Louie Seasons 1 & 2 Review

I've known about Louis CK as a stand up comedian for a while.  I remember the whole Dane Cook stole his jokes controversy, but I never really watched any of his stand up until the last couple months.  This led me to the series that's been on FX for a couple of years called Louie.

Louis CK is a fictional version of himself (sort of like Seinfield), except it seems like the show reflects Louis CK's life a lot more.  There are fictional characters that show up as well as other comedians and actors playing themselves.

The comedy is dark in most episodes, normally having strong sexual and in some cases violent overtones... which I like.  Louis CK is this unattractive guy, but he does end up with attracive
(and not so attractive) women from time to time.  The show has a couple over the top moments, but it doesn't seem to be the norm for most of the series.

There are heartwarming episodes here and there, mostly having to do with his daughters.  The Duckling episode has one of his daughters stick a duckling from school in his suitcase 'to protect' him while he's doing USO shows in Afganistan.  The ducking actually ends up saving his life.

The two best things about the series are Louie's reactions to horrible or crazy things/people.  Sometimes it's analyzing what's going on in a smartass or straightforward manner, but sometimes it's just bewilderment.  The other is the situations that Louie gets himself in.  One episode has Chris Rock picking him up after he gets stranded in Jersey, because he thought he was going to get with this woman, but she wanted to have a threeway with her and her somewhat elderly husband.

There is an episode with Dane Cook in it where they talk about the controversy.  Louis CK wrote the script, and he tells it from both perspectives.  It doesn't really solve anything and makes me think that Louis CK doesn't care that much about it.  The things Dane Cook says (which CK again wrote), really sounds like things Dane Cook would say.  I remember this was a big deal back in 2006 and 2007, but it seems if there were any bad feelings, the fact that Cook was on the show shows that it can't be that big of a deal anymore.

All in all the show has it's high points and low points.  A good section of it is eaten up with some of his standup routines, but this becomes a little less prevelant towards the end.  His stand up is dark, perverted and awesome.  If you've enjoyed anything else Louis CK has done, you'll love this show.

4 and 1/2 out of 5 killer hobos