How little respect does Fox have for "The Loop"? It's bad enough that the network held the show to burn off in June, but after announcing a June 10 premiere date, the network moved it up to June 5 and then back to June 10 (until they change it again, the season premiere is set for 8:30 p.m. Sunday with another episode at 9:30 p.m. Sunday). Jerking it around this much, it's clear Fox execs don't care if viewers watch and have no faith in the show. And star Bret Harrison has already moved on to star in The CW's "Reaper" in the fall.
Robert Sebree/Fox
Bret Harrison stars as Sam in "The Loop."
After season one of the delightfully loopy "The Loop," I was disappointed by Fox's handling of the show. Then I watched three episodes from the new season and all became clear. The show is no longer worth saving.
To say the first season had a certain innocence would be stretching the word "innocence" beyond recognition, but there was a sweetness about the show and its lead character even though it was over the top. In season two, it's beyond over-the-top.
Producers wisely, if ham-fistedly, ditched the at-home half of the show (along with two female cast members, including Sam's love interest, whose disappearance isn't mentioned) to concentrate on Sam (Harrison) in his job at TransAlliance Airways where he's constantly belittled and humiliated by bosses Russ (Philip Baker Hall) and Meryl (Mimi Rogers).
But too often the show's ADD-style of fast visuals and dialogue isn't as funny as the writers intend (more jokes and gags doesn't necessarily equate to funnier jokes and gags). Episode three -- both a send-up of and indulgence in product placement -- is the best of the new batch as the airline promotes Stride gum on its planes (also pitched recently on "Veronica Mars"). As Russ says, "There's a new whore in town and she likes gum."
Despite my disappointment, the show gets bonus points for retaining its "Hockey Monkey" theme song and pairing it with a new opening credits sequence that's done in the style of an airline safety instruction card.
First Published: June 6, 2007, 1:30 p.m.
