Louis CK comedy special UPDATE 2012 tour

[planet planet]

It's always interesting when people do something like this. Remember a few years ago when Radiohead did the same thing? In fact, I think you were able to download the album for however much you wanted (including for free). You always hear about approaches like this being a success, but I wonder how sustainable of a business model it really is. It strikes me as the type of thing that could have artificially high sales totals the first couple times because of the novelty of the process.

Not trying to sound cynical though, because these approaches are cool/refreshing, and Louie is awesome.

Not unlike the outrageous posting fees and then actual signing dollars for these Japanese pitchers. It's a novelty.

[Smith Corks One]

Okay, honest question. For the people that are raving about him, did you like the show "Lucky Louie"? The reason I ask is because that show was my first exposure to Louis CK, and I thought it was the worst [expletive] piece of unfunny [expletive] show I had ever seen in my life. Ever. So I totally wrote the dude off. But then I saw him on Leno or Letterman or something, not doing stand-up but just talking to the host, and I thought, "Okay, this guy actually seems kind of funny." But it wasn't enough for me to really check him out based on my past experience. So I just wanna know: are there people who love him as a stand-up but think that "Lucky Louie" was just absolute [expletive] horse [expletive]? Or do the people that love him think that show was great?

[vinsanity]

The HBO show Lucky Louie? I enjoyed it. It was my first exposure, but I think his stand up is more accessible than even his show Louie on FX. You can see some clips on his youtube channel.

Kyle, I think it is if you have a following like Radiohead or Louis CK with the internet. Like he said, he's already made more than he would had gone through someone else to distribute. It's been 5 days. If his Reddit thing is true to his word, he'll do it again next year and use that money for his production company that does his TV show. He seems like the type that's willing to put in the work (he edits Louie himself) to cut out the fat and reinvest a lot of his profits in to making his next production/movie/show thing.

I don't think it works for Dane Cook or people who don't want to put in the work. Radiohead/Louis CK I think are the exception.

[Maclowery]

I honestly have never seen a minute of Lucky Louie on HBO. His FX show Louie is a very weird, dark, bummer of a show. It's never laugh-out-loud funny, but there's at least two or three moments in every episode that I think are just terrific.

His actual stand-up is far different. And, as with any artist you really enjoy, I still dislike him to some extent. He spoke pretty openly about his marriage and its troubles. Then, once he was single, it kind of made his jokes about single life icky to me. Eh. [expletive] happens. I still laughed.

/edit
Halfway through, this is pretty funny. I think I like Louis CK so much because of his ability to come off as a guy just talking to people in a funny way, not just coming out with 50 minutes of planned stories/jokes. Already twice in this routine, he's started a long story, went on a clearly ad-libbed tangent, and still hasn't gone back to the original unfinished bit he had going earlier. I have always thought his best fit was small, intimate shows. He doesn't have that arena aura that a lot of our classic best-loved comedians had, in my opinion, and that's his winning schtick.

[JunkBondTrader]

It's never laugh-out-loud funny

His actual stand-up is far different.

Disagree with both of these things. Laughed out loud frequently at his FX show (although I think I get what you're saying). And I feel like the show has encapsulated his stand up real well, to the extent it can anyway.

He's my favorite comedian by a wide margin, and there's no way in hell I'd pay $80 to see him. That's insane, had no idea his tickets were that high.

Will buy this show though. Love the idea.

[cpebbles]

Okay, honest question. For the people that are raving about him, did you like the show "Lucky Louie"? The reason I ask is because that show was my first exposure to Louis CK, and I thought it was the worst [expletive] piece of unfunny [expletive] show I had ever seen in my life. Ever. So I totally wrote the dude off. But then I saw him on Leno or Letterman or something, not doing stand-up but just talking to the host, and I thought, "Okay, this guy actually seems kind of funny." But it wasn't enough for me to really check him out based on my past experience. So I just wanna know: are there people who love him as a stand-up but think that "Lucky Louie" was just absolute [expletive] horse [expletive]? Or do the people that love him think that show was great?

Lucky Louie sucked. It wouldn't be possible for someone as funny as Louis CK to be attached to anything less funny than that show. Check out some Youtube clips of his before you write him off.

[docellis]

a long time ago i saw some of his stand up and it made me really cringe and i changed it. 5 minutes or so into it. never really thought about him again until i saw his current tv show, which i like a lot - and which made me understand the stand up crap that made me uncomfortable. i like him a lot, but he still makes me uncomfortable.

[Maclowery]

Disagree with both of these things. Laughed out loud frequently at his FX show (although I think I get what you're saying). And I feel like the show has encapsulated his stand up real well, to the extent it can anyway.

He's my favorite comedian by a wide margin, and there's no way in hell I'd pay $80 to see him. That's insane, had no idea his tickets were that high.

Will buy this show though. Love the idea.

Fair enough. I have watched it through on Netflix multiple times, I enjoy the crap out of it, and I do laugh out loud a few times at it. I just feel like its humor is much more subtle than his stand-up, which makes me spit beer, cough weed, or drop pizza, whatever I'm doing at the time.

On that note, I had to pause this new show, as I think this bit he just did was my favorite he's ever done. I was laughing so hard that I had to pause it, get another beer, and reflect on GRB. Now going back to it.

[cpebbles]

My favorite episode of Louie is up on Hulu now:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/267682/louie-come-on-god

I still can't believe FX let half of that show on the air.

[JunkBondTrader]

Disagree with both of these things. Laughed out loud frequently at his FX show (although I think I get what you're saying). And I feel like the show has encapsulated his stand up real well, to the extent it can anyway.

He's my favorite comedian by a wide margin, and there's no way in hell I'd pay $80 to see him. That's insane, had no idea his tickets were that high.

Will buy this show though. Love the idea.

Fair enough. I have watched it through on Netflix multiple times, I enjoy the crap out of it, and I do laugh out loud a few times at it. I just feel like its humor is much more subtle than his stand-up, which makes me spit beer, cough weed, or drop pizza, whatever I'm doing at the time.

On that note, I had to pause this new show, as I think this bit he just did was my favorite he's ever done. I was laughing so hard that I had to pause it, get another beer, and reflect on GRB. Now going back to it.

Yeah, see I definitely agree the show is more subtle than his stand up. I just think the overall theme and tone of the show meshes well with his stand up.

Good to hear about the new material. Looking forward to grabbing it, but I gotta clear some space on my hard drive.

Also, I watched Lucky Louie, didn't really like it. Thought it had moments, but the FX show is infinitely better.