TV: Louie

[XanBcoo]

Did you even watch the whole special? I am quoting the conversation practically verbatim.

Yes, and I obviously came away with a different message than you did.

And almost all the current comedians say they became comedians because they were the 'funny' kid and like talking about when they "awakened" to the fact that they were funnier than everyone else.

Who?

At the very least, for guys like Louis CK, Gervais, etc. I know and have heard them talk about what makes good comedy. They have a pretty good understanding of what it means to connect with an audience and share a unique experience. And it's not just "being funny". Here's Louis talking about Carlin during a memorial:



"I want to be funny"

Also it makes me cry.

[rockmanj]

"I want to be funny"

Also it makes me cry.

You sentimental fool! Great post though; I love listening to Louie. I liked talking funny, as shop talk fascinates me, but sometimes Gervais is a little much (although I can understand why).

[Animeniax]

I imagine most of us are still watching Louie in it's third season. I just watched the 3-part Late Show episodes, and while it started slow, it had an awesome feel-good ending.

I was wondering if there really is animosity between Louis and Letterman, as Louis used the arc to really rip on Letterman. Also wondering why guys like Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld didn't mind portraying themselves as two-faced snakes in the 3rd episode.

[Kagemane_no_Jutsu]

I really doubt there's all that much bad blood between them. It didn't really seem as tho Louis was taking any shots at Letterman either.... but who knows.... I haven't seen Louis on the Late Show as of late, If my memory serves me well.

The Chris Rock and Seinfeld bits were so sweet. Of course they don't mind, this show is all about walking on that highwire of reality and fiction and yet somehow still pulling off excruciating brilliant moments of exaggeration mixed in between... Even tho I'm sure that Louis has run into people somewhat snake-like, obviously Chris Rock and Seinfeld aren't those people. This is the one show everyone (who matters) is watching right now. So I'm sure they enjoyed their devilish roles as themselves.

[Animeniax]

Well Louis did end the episode with a big "fuck you" to Letterman. He literally says, "fuck you, Letterman" as he gives him the one finger salute outside the Sullivan theater (I think I saw him give the middle finger, have to rewatch to be sure). Reading up on the relationship, it seems there is/was some sort of riff between them where Letterman wouldn't let him perform on his show. In the episode, one of Louis' friends even calls Letterman an asshole. While that may just be a fake story for a tv show, a lot of Louis' material is based on his real life.

As for Seinfeld and Rock, I doubt either would not care about portraying themselves as backstabbing snakes. Fans know them for their comedy routines and acting roles, not their true selves or the dark underside of show business. Rock didn't really present himself badly, just warning Louis to watch his back... but then putting himself up for the job. But Seinfeld came off as sleazy trying to convince Louis he had no chance at winning the host gig. The other angle that fans have presented is that Seinfeld was trying to ease the pressure off Louis by telling him he had no chance, trying to help the studio in its bargaining with Letterman. These fans may be on to something, or they may just be Seinfeld apologists.

Either way, people think of comedians like Seinfeld and Rock as these funny guys who tell jokes. They don't want to see the shenanigans and reality that most comics are pretty tragic people.

[Kagemane_no_Jutsu]

Either way, people think of comedians like Seinfeld and Rock as these funny guys who tell jokes. They don't want to see the shenanigans and reality that most comics are pretty tragic people.

They do. Thats exactly why people like this show. They're sick of the filtered bullshit, the sitcoms written by Harvard graduates. We love this show for stuff like that.... because its real.

[Animeniax]

They do. Thats exactly why people like this show. They're sick of the filtered bullshit, the sitcoms written by Harvard graduates. We love this show for stuff like that.... because its real.

More like they like this show because they are tragically hip and looking for am ironic way to stick it to the system. "Comedians have a dark side to them? Oh, the irony!"

[Kagemane_no_Jutsu]

Or tragically intrigued with interesting people. Louis CK happens to be near the top of my list. But I'm also a standup junkie so its hard not to be mystified with someone doing something original, not just on the stage but behind a camera as well.

Shame Louis doesn't frequent around the podcast world so often. His WTF with Mark Maron episode is still one of the most honest interviews I've heard. Right up there with Rolling Stone's of Lennon. Tho if he spent any less time writing new material for his show AND standup then we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. He'd just be another one of my favorite stand-ups for his first 3 specials and you probably would have never heard of him.

[rockmanj]

Kind of funny how he won the Emmy for writing, but not performing. I think his performance as an actor on Louie are pretty underrated.

[Animeniax]

Or tragically intrigued with interesting people. Louis CK happens to be near the top of my list. But I'm also a standup junkie so its hard not to be mystified with someone doing something original, not just on the stage but behind a camera as well.

Shame Louis doesn't frequent around the podcast world so often. His WTF with Mark Maron episode is still one of the most honest interviews I've heard. Right up there with Rolling Stone's of Lennon. Tho if he spent any less time writing new material for his show AND standup then we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. He'd just be another one of my favorite stand-ups for his first 3 specials and you probably would have never heard of him.

Yeah, you were into him before it was cool. What will you do now that he's mainstream?

Kind of funny how he won the Emmy for writing, but not performing. I think his performance as an actor on Louie are pretty underrated.

I've read similar opinions about his work on the show. Some people think he's just "being himself" so he doesn't deserve any accolades. But according to Louis, the character is him x100, so he is indeed acting a role.

[Kagemane_no_Jutsu]

Just "being yourself" in normal real life situations is easy. Doing it in a scripted format, against other actors, in front of big cameras and lights, while you're also directing.... thats a bit different. I call that good acting.


Yeah I guess I'll just continue to watch everything he's on and quote him repetitively. Thats probably what I'll do. You still don't get to have any judgement towards me tho since you're hardly even a fan (you proved that with your last post alone). Not really sure why you're even posting in here other than to be your usual sanctimonious douchebag self.

[Animeniax]

Sorry I don't just accept whatever is spoon-fed to me and instead question things and wonder about stuff. I'm glad everything is so obvious and a matter of course for you, but I know you don't know Louie or Jerry or Chris any better than anyone else to the point you can say they don't care about how people see them, or how you can speak for all the fans of the show and why they like it.

I post because I want to talk about the series, even critically. Sorry I'm not the super fan you are who just loves everything about the show and questions nothing.

[Kagemane_no_Jutsu]

I never said they didn't care about how people see them. I said in the context of this show its pretty clear they're playing stylized versions of themselves, just like Louis. If you watch this show, you know that. If you don't watch this show and you think they're seriously portraying themselves in some biographical manner, you're a moron. I'm glad you're looking out for the morons Animeniax, someones got to.

There are a bunch of things I don't necessarily love during the course of watching an episode. But I think that is what makes this show so ineptly special; It doesn't try so hard to be liked by the broadest audience 100% of the time. It makes the good parts seem that much better, its what every good piece of art should be.


Anyway enough back and forth lets talk more about the show.....

At first I wasn't sure what to think of the Jack Doll (i think his name was) character. The guy who "trains" Louis in the last 2 episodes. He was obviously off putting, you could tell he's seen tons of people come and go. I love how he hits us with these people who are clearly meant to put us off. He doesn't have any funny quips or some sweet side to him. He's just a person who is there to be tough on Louis and kick his ass a little bit. And he gets his laughs thru inanely funny shit, like his interaction with the hilariously muted 'Boy Agent' who is usually quite talkative.

Anyway if you want me to talk about episodes that I could find something to really critique and get into, then we'd have to go back a few. Because in my opinion the last 3 have been nearly flawless to the point where I'd have to rewatch them to find something that stands out that I didn't appreciate.

[Animeniax]

I thought the last 3 episodes were awesome by the end, but the lead up felt weird and out of character for the show. He didn't do his standup scenes, and there wasn't much comedy during the arc. But it was a feel-good arc that expanded the horizons of the show. I really liked the final workout scene at the end of the 3rd episode. I like when fat people get off their duffs and try to improve themselves.

[Kagemane_no_Jutsu]

Whats interesting about him working in a gym with a personal trainer on the show is that he's actually been doing that for a few years now. And he's said that the show is based very much on him, but moreso a couple years in the past.

Also I too was bummed out that they cut the "viral interview" from the episode. If they ever taped it I guess we'll never know. But I immediately thought it was pretty clever. That kind of thing is really difficult to script and pull off well. Viral videos mostly just happen, and for us to be the judge as to whether the Leno-Louis back and forth would have truly gotten that massively popular is tough.

I think the cool thing is that you could take his video from him on Conan that went viral years back, and put it right in there.

**More weird stuff I know from listening to hours of this guy talk on the Opie and Anthony show.... his trainer was Mickey Ward (i think thats his name) if you've seen the movie The Boxer with Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, he said the guy Christian Bale plays was actually his trainer and he still talks to him today. He said he even took him on tour with him.

[Animeniax]

Wow, that's cool to learn that Mickey Ward was his trainer. What I don't get though is that if he's been training/working out a bit, why he was looking progressively in worse and worse shape in the episodes this season including the first two before the 3rd episode of the arc. I couldn't help but notice how heavy and slovenly he was getting, which I chalked up to his recent success the past few years. Maybe he put on weight in order to highlight the work he put into getting the Late Show gig.

[Kagemane_no_Jutsu]

Naw, he's just a fat fuck. There's never really been a big difference in his appearance. But I've never even met the guy, just basing it on his old standup.


Maybe he got fatter again? Idk. Doesn't really bother me. He's not insultingly fat, yet.

[Animeniax]

He slimmed down noticeably by the end of the third episode in the arc. Not at the end scene in the gym, but that wasn't sequential with the events before it.

[rockmanj]

I am not sure if you knew it, but the guy playing Jack Dahl was David Lynch (yes, that David Lynch). I had no idea what he looked like before this show, and I must say...what a weird dude.

[Animeniax]

Yeah I had read that. I know his work, but didn't get the significance of him in that role. I think he did a great job playing a seemingly out-of-touch network producer.