At
first, seeing the new show “Lucky Louie,” billed as
HBO’s first sitcom filmed with a studio audience,
debuting as the follow-up to “Entourage” on Sunday
nights, Jester was skeptical that it was being
sandwiched in before Dane Cook’s new series as a
ploy to get viewers for a sub-standard show.
Watching the first episode turned this opinion
around. “Lucky Louie,” starring stand-up Louis C.K.
is nothing less than a breakthrough that takes on
the formulaic and safe sitcoms still left on
broadcast network scheduled. Yes, its adult language
is unrestrained, but not gratuitous, consistent with
the way people really talk.
The premise of its first episode revolves around
Louie’s wife trying to seduce him into getting her
pregnant again when he doesn’t think they can afford
a second child. The family dynamic, and good
supporting turns from Jerry Minor as the neighbor
and Jim Norton and Second City vet Mike Hagerty as
Louie’s buddies, play out as a downtrodden version
of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” but perhaps more
similar in spirit to “All In The Family.”
The characterizations of Louie and the supporting
characters he spars with are unapologetically
jaundiced and downbeat, and unafraid to mine
unflattering traits for humor. The writing is sharp
and creative. At first, seeing all of this play in
the laughter-backed sitcom format can seem
off-kilter, but in all, “Lucky Louie” stands on its
own.