Lucky Louie - The Complete First Season

Brilliantly funny, raw and sometimes dark, Lucky Louie was -- and remains ahead of its time.Structured like a typical sitcom, Lucky Louie explodes the audience's expectation with its frank discussions of sex and relationship issues, extremely high profanity quotient, and its, in some cases, seemingly unredeemable yet somehow affectionate characters.Those familiar with CK's stand-up with recogise his trademark style and persona, but 11 years ago, his audience was not nearly as large, and the material must have been rather... bracing for the vast majority of HBO viewers.Undoubtedly, this contributed to the show's single-season run, but if had become a hit, Mr. CK's would not have followed the trajectory that brought us his other, more succinctly eponymous series, Louie, and any number of other projects that built on this experience.Lucky Louie is a must-read for CK's fans, and for anyone who thinks that shows like Modern Family and Two and a Half Men are daring and "real" in their treatment of the subject of sex. Lucky Louie exposes their contrived, shallow (albeit very clever) writing for what it is.Lucky Louis has more in common with All in the Family and other Norman Lear series that pushed the boundaries of what could even be discussed on television.Also notable is the show's depiction of a blue collar family in a blue-collar setting. While most contemporary comedies depict their "middle class" characters as casually affluent, The main action of Lucky Louie is set in a run-down apartment (which the characters struggle to afford), in a run down section of an anonymous town, which is filled with vulgar characters who, if not exactly naturalistic in their portrayal, are more truthful in their essence than most TV characters in any genre.Finally, all of this remarable material is delivered by an extraordinary ensemble, whom I'm going to edit into this review the next time I'm at an actual desktop computer, because my texting finger is starting to hurt.TL; DR: Lucky Louie is a daring show, informed by creator Louis CK's penchant for testing his audience through transgression. It is funny as he'll. Watch it.

If you are a true Louis C. K. fan you owe it to yourself to get a copy of his first foray in to TV. It isn't quite as, umm I was about to say polished as his new show but that isn't quite the right word. It's, I dunno, slightly off. You can tell something about the show isn't quite on the mark. It maybe just a case of me mentally comparing it to the new show "Louie" which he has complete creative control over. It may just be the case that he didn't have complete creative control over this show or maybe he just wasn't ready to go that extra bit that he does in creating "Louie."Okay, I got a comparison: are you a fan of "Star Trek the Next Generation"? Watch the first season of STtNG especially if you haven't seen it since it originally aired, and compare that to the later seasons of the show. "Lucky Louie" feels like the first season of STtNG compaired to "Louie" and the later seasons of STtNG. They just tuned it better and everything feels more natural.

For many HBO subscribers, Lucky Louie was a show they loved, hated or tried to get into. While some of the situations took unrealistic jumps (one week they're paying all their bills at a check cashing joint; a few weeks later, they're shopping at Whole Foods and have a bank account), that wasn't the selling point or the main idea of the show. In many sitcoms, marriage is portrayed as this sickly sweet, conflict-quickly-resolved arrangement with stilted dialogue and trite conclusions, but not one of Louie's episodes ended in this way. In fact, profanity/nudity aside, the depiction of marriage and parenting is one of the most honest that's come across my television.In "Discipline", Louie and Kim are faced with the dilemma of how to discipline their child. It's not an easy situation and it's not resolved by the end of the episode, though by that point you know enough about the characters to understand that they are going to keep trying to teach their kid how to behave properly. That, to me, is realistic parenting - a combination of resolve, frustration and pragmatism.Such a great show and such a shame it ended too soon.

This show is very, very, funny. I don't laugh as much or as hard as the live studio audience that it was filmed in front of, but I laugh out loud- I laugh hard, or I chuckle several times throughout the episode.Louis is a genius and the writing in this show doesn't disappoint. I love him with Pamela Adlon.I really think each of these episodes with the exception of the pilot is freaking hilarious and I would have watched every season they ever made AND bought a t-shirt.I can't believe the show wasn't picked up for a second season despite the bare bones set (which was intentionally done) and despite an odd choice on some of the other actors. I probably would have cast a different actress as his daughter and may have switched up the supporting cast a bit but I still LOVE this show and think it's some of the best comedic writing we've seen in a while.

I don't have HBO so I never saw this show before. Not too long ago I purchased all the Louie DVDs from his new Fox show and have been watching season 5 on cable. I find the show very entertaining. So I decided to give his prior sitcom -- Lucky Louie -- a chance. I love it. The show is funny, raunchy (cursing is frequent), some male nudity, and sometimes it hits close to home with certain issues that come up. The setting of the show sort of reminds me of the Honeymooners ... lower income white couple in a crappy apartment, but in this case with a kid. Very entertaining after a day of work. Too bad there are only 13 episodes. But there are four commentaries and a 17-minute behind the scenes extra.

Everything was good except it was late getting here. Vv

Great show, very funny - can't believe was cancelled after one season , MADNESS !IMO , MUCH MUCH BETTER than the current 'Louie' show that's on TV, and what's that in now its 4th or 5th season is it ?This show had a lot of shouting and swearing, but hilarious in parts. From the awkward moments with their black neighbour's, to the arguments between Louie and his wife played by the brilliant Pamela Adlon, with great support casting by Mike Hagerty & hilarious Mr Jim Norton.Read on IMDb that originally a second season was commissioned for another 8 episodes, but was then cancelled, for some reason. Real shame.

Not as good as the newer series Louie, but still very entertaining.

Give it a chance. A slow burn.

Nothing to complain

louis CK is a comedy God. my favourite forever!it's frustrating that this great sitcom stopped after one season... but thank God there's (Louie), which is sort of dark comedy, and CK here is more mature and professional.if you're into (real) comedy.... have this... enjoy it... and then have (Louie)... you'll appreciate this guy's thoughts and sense of humor!