Louie Louie
Is Louis CK one of the best comedians ever? In a two part blog I’ll be taking a look at hist most recent comedy creation Louie.
LOUIS CK
So stand-up comedian Louis CK isn’t very well known in the UK though you might have spotted him in Ricky Gervais’ Invention of Lying as his loyal mate. That was a crap film, wasn’t it? Yes. Forget about that, focus on this.
After recommendations from a couple of friends and my brother I set about discovering Louis CK’s two best known shows. In this blog I’ll be talking first about the newer one Louie which first aired in 2010.
So the story goes – Louis was offered a few deals by TV networks to make a TV show but turned several big money deals down in favour of FX who offered just $200,000 per episode – which would have to pay for all crew and production costs AND Louie’s fee. A sum that would normally be easily five times that. But, in return he would get full creative control of writing and directing. So, he accepted. Louis clearly relished the responsibility and amazingly even edited most of the show on is Macbook Pro! Well, bloody hell!
LOUIE
Firstly, it’s amazing. The series is a mixture of Louis CK performing stand-up mixed with real-life mini stories played out like sketches. He plays himself; it’s all super naturalistic and the tone depicts his desperate, contemplative but ultimately accepting world view.
His life is focused on being a good father to his two children – who are the inspiration for most of his stand up – whilst performing late night comedy gigs which bring in the cash. With a consistent theme of self deprecation with numerous references to masturbation, loneliness and a bitter disposition to life after a failed marriage you’d expect this to be a depressing and crassly rude show. But somehow it’s really not.
The jokes are great because it’s all about honesty. The subject matter is based in describing real life without hyperbole. Simply, this is it. I am old. I am fat. I rarely have sex. I wish I was more successful. I have regrets. In essence, he’s telling the audience – you will feel the same too some day, but y’know what? Don’t worry about it. It’s normal. Dude, it’s okay!
He’s magnanimous, hopeful and goes about his life with morality, trying to be as noble and decent as possible. In fact, he seems to lead a fulfilling life through being a good guy. In situations, if it be reacting to a mugger, witnessing a crime, trying to confront someone he fancies – he’s an inspiration. Because despite being a bit of a coward he is courageous enough to be honest always. I am afraid. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m out of my depth. I like you. He’s not ashamed of his weaknesses and makes moral, fair decisions.
The stand-up bits that link the stories are sublime. Observational humour about relationships, family and bodily functions make up the majority of the content and it’s all refreshingly original.
There’s 26 (2 series) episodes just over 20 minutes long and I just wanted to pick out a few that I’ve enjoyed a lot.
Season 1, Episode 3 – Dr.Ben/Nick
There are a only a few episodes with special guests. This one features Ricky Gervais who plays Louis’ doctor who absolutely loves to cruelly wind him up. Louis stands for his hi-jinks only because they’re old friends and presumably gets good discount on his healthcare premium. In this scene Louis arrives worried about a mysterious head cold. His doctor insists Louie has a full check-up – primarily so he can be humiliated for his own amusement. He has fun with a prostate exam.
GERVAIS: Look it’s not very pleasant but it’s necessary. I’ll be as gentle as I can.
LOUIS: Arghh
GERVAIS: Sorry! Is that okay?
LOUIS: Yeah that’s all right
GERVAIS: How about that?
LOUIS: Yeah
GERVAIS: (grinning, girating back and forward) What about this?
LOUIS: (pulls away) Jesus why!
GERVAIS: (Giggling hysterically) This is serious
LOUIS: There’s no way it’s supposed to go in and out like that
GERVAIS: Well, it can do. I’m a doctor and it tells me… everything’s okay
LOUIS: Jesus
GERVAIS: Listen, I’m still going with AIDS but let’s do some blood work and find out what’s wrong
Ricky is brilliant and there’s other great cameos such as Doug Stanhope, Joan Rivers, Chris Rock and Dane Cook if you keep an eye out.
Series 2, Episode 8 – Come on, God
This example shows a little bit of what is unique about Louis CK. The episode is all about Louis being told by a Christian fundamentalist that masturbation whilst unmarried is a sin. In this scene, Louis is trying to masturbate and has a bizarre fantasy which effectively his own mind ruins. Here he imagines being in a lift with an attractive lady.
WOMAN: Can you help me?
LOUIS: With what?
WOMAN: With that (bending over)
LOUIS: What seems to be the problem?
WOMAN: It’s just that there’s like zero dicks in there
LOUIS: Zero dicks?
WOMAN: Yeah, there are like zero dicks in there, it’s sooo annoying. Can you just stick a whole bag of dicks in there?
LOUIS: A bag of dicks??
WOMAN: Yeah you’ve got some right there
Louis is holding a crappy carrier bag. He looks inside and grimaces, almost wretching.
LOUIS: Well, shall I like uhh take each one out?
WOMAN: Can you just stick the whole bag in there!
Louis, frustrated, then awkwardly tries to insert the bag into her. It’s hilariously unsexy and the scene cuts between Louis struggling with the bag and struggling to pleasure himself. In the fantasy an elderly Chinese man gets in the lift and criticises Louis’ struggle.
Series 2, Episode 6 – Subway/Pamela
There are so many great scenes throughout the series’ but this is definitely my favourite of both seasons. Louis has an unrequited romantic relationship with a fellow single parent called Pam as a running narrative. He adores her and each time he tries to push the point she reiterates how she finds him completely unattractive and how there is NO chance of them getting together ever. Pam is hilarious and her acidic rebuttals are brilliant but you’re always rooting for poor old Louie. In this scene, Louie wants to bring it up once more, promising if she lets him pour his heart out this last time, he’ll stop bringing it up and agree to remain just mates. What follows is a monologue more beautiful, sincere and heart-felt than anything I’ve seen or heard in any fancy drama or romance genre film.
LOUIS: …I’m crazy about you Pamela. I don’t want to be with anybody else.
PAMELA: Louis!
LOUIS: I don’t! I really don’t. I don’t think about women anymore I think about you. I had a dream the other night that you and I were on a train. We were on this train and you were holding my hand. That’s the whole dream! And in the dream I felt you holding my hand. I woke up I couldn’t believe it wasn’t real. I’m sick in love with you Pamela. It’s like a condition. It’s like Polio. I feel like I’m going to die if I can’t be with you. And I can’t be with you so I’m going to die. And I don’t care because, I was brought into existence to know you, and that’s enough. To think that you would want me back? It’s just greedy…
I can’t recommend Louie highly enough. Honestly, I know it sounds nuts. But it’s just such an absurdly astute programme and Louis is such a likable bloke. It’s not necessarily laugh out loud non-stop but it’s just the overall package. How he talks about a lot of rude subjects but in such a human way, how nothing is going that great for him but it’s never gloomy or oppositely, schmaltzy and pitiful. You finish each episode feeling better about the idea of getting older and becoming an actual grown-up. I think for me as a “writer”, it makes me realize what being a top notch comedian is. He totally sets the bench mark. This is more than just a really funny show but it actually offers a biblical amount of take home wisdom that you won’t find in any other comedy show, drama or even works of literature!