 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Loop
Common Sense Media says
Goofy sitcom OK for older teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
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.
What's the story?
Fox's 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. 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). But once he clocks out, Sam strips off his suit and reverts to frat boy behavior at local bars with his slacker roommates, which include his older brother, Sully (Eric Christian Olsen), a good-natured slacker who can't hold a job; Lizzy (Sarah Mason), a ditzy bartender; and Piper (Amanda Loncar), 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 -- as when one morning, Sam wakes up with a partially shaved head (courtesy of Sully) and must wear a pirate hat to work the next day.
Is it any good?
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.
What families can talk about
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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- Teens & kids
AGE
hilarious
this show is hilarious.. immature yet, whitty. another hit for the spring line up ( spring beats fall this year)
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AGE
dumb humor
there is little originality here and heavy sexual connotations. for mature teens, if they are even interested.
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Airline Funny Buisness
It's rare to find such fresh and funny sitcoms on Fox, since they did axe my beloved Arrested Development. Perhaps all will soon be forgiven with The Loop. Sam (Bret Harrison) landed himself a job as a prestigious exec at a Chicago-based airport. He's the youngest one in the airline's history, and is constantly being hunted by "predator" Meryl (Mimi Rogers) who has a sexual infatuation with the barely-legal Sam. Side apart that The Loop is genuinely sweet and side-splittingly funny, especially with Sam's "I-don't-give-a-care" boss Russ (Phillip Baker Hall), who when asked where his compassion is, he snarkily retorts, "I have a gay son; he took it all." It's consistently hilarious, but the rare times it isn't funny, it's absolutely horrific. Thankfully, The Loop always manages to rebound so creatively, making it one of the most original and outstanding comedies of the season.
The Loop is your typical, zany teen-comedy that exudes That 70's Show gags and one-liners. It's particularly easy for fans of The Office and other awkward humor series to fall in love with the characters on The Loop. It's nothing parents and teens haven't seen before, but granted that The Loop goes at it at different angles, which makes it very enjoyable to watch.
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| TV rating: | TV-14 |
| Network: | Fox |
| Cast: | Bret Harrison, Eric Christian Olsen, Philip Baker Hall |
| Genre: | Comedy |
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