I’ll admit I’ve been disappointed with Fox’s treatment of its viewers this season, from the abrupt cancellation of the unsolved mystery-drama “Reunion” to the neglect of the brilliant and underappreciated “Arrested Development.” But, as always, spring brings opportunities for a fresh crop of shows that may potentially offer redemption. A few words of advice for those awaiting this coming season: don’t get your hopes up.
“The Loop,” Fox’s latest sitcom, about a 23-year-old living and working in Chicago, is supposed to document a young man’s journey into adulthood. College graduate Sam (Bret Harrison, “Grounded For Life”) is the youngest executive at a major airline. His success at the office, however, is hindered by his less-than-rewarding home life, thanks to living with slacker brother Sully (a one-note Eric Christian Olsen of “Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd”), stereotypical blonde and bartending ditz Lizzy (Sarah Mason), and longtime college pal and crush Piper (Amanda Loncar).
After the first 15 minutes, it becomes obvious that Sam’s internal battle to either “work hard” or “play hard” is won by the latter: his behavior at the office strays so far from reality that it becomes cringe-worthy. In one particular scene, he attempts to make a business presentation while hung over, shirtless, and tattooed inappropriately with Sharpie markers. Perhaps this is the writers’ attempt to satirize corporate America, but Sam’s behavior comes off as more of an insult, offensive not only to the audience (I barely cracked a smile the whole half hour) but to business executives everywhere.
The show also serves as an embarrassment to its veteran actors. Mimi Rogers (“The Door in the Floor”) plays Sam’s adulterous co-worker Meryl, whose lines range from inappropriate to tasteless, while Philip Baker Hall, often seen playing characters of great authority on shows such as “The West Wing” and “The Practice,” is reduced to making unfortunate gay-themed comments as Sam’s boss, Russ.
Hoping to eventually act as a lead-in to Fox’s still-successful junior drama “The OC,” “The Loop” can admirably be compared to Fox’s 2005 short-lived comedy “Life On A Stick” (Already forgotten it? So has everyone else). With so much potential to create new, innovative shows, it goes without saying that Fox would benefit greatly from getting off of the standard sitcom “loop” and taking more risks; maybe such creativity would win the network the respect that it’s lacking. n
“The Loop” premieres Wednesday, March 15 at 9:30 p.m. on Fox.
