Louie (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Louie is an American comedy television series
on the FX network that began airing in 2010. It is written, directed, edited and produced by the show's creator, stand-up comedian Louis C.K.
, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself, a comedian and newly divorced father raising his two daughters in New York City. The show has a loose format atypical for television comedy series, consisting of largely unconnected storylines and segments (described as "extended vignettes
") that revolve around Louie's life, punctuated by live stand-up performances.
The first season of Louie was broadcast in 2010, and the second season in 2011. The show has met with critical acclaim and was included in various 2010 top-ten lists.
C.K. was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series as well as Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards
. C.K. announced on August 6th, 2011, via his Twitter account that the series had been picked up for a third season.
's life, showing him as a comic onstage, and depicting his life offstage as a newly divorced father of two girls. Each episode features either two stories that may or may not connect thematically, or a longer full-episode story (often consisting of numerous connected shorter pieces), all of which revolve around Louie. The pieces are interspersed with segments of C.K.'s stand-up comedy
, usually performed in small New York comedy clubs, mainly the Comedy Cellar
and Carolines in Manhattan
. The stand-up in the show consists of original material recorded for the series, and is usually shot from the stage rather than from the more traditional audience perspective. Sometimes these comedy segments are integrated into the stories themselves, other times they simply serve to bookend them with a loosely connected topic. In Season 1, short conversations between Louie and his therapist are also shown occasionally.
The stories shown in the series are generally distinct from each other, although a few recurring roles (such as Pamela, Louie's playdate friend) occasionally do provide some fictional continuity between episodes. Sometimes however, fictional continuity is not a concern, as with the example of the two very different characters and actresses that served as Louie's mother in two separate episodes.Episode 7, "Double Date/Mom" portrays a very unpleasant woman as Louie's mother, played by Mary Louise Wilson
. By contrast, in episode 10, "God", a flashback to Louie's childhood shows the young Louie's mother as a very different woman with a nice personality; played by Amy Landecker. Moreover, Landecker portrayed present-day Louie's date earlier in the season, in episode 9, "Bully". As C.K. explained, "Every episode has its own goal, and if it messes up the goal of another episode, [...] I just don't care." Some stories also take place outside of the series timeline, such as "God", which depicts Louie's childhood, and "Oh Louie", which shows the comedian 9 years earlier in his career.
The pilot episode includes segments on a school field trip and an awkward first date, with subsequent episodes covering a diverse range of material including divorce, sex, depression, sexual orientation, and Catholic guilt
. The first season aired in 2010, and consists of 13 episodes, including the pilot. The premiere of the second season was broadcast on June 23, 2011.
s by stand-up comedians and actors. Some popular stand-up comics play fictionalized versions of themselves, including Nick DiPaolo
, Todd Barry
, Jim Norton
, Rick Crom
, Amir Blumenfeld
, Eddie Brill
, Hannibal Buress
, Godfrey
and Chris Rock
. Other guest stars include comedians and notable actors playing fictional characters, including Chelsea Peretti
, Tom Noonan
, Bobby Cannavale
, Yul Vazquez
. Dane Cook
and Bob Saget
also played fictional versions of themselves in the episode "Oh Louie/Tickets".
Despite the show's low budget, Louie frequently features notable celebrity guest stars, including Ricky Gervais
, Chris Rock
, Stephen Root
, Matthew Broderick
, Joan Rivers
, and Doug Stanhope
.
Most episodes tend to focus on Louie's interactions with new characters, however the show features a number of recurring characters, including Louie's two daughters, his brother Robbie (played by Robert Kelly
), Pamela the playdate friend and potential love interest (Pamela Adlon
), Louie's crude and inappropriate doctor (Ricky Gervais
), and Louie's therapist (David Patrick Kelly
). As Louie lacks a strictly enforced continuity between episodes, supporting actors occasionally reappear in multiple roles, as is the case with William Stephenson who appears as a bus driver in the pilot and as himself in "Oh Louie/Tickets." Amy Landecker appeared as Louie's date in "Bully" and as a young Louie's mother in "God." In addition, multiple actresses have portrayed each of Louie's daughters.
. In addition to starring, Louie serves as the series' sole writer and director, an unusual distinction in television production.
Dave Becky also serves as executive producer. Louis C.K. directed, cast and edited the first episode of the show with a budget of $250,000, provided by FX. In the second season, the budget was increased to $300,000 per episode.
Production began in November 2009. Louis C.K. said of his show, "It's very vignette-y. It's very vérité
. All those French words. I use 'em all." C.K.'s Lucky Louie co-star Pamela Adlon
serves as consulting producer of the series.
. The stand-up segments received strong praise, as did the show's perceived "indie film" style, with some likening the show to the work of Woody Allen
. Criticisms largely centered on the pacing and low-key delivery of the show's jokes, often including long setups compared to the rapid-fire punchlines of a traditional sitcom.
Critical response to Louie has warmed since its debut, with the show appearing on 9 of the 28 "top show" lists tracked by Metacritic for 2010. The first four episodes of the second season maintain a 90% average score on Metacritic, making it the second best reviewed show on the site's "current TV shows" list behind Breaking Bad
.
released Season 1 on DVD
and Blu-ray Disc
in Region 1 on June 21, 2011.
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
on the FX network that began airing in 2010. It is written, directed, edited and produced by the show's creator, stand-up comedian Louis C.K.
Louis C.K.
Louis Szekely , known professionally as Louis C.K., is a stand-up comedian, television and film writer, actor, producer, and director...
, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself, a comedian and newly divorced father raising his two daughters in New York City. The show has a loose format atypical for television comedy series, consisting of largely unconnected storylines and segments (described as "extended vignettes
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
") that revolve around Louie's life, punctuated by live stand-up performances.
The first season of Louie was broadcast in 2010, and the second season in 2011. The show has met with critical acclaim and was included in various 2010 top-ten lists.
C.K. was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series as well as Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards
63rd Primetime Emmy Awards
The 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, honoring the best in primetime television programming from June 1, 2010 until May 31, 2011, was held on September 18, 2011, at the Nokia Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, California. Fox televised the ceremony within the United States. Actress Jane Lynch hosted...
. C.K. announced on August 6th, 2011, via his Twitter account that the series had been picked up for a third season.
Synopsis and episodes
The series is loosely based on Louis C.K.Louis C.K.
Louis Szekely , known professionally as Louis C.K., is a stand-up comedian, television and film writer, actor, producer, and director...
's life, showing him as a comic onstage, and depicting his life offstage as a newly divorced father of two girls. Each episode features either two stories that may or may not connect thematically, or a longer full-episode story (often consisting of numerous connected shorter pieces), all of which revolve around Louie. The pieces are interspersed with segments of C.K.'s stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
, usually performed in small New York comedy clubs, mainly the Comedy Cellar
Comedy Cellar
The Comedy Cellar is a comedy club in Manhattan, where many top New York comedians perform. It was founded in 1982 by then standup comedian, and current television writer/producer Bill Grundfest...
and Carolines in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. The stand-up in the show consists of original material recorded for the series, and is usually shot from the stage rather than from the more traditional audience perspective. Sometimes these comedy segments are integrated into the stories themselves, other times they simply serve to bookend them with a loosely connected topic. In Season 1, short conversations between Louie and his therapist are also shown occasionally.
The stories shown in the series are generally distinct from each other, although a few recurring roles (such as Pamela, Louie's playdate friend) occasionally do provide some fictional continuity between episodes. Sometimes however, fictional continuity is not a concern, as with the example of the two very different characters and actresses that served as Louie's mother in two separate episodes.Episode 7, "Double Date/Mom" portrays a very unpleasant woman as Louie's mother, played by Mary Louise Wilson
Mary Louise Wilson
Mary Louise Wilson is an American stage, film and television actress.-Stage:Broadway* Hot Spot — 1963 as Sue Ann* Flora, The Red Menace — 1965 as Comrade Ada* Lovers and Other Strangers — 1968 as Bernice...
. By contrast, in episode 10, "God", a flashback to Louie's childhood shows the young Louie's mother as a very different woman with a nice personality; played by Amy Landecker. Moreover, Landecker portrayed present-day Louie's date earlier in the season, in episode 9, "Bully". As C.K. explained, "Every episode has its own goal, and if it messes up the goal of another episode, [...] I just don't care." Some stories also take place outside of the series timeline, such as "God", which depicts Louie's childhood, and "Oh Louie", which shows the comedian 9 years earlier in his career.
The pilot episode includes segments on a school field trip and an awkward first date, with subsequent episodes covering a diverse range of material including divorce, sex, depression, sexual orientation, and Catholic guilt
Catholic guilt
Catholic guilt is a term used to identify the supposed excess guilt felt by Catholics and lapsed Catholics. It is a concept that many non-Catholics have, partly based on a strict definition of sacraments by Martin Luther that diminished the role of Confession in many Protestant Churches and on the...
. The first season aired in 2010, and consists of 13 episodes, including the pilot. The premiere of the second season was broadcast on June 23, 2011.
Cast and characters
Louis C.K. serves as the show's star and the only character (the eponymous Louie) to appear in every episode. Louie lacks a regular fixed cast, featuring many guest appearanceGuest appearance
In show business , a guest appearance is a participation of an outsider performer , usually called guest artist , in an event , i.e., the participation of a performer which does not belong to the regular crew In performance...
s by stand-up comedians and actors. Some popular stand-up comics play fictionalized versions of themselves, including Nick DiPaolo
Nick DiPaolo
Nicholas Rocco "Nick" DiPaolo is an American stand-up comedian, writer, actor and radio host formerly on 92.3 Free FM in New York City until May 24, 2007, when the station changed formats. He is also a frequent guest on the Opie and Anthony and Howard Stern radio shows...
, Todd Barry
Todd Barry
-Biography:Barry was born in The Bronx, New York, and grew up in Florida. In 1999, his Comedy Central Presents aired. He wrote, directed and starred in the short film Borrowing Saffron , which co-starred H. Jon Benjamin. He has made a variety of guest appearances on shows like Dr...
, Jim Norton
Jim Norton (comedian)
James Joseph "Jim" Norton, Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, radio personality, author, and actor. He is an on-air personality, often dubbed the 'third mic' on The Opie and Anthony Show, which airs on Sirius XM Radio...
, Rick Crom
Rick Crom
Rick Crom is an award-winning American actor, singer, comedian, lyricist, and composer. He has appeared in numerous television shows and specials, Broadway and off-Broadway musicals, as well as written several off-Broadway revues, and has 3 times been nominated for the Drama Desk Award for...
, Amir Blumenfeld
Amir Blumenfeld
Amir Schmuel Blumenfeld is an Israeli-American writer, comedian, actor, and television host.Blumenfeld was born in Afula, Israel. He is literate in Hebrew and displayed his bilingual talents on episodes of Jake and Amir. He is a graduate of Milken Community High School and the University of...
, Eddie Brill
Eddie Brill
Eddie Brill is an American comedian, writer, and actor who started his career in Boston, Massachusetts. He is also the warm-up comedian and talent coordinator of Late Show with David Letterman. He tours frequently, performing in the US as well as England, Ireland, France, Australia, Amsterdam, and...
, Hannibal Buress
Hannibal Buress
Hannibal Buress is an American stand-up comedian and television writer currently living in New York City.Buress was featured in "The Awkward Comedy Show" special on Comedy Central, alongside comics Baron Vaughn, Eric André, Marina Franklin, and Victor Varnado, and on the FX sitcom Louie...
, Godfrey
Godfrey (comedian)
Godfrey C. Danchimah, Jr. , professionally known as Godfrey, is an American comedian and actor who has appeared on BET, VH1, Comedy Central, and feature films such as Soul Plane, Original Gangstas, Zoolander, and Johnson Family Vacation...
and Chris Rock
Chris Rock
Christopher Julius "Chris" Rock III is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. He was voted in the US as the 5th greatest stand-up comedian of all time by Comedy Central...
. Other guest stars include comedians and notable actors playing fictional characters, including Chelsea Peretti
Chelsea Peretti
Chelsea Peretti is an American comedian and writer based in Los Angeles.-Career:She and brother Jonah Peretti were co-creators of the and of web satire...
, Tom Noonan
Tom Noonan
Tom Noonan is an American actor and film writer-director.-Early life:Noonan was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, the son of Rosaleen and Tom Noonan, who worked as a dentist and jazz musician respectively...
, Bobby Cannavale
Bobby Cannavale
Robert M. "Bobby" Cannavale is an American actor known for his leading role as Bobby Caffey in the first two seasons of the television series Third Watch. He also had a recurring role as Officer Vince D'Angelo on the comedy series Will & Grace.-Early life:Cannavale grew up in Union City, New...
, Yul Vazquez
Yul Vazquez
Yul Vázquez was born in Cuba. He is an actor and he is married to Linda Larkin.He has appeared as “Bob” in the Seinfeld episodes “The Soup Nazi”, “The Sponge” and “The Puerto Rican Day”....
. Dane Cook
Dane Cook
Dane Jeffrey Cook is an American stand-up comedian and film actor. He has released five comedy albums: Harmful If Swallowed; Retaliation; Vicious Circle; Rough Around The Edges: Live From Madison Square Garden; and Isolated Incident. In 2006, Retaliation became the highest charting comedy album...
and Bob Saget
Bob Saget
Robert Lane "Bob" Saget is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and television host. Although he is best known for his roles as Danny Tanner in Full House, host of America's Funniest Home Videos and Future Ted Mosby on How I Met Your Mother, Saget is also known outside of television for his blue...
also played fictional versions of themselves in the episode "Oh Louie/Tickets".
Despite the show's low budget, Louie frequently features notable celebrity guest stars, including Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
, Chris Rock
Chris Rock
Christopher Julius "Chris" Rock III is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. He was voted in the US as the 5th greatest stand-up comedian of all time by Comedy Central...
, Stephen Root
Stephen Root
Stephen Root is an American actor. He is best known for his comedic work on the TV sitcom NewsRadio, in the film Office Space and as the voice of Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickland in the animated series King of the Hill...
, Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
, Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
, and Doug Stanhope
Doug Stanhope
Douglas Gene "Doug" Stanhope is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and author known for his abrasive comedy routines.-Life and career:Stanhope quit high school after his freshman year...
.
Most episodes tend to focus on Louie's interactions with new characters, however the show features a number of recurring characters, including Louie's two daughters, his brother Robbie (played by Robert Kelly
Robert Kelly (comedian)
Robert Kelly is an Irish-American stand-up comedian from Boston, Massachusetts. He frequently performs at the Comedy Cellar...
), Pamela the playdate friend and potential love interest (Pamela Adlon
Pamela Adlon
Pamela Fionna Adlon is a Jewish-American actress, voice actress, and producer. She is sometimes credited as Pamela Segall, Pamela S. Adlon and Pamela Segall Adlon...
), Louie's crude and inappropriate doctor (Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
), and Louie's therapist (David Patrick Kelly
David Patrick Kelly
David Patrick Kelly is an American actor and musician who has appeared in numerous films, including some major roles.-Career:...
). As Louie lacks a strictly enforced continuity between episodes, supporting actors occasionally reappear in multiple roles, as is the case with William Stephenson who appears as a bus driver in the pilot and as himself in "Oh Louie/Tickets." Amy Landecker appeared as Louie's date in "Bully" and as a young Louie's mother in "God." In addition, multiple actresses have portrayed each of Louie's daughters.
Production
C.K. accepted the modest offer of $200,000 (covering his own fee as well as production costs) to do a pilot with FX over prospective production deals with larger networks because they allowed him full executive control of the show. The show is shot on a Red camera setup, and C.K. edits many of the episodes on his 13" MacBook ProMacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is a line of Macintosh portable computers introduced in January 2006 by Apple. It replaced the PowerBook G4 and was the second model, after the iMac, to be announced in the Apple–Intel transition...
. In addition to starring, Louie serves as the series' sole writer and director, an unusual distinction in television production.
"I went [to Hollywood] and I had other networks offering me a lot of money to do a pilot, and I got this call from FX and they said 'Well, we can't offer you a lot of money, but if you do the show for us, you can have a lot of fun.' He was offering me $200,000 as the budget for the whole pilot and I was like 'So, what do I get paid?' and he was like 'No, that's the whole thing, $200,000...' I said 'Look, the only way I'm doing this is if you give me the $200,000 -- wire it to me in New York -- and I'll give you a show. But I'm not pitching it, and I'm not writing a script and sending it to you first.'"
Dave Becky also serves as executive producer. Louis C.K. directed, cast and edited the first episode of the show with a budget of $250,000, provided by FX. In the second season, the budget was increased to $300,000 per episode.
Production began in November 2009. Louis C.K. said of his show, "It's very vignette-y. It's very vérité
Cinéma vérité
Cinéma vérité is a style of documentary filmmaking, combining naturalistic techniques with stylized cinematic devices of editing and camerawork, staged set-ups, and the use of the camera to provoke subjects. It is also known for taking a provocative stance toward its topics.There are subtle yet...
. All those French words. I use 'em all." C.K.'s Lucky Louie co-star Pamela Adlon
Pamela Adlon
Pamela Fionna Adlon is a Jewish-American actress, voice actress, and producer. She is sometimes credited as Pamela Segall, Pamela S. Adlon and Pamela Segall Adlon...
serves as consulting producer of the series.
Critical reception
Initial critical response to the show was mostly positive but divided, with the first season earning 70/100 rating based on 20 reviews on MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. The stand-up segments received strong praise, as did the show's perceived "indie film" style, with some likening the show to the work of Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
. Criticisms largely centered on the pacing and low-key delivery of the show's jokes, often including long setups compared to the rapid-fire punchlines of a traditional sitcom.
Critical response to Louie has warmed since its debut, with the show appearing on 9 of the 28 "top show" lists tracked by Metacritic for 2010. The first four episodes of the second season maintain a 90% average score on Metacritic, making it the second best reviewed show on the site's "current TV shows" list behind Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series...
.
Releases
20th Century Fox20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
released Season 1 on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
in Region 1 on June 21, 2011.
| DVD Name | Episodes | Release Date | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Complete First Season | 13 | June 21, 2011 |
|