'Loop' with Liguori

"The Loop" is back! "The Loop" is back! More filthy humor! More made-up curse words! More dogs placed in harmful situations! Woo-hoo!

Oh, I'm sorry; are there other elements to the Fox schedule? It's just so rare to see a show I like this much with ratings that bad (the result of a lousy timeslot) not only get renewed, but get placed into an awesome timeslot (after the "Idol" results show). Of course, that didn't exactly save "Arrested Development," but I'll take however much extra "Loop" I can get.

More on the rest of the schedule after the jump, and I should say that the Cone of Silence has been lifted from the first half of the "Grey's" finale (Monday 9-10), last night's "Lost" has taken its place. What can I say? It's been a bizarre week. At least I know who got voted off of "Idol," which I'll get to in a bit. Anyway, onto the sked:

As usual, Fox is going with a two-pronged schedule, without and then with "Idol." And, as usual, I don't expect all of these shows to stay in these timeslots -- or, in some cases, even to air -- but this is allegedly what they plan to do:

THE FALL:
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM PRISON BREAK
9:00-10:00 PM VANISHED

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM STANDOFF
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM BONES
9:00-10:00 PM JUSTICE

THURSDAY
8:00-8:30 PM �TIL DEATH
8:30-9:00 PM HAPPY HOUR
9:00-10:00 PM THE O.C.

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NANNY 911
9:00-10:00 PM TRADING SPOUSES: MEET YOUR NEW MOMMY

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA�S MOST WANTED: AMERICA STRIKES BACK
11:00 PM-MIDNIGHT MADtv
MIDNIGHT-12:30 AM TALK SHOW WITH SPIKE FERESTEN

SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 PM FOOTBALL OVERRUN (COMEDY ENCORES)
7:30-8:00 PM FOOTBALL OVERRUN (COMEDY ENCORES)
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM AMERICAN DAD
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM THE WAR AT HOME

JANUARY ON:
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM STANDOFF
9:00-10:00 PM 24

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL Performance Show
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM JUSTICE
9:00-9:30 PM AMERICAN IDOL Results Show
9:30-10:00 PM THE LOOP

THURSDAY
8:00-8:30 PM �TIL DEATH
8:30-9:00 PM HAPPY HOUR
9:00-10:00 PM THE O.C.

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM BONES
9:00-10:00 PM THE WEDDING ALBUM

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA�S MOST WANTED:AMERICA STRIKES BACK
11:00 PM-MIDNIGHT MADtv
MIDNIGHT-12:30 AM TALK SHOW WITH SPIKE FERESTEN

SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 PM COMEDY REPEATS
7:30-8:00 PM KING OF THE HILL
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM AMERICAN DAD
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM THE WAR AT HOME

Overall, a more stable schedule than Fox usually tries out. I think they've finally realized that they just have to hold tight through all their usual fall problems (baseball pre-empting half the schedule) and wait for "Idol" and "24" to come in and save the day. Some specific thoughts:

• "American Dad" after "The Simpsons"? Really? Is that the absolute best they can do? I understand that cartoons always play much better in that timeslot than live-action (the cartoonish "Malcolm" excepted), but "American Dad"? Can't they just leave it behind "Family Guy" so I don't have to pay any attention to it? ("Family Guy" has its moments, but "Dad" is all of Seth's worst tics without the good ones.)
• Not exactly a shock, but "The O.C." returns. And without a significant cast member. The geniuses at "Access Hollywood" sent out a press release yesterday revealing that person's identity right in the subject line. I won't be as inconsiderate, but if you want to know, click here. I also like how Josh has completely backtracked on the "Muppet Babies" quote he gave me and Fienberg back in January.
• Like ABC, Fox is being dumb enough to schedule back-to-back new comedies on Thursday at 8. As much as I worry about how "The Office" might get dinged by "Survivor," I think it and "Earl" are going to wipe the floor with the newcomers, good or not.
• So not only is "Vanished" another season-long kidnapping serial (ala NBC's "Kidnapped"), but it comes fresh with its own stultifying conspiracy story (ala "Prison Break"). If I take the No-Doz now, will it still keep me awake by the time I have to watch the pilot?
• "Standoff" has a bunch of actors I like (Ron Livingston, Gina Torres) and a premise that's going to need perfect execution (hostage negotiation partners are secretly, then overtly, dating).
• Eva Pigford, working actress: the former "Top Model" winner has a small supporting role on "The Wedding Album."