The Loop - TV-14

Goofy sitcom OK for older teens.

TV Rating: TV-14 Network: Fox Cast: Eric Christian Olsen, Philip Baker Hall, Bret Harrison Genre: Comedy
Available on: DVDDownload

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this silly sitcom meant for adults is rife with sexual innuendo, especially in the workplace. The main character's boss is a cranky old man who spews thinly veiled insults at every turn.

Families can talk about proper workplace behavior and developing healthy work habits. How do you know when boundaries have been crossed? What do you do if you are the victim of sexual harassment? Why is it important to have a strong work ethic?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Lucy Maher

Fox's new sitcom THE LOOP tells the story of Sam (Bret Harrison), an airline executive in his early twenties who, thanks to a brilliant college thesis, has landed a job as an executive with a Chicago-based airline. But once he clocks out, Sam strips off his suit and reverts to frat boy behavior at local bars with his four slacker roommates.

Joining Sam at work are his curmudgeonly boss Russ (Philip Baker Hall), who constantly berates his brain-dead employees; sassy secretary Darcy (Joy Osmanski), who, as a graduate of MIT, begrudges her role at the company; and Meryl (Mimi Rogers), a middle-aged executive who constantly hits on a seemingly oblivious Sam ("Damn, you're sexable," she says as Sam passes her in the walkway).

At home, Sam lives with three roommates. His older brother, Sully (Eric Christian Olsen), is a good-natured slacker who can't hold a job; Lizzy (Sarah Mason) is a ditzy bartender; and Piper (Amanda Loncar) is a medical student on whom Sam has a crush (too bad she has a boyfriend!). Night after night, they bond over shots at the local bar, sometimes to disastrous results; one morning, Sam wakes up with a partially shaved head (courtesy of Sully) and must wear a pirate hat to work the next day.

Though it's an air-headed comedy, The Loop has its redeeming qualities: Harrison is well-suited to the role of the conflicted Sam and comes across as earnest and likeable, and the show's dialogue is sometimes quite sharp and witty. Still, the writers sometimes go too far: for example, when Meryl demands of Russ, "Where is your compassion?" He retorts, "I have a gay son, he took it all." Finally, the parenthetical subtitles used to introduce characters (Meryl is called The Predator, for example) only serve to distract the viewer.

Bottom line? The Loop is for mature audiences seeking a little fluff. Viewers who enjoy it might also like The Office, Scrubs, and Boston Legal.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content The main character's colleague is a walking sexual innuendo, and the roommates sometimes troll bars looking to hook up.
Violence
Language There are some slighly offensive slurs and derogatory words used.
Message
	Social Behavior The office is which the characters work is rife with sexual harassment, and the boss constantly belittles his employees.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco The roommates head to the local bar for cocktails after work.