['Modern Family' - 'Boys' Night']

You've got to love a show that takes a big star and integrates that person into its rotating family of guest players. 'Glee' has done that with Gwyneth Paltrow, and it seems that 'Modern Family' has done that with Nathan Lane.

How else can you explain his appearance as Pepper this week, appearing without fanfare and without any of the plot revolving around him (at least until the end... more on that later)? We knew that Lane was coming back, but what we didn't know was going to happen was that we would see him as just one of Mitch's and Cam's buddies, out for a night of absinthe-laden fruity drinks and randy conversation?

Anyway, tonight's episode was solid, mainly because we saw some characters out of their comfort zones, but also because an episode with both Nathan Lane and Philip Baker Hall in it is bound to be pretty good.

Much to many of our readers' dismay, FOX did not renew The Loop for next season. The network is going to burn off the remaining ten episodes very, very quickly so pay attention.

Here's the schedule:

Tuesdays, June 5, 12 @ 8:30 pm
Sundays, June 10, 17, 24 & July 1 @ 8:30 pm & 9:30 pm

Personally, I'd lose track of those if I didn't have a TiVo or some sort of DVR to record all the episodes. Once The Loop is over, you can see star Bret Harrison playing the lead role in The CW's new drama, Reaper.

We've talked about the FOX comedy The Loop several times on this blog. I didn't care much for the show. It had some good points and a ton of potential, but it just wasn't funny. I know, I know, there are many of you who disagree with me and will let me know in the comments below (as you have in the past), and I guess this news is for you people.

The show is coming to DVD on March 6. It's the first (and so far only) season of the show, all 7 episodes. The show will be in "Anamorphic Widescreen." I'm not sure, but I think that means it's going to be close-captioned.

This brings up a good point though: what happened to this show? Was it "officially" canceled or just put on "hiatus," that netherworld where shows go to die? It just seemed to be there one moment and then just not around anymore. Sorta like Stacked.

Update: The Loop lives! The second season premieres later this year.

I was just reading Anna's post on the FOX upfront, and she reports that The Loop has been renewed for another season. Is this even remotely possible, or some joke? All of the shows - better shows - that FOX could have renewed or added to the schedule (they passed on Andy Richter's comedy, which was picked up by NBC, and that had to at least be as good at The Loop) and they decide to renew The Loop. Hell, where's Stacked with Pam Anderson? They could put them back to back and have a night of so-so comedy!

I guess I'm just shocked. Even if The Loop was better than it is (and it isn't), I would still be surprised it got renewed, because it had "short-lived midseason replacment that you will soon forget" written all over it.

Wow.

OK, I've had it. I can't watch FOX's The Loop anymore. I think there was one episode that wasn't that bad, but it's been all downhill from there. If this was a better half hour sitcom, or a more important show in general, I think I'd keep watching it and reviewing it. But the show is pretty damn bad, and I'm going to predict it doesn't see a second season anyway. Nothing against Philip Baker Hall and Mimi Rogers. I'd like to see them in something better.

So I'm not going to review tonight's episode. If one of my coworkers wants to jump in and take over the reviews, that's cool. But I'd rather spend my time doing something more productive. Like my laundry.

I hated last week's episode of this show. I didn't hate this week's episode. That's sorta like saying you're really sick one day,  and then the next day you feel just a little better. Sure, it's "better," but you still feel queasy and blah and you're not happy. I didn't hate this ep, I disliked it.

Um...did I just waste thirty minutes of my life watching a sitcom completely revolving around the fact that the lead hurt his groin? And he couldn't ride a horse because it hurt or shake hands with several execs because his hands hurt and he was trying to hide this fact from his bosses?

I'm sorry, but this show is just stupid.

So I was all set to review The Loop last night, but for some reason I thought it was on FOX at 9:30 instead of 8:30 and I missed it. Yeah, I know, and this is coming from the guy who does the What's On Tonight posts every damn day.

Anything happen on the show last night? Did it suddenly become hysterical and brilliant? Was it canceled and replaced by reruns of Stacked?

Was this episode better than last night's pilot? Yes. Did I laugh at all during the episode? Yes. Did it relieve the worries I had that it was just an uneven mix of Arrested Development irreverence and typical FOX sitcom lameness?

No.

I'm willing to give this new FOX comedy a chance, but right now it just seems like half Arrested Development (wacky group of people, on air text to explain things, use of handheld cameras), half...well, every other sitcom that's been on the air since 1982 (group of friends, they hang out somewhere, the hero of the show likes the cute girl who only sees him as a friend, etc). And maybe just a dash of The Office (just a dash though).

But here's my prediction: it won't last the season.