Back in 2006 Louis C.K. took a stab at the traditional sitcom with his HBO show Lucky Louie. Using the traditional 3 camera set up and a live studio audience it was a bold choice when many other comedies had switched to the single camera format. However after a single series HBO said “no more”, this was not due to ratings, as the show had a strong cult following, but because the critics didn’t like it and HBO’s image was more important (Sadly my rage at True Blood has not led to a similar fate for that show). Anyway Louis when back out on the stand up circuit, picking up a roll on Parks and Recreation before FX finally offered him a new show.

There is actually not much in the way of a plot here, instead what you have is Louis C.K. doing a bit stand up before cutting to a short vignette, a little more than a sketch, but a lot less than actual sitcom.  Based loosely on his own life we are introduced to Louie who is a divorced father of two, in the pilot we see him with kids on a school trip and a failed date.  Both show his difficulties in the situation as he tries to take control of the situation on the school bus, but fails in every way with his date.

I can’t hide my disappointment, I really liked Lucky Louie and Louis C.K. is a great stand-up with a strong voice and a unique take on the world.  Here however I feel we lose a lot of the controversy of his comedy. From what I have seen before he has the ability to take you to a dark place before pulling you back out; For example there was a stand out episode of Lucky Louie where he called his wife a cunt, or his stand up idea on why we should not be so angry a paedophiles (see below).  This show seems to lack heart, in both vignettes he doesn’t make the tough choices that would make his life better, played more for laughs than story we see no desire to improve himself that was so clear in his previous sitcom.

Created / Written by: Louis C.K.
Directed by: Louis C.K.
Starring: Louis C.K.
Date premièred: 29^th June 2010
UK Details: TBC