to cheat or seduce? ''Absolutely not,'' says Cowan. ''We did not direct them or incentivize them in any way to go out, seduce, or break anybody up.'' However, he does note that islanders received a stipend of about $1,500.

How did a couple manage to hide a baby? The producers, who learned of the child after taping began and ousted them as part of the show, blame the parents. ''The screening process is basically going off of what they put on their applications,'' says Cowan. ''If you don't know it's there, there's no reason to look for it.'' But security firms specializing in background checks say a thorough screening should have found any kiddies -- and would have cost around $500 per person. ''If they had spent enough money...of course they would have found out -- especially in the case of a show which has major exposure,'' says Peter Assisi of Los Angeles Private Investigation.

Were islanders tested for diseases? Everyone was tested for, among other things, AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis, and malaria. ''When you're dealing with a show whose concept has the potential for intimacy, you're doing the responsible thing by making sure everybody is healthy,'' says Cowan. And, yes, condoms were available.

What about the reports that no one actually had sex? Cowan's lips are sealed. ''Take everything you read with a grain of salt,'' he says. ''The truth is, few people get it correct. Like Gervase won 'Survivor.'''

What's the prize? A free, all inclusive two week vacation worth about $2,400 per person, plus airfare. Other than that, the tempters -- many of whom are aspiring actors, models, and artists -- get, well, exposure.

Are those their real names: Dano, Ace, Maceo? C'mon. Except for Ace (whose real name is Aton) the singles' monikers are all authentic. Even Maceo.

Why the heck doesn't host Mark L. Walberg change his name? ''If I did, all the people I went to high school with wouldn't know that I made it,'' says Walberg. ''If you gotta share a name, at least it's with somebody who's got a lot of talent.'' We're sure Marky Mark would agree.