Lucky Louie

In no way is it supposed to be groundbreaking like Six Feet Under, The Sorpranos, or any other HBO programming. Lucky Louie is a sitcom that is filmed, and can be shown, on HBO. They intentionally aren't trying to break the box here, folks; that's the point. I am looking forward to this show because I am sick and tired of the generic, pansy, overly formulaic, and frankly unfunny sitcom shows on network TV (and by this I don't mean My Name Is Earl, The Office, or Arrested Development, but of the Freddy, Dharma and Greg variety). This show will be a breath of fresh air and will give me a great night of comedy (Entourage, Lucky Louie and Tourgasm). I can't wait.

Also, I'm sad to report that cast member Jim Norton might not make season 2 because of his battle with AIDS. I'm currently watching his puppy and refilling his broth bowl. Thoughts and prayers.

After viewing the first few episodes of this sitcom I feel compelled to let my fellow IMDb-ers know that they may well extend their life spans by seeing this show! That may seem to be an idle promise, but if the old adage "Laughter is the best medicine" holds any truth whatsoever, then this may be the fabled Fountain of Youth! It should be mentioned here that it is necessary for the viewer to be comfortable with base humor and some male frontal nudity. I enjoy all types of comedy, from Pee-Wee Herman's silliness to the time tested Three Stooges slapstick, from Rowan Atkinson's brilliant pantomime to the highbrow satire of Fawlty Towers. I think this show may set a new standard for modern ribaldry! The story involves a poor family with one child, living in a shabby tenement building and doing what they need to survive in an unusually unfair world. Many story lines revolve around the couple's desire to have a satisfying sex life while trying/not trying to conceive a second child. Their discussions are frank and to the point with many instances of crude language (never in the presence of their lovely daughter, however). Also, Louie (played by Louis C. K.) has a heck of a time convincing his African-American neighbors that he isn't a racist, while circumstances conspire against him to seemingly prove just the opposite. I laughed until my sides hurt because I imagined that this was art imitating life in a real and honest fashion. Let's face it, most people will be themselves when they think there is no-one watching, and I KNOW you're all imperfect, just like me. Enjoy the mirror's reflection, if you're not too self-righteous!

I'm not going to waste your time and pretend that I was one of those watching this cancelled HBO sitcoms when it was broadcast almost ten years ago; like most people who have seen it, I came to this show relatively recently thanks to Louis CK's FX show and his various (well priced) live shows. It is an odd feeling to watch this show looking back, because unlike this most recent work, this is very much studio-set sitcom with a live studio audience. At first it was hard to get into, and I admit I started the pilot with reservations over the very dated look, and very basic sets. Frankly as well, the very 'sitcom' aesthetics and structure to the whole thing put me off a little, because generally I am not one for network sitcoms, even if I do watch a few.

However, below the surface, Lucky Louie is essentially the show Louie transposed into a sitcom and given greater structure, and forced to actually have jokes. As much as I do enjoy his much more freeform show now, this sitcom structure actually works very well because it means the show not only does what his later show would do, but it has more robust narratives, a better structure around the family unit, and with more direct jokes. The show is crude, it is impatient, it is dirty, it is lazy, and it is just about getting by – all of which is very much the opposite of sitcoms, not least of which Friends, which had been the dominant example for near enough a decade before this show aired. In terms of writing it is exaggerated of course, and it is crude, but it has that sense of honesty about its characters and situations which I found really quite engaging and refreshing.

With this element at its heart the show is strong, but what really made it work was that it was consistently funny and well played out. Some of the characters really didn't work for me, but the core unit was strong and most of the narratives flow around Louie and Kim, with others just supporting. There are really no weak links in the cast though, and everyone is funny, on-point, and served with consistently good material. The basic set is something I got used to as part of the charm of the show (and the genre it is within), while the laugh track generally works even if personally I don't care for shows that use them.

It is a great sitcom though, as it manages to embrace and subvert the norms of the genre, bringing the darker, frustrated humor of Louie, but giving it greater structure and sharper (actual) jokes. Remarkable to see also that 10 years has really not affected it in any way, as it feels fresh, challenging and relevant even if it screened now.

Having watched the first three episodes of Lucky Louie I have to say I am impressed by the real world issues it choose to deal with through comedy. However, if really talking about sex makes you feel awkward, or you feel grossed out by male nudity, then this show is most likely not for you. Otherwise be prepared for some laugh out loud moments depicting a struggling young family as they deal with issues ranging from female orgasms, to racism. While this show is not where you are going to lean any profound lessons regarding these topics, it confronts them head-on in a manner that is very edgy even in today's culture. If you are open minded enough to think there is such a thing as sophisticated, gross-out humor, then you should find plenty of that here. The jokes are well executed 90% of the time and nearly the entire show is very well acted. My two complaints are the shoddy looking set design, and the 'laugh track' audience which can sometimes get annoying. These are minor complaints if what your looking for is a good laugh. The reality these characters live in is far more compelling than any sitcom out there today.

I didn't think I'd like this show, but I truly did. My husband saw the previews and asked me to tape it for him so I watched it. He is an over the road truck driver. I don't know the cast member's names, but the black guy living across the hall is fabulous. His expressions say it all. The little girl playing Lucy was so cute asking "why" to all of Louie's adult explanations.

I do have a comment about continuity, tho. In Louie's kitchen, there is a window over the sink. Since there is another apartment to the right of his (facing the front door), there cannot be a window in the kitchen, unless it is looking into the apartment next door.