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*** Similarly, the Season 4 three-part flashback episode "In the Woods" portrays her in an extremely sympathetic life, as we see her struggling to raise Louie as he's growing more distant and reliant on drugs.
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* WorstNewsJudgementEver: One of the reports on Hurricane Jasmine begins with the death of [=LeBron James=]...and the rest of the Miami Heat...and 5.5 million other Miami-area residents. Another report from that time frame features the death of a bird due to sadness.
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* WorstNewsJudgementEver: One of the reports on Hurricane Jasmine begins with covers the death of [=LeBron James=]...[=LeBron=] James...and the rest of the Miami Heat...and 5.5 million other Miami-area residents. Another report from that time frame features the death of a bird due to sadness.
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* WorstNewsJudgementEver: One of the reports on Hurricane Jasmine begins with the death of [=LeBron James=]...and the rest of the Miami Heat...and 5.5 million other Miami-area residents. Another report from that time frame features the death of a bird due to sadness.
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Somewhat similar to ''CurbYourEnthusiasm'', ''Louie'' features no laugh track and most of the humor is derived from [[CringeComedy excruciatingly awkward or painful situations]]; however, it doesn't really carry season arcs beyond the occasional link or two, and each episode half can be seen on it's own. Occasionally, the show delves into [[WhamEpisode more serious topics]] (like [=S1E11=] "God") which are more about significant experiences in Louis C.K.'s life that made him who he is.
to:
Somewhat similar to ''CurbYourEnthusiasm'', ''Louie'' features no laugh track and most of the humor is derived from [[CringeComedy excruciatingly awkward or painful situations]]; however, it doesn't really carry season arcs beyond the occasional link or two, and each episode half can be seen on it's its own. Occasionally, the show delves into [[WhamEpisode more serious topics]] (like [=S1E11=] "God") which are more about significant experiences in Louis C.K.'s life that made him who he is.
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** Lampshaded in "Pamela Part 3" when the title character asks about the kids; Janet's mother is white. Pamela did not accept the explanation.
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* CandlelitBath: Pamela shares one with Louie in the season 4 finale.
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** F. Murray Abraham plays a swinger in "New Jersey" and Louie's uncle Excelsior in "Dad".
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** F. Murray Abraham plays a swinger in "New Jersey" and Louie's uncle Excelsior in "Dad". And then in "In the Woods Part 2," which includes extended flashbacks to Louie's childhood, he plays Louie's dad!
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** Even more bizarrely, in Season 4's "Elevator Part 4", there is an extended flashback [[spoiler:to an early point in Louie and Janet's marriage when she initially gets pregnant with Lily, and the actress playing Janet is caucasian, but she has dark hair and does not look like the mother of Lily and Jane.]]
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** Creator/JimJarmusch's ''Stranger Than Paradise'' is one of Louis' favorite movies, and the "Elevator" episodes is a WholePlotReference to them.
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* WholePlotReference: The "Elevator" Arc in season four is a parallel to [[WordOfGod one of C.K's favorite movies]], Creator/JimJarmusch's ''Stranger Than Paradise'' complete with sharing an actress in Eszter Balint.
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Moved Write Who You Know to appropriate subpage.
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:A-F]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:G-L]]
[[folder:G-L]]
[[/folder]]
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[[folder:M-R]]
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** Louie goes from having a brother in season 1 to having two sisters in season 2. [[WordOfGod An interview]] would imply that they don't exist side-by-side and that it was a {{retcon}}.
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** Louie goes from having a brother in season 1 to having two sisters in season 2. [[WordOfGod An interview]] would imply that they don't exist side-by-side and that it was a {{retcon}}.[[invoked]]
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*** "Poker" fits this description as well. [[WordOfGod Louis C.K.]] admitted that [[http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/06/29/louis-ck-breaks-down-a-scene-from-his-fx-show-louie/ the skit was inspired by a discussion he had with gay comedian Rick Crom]].
to:
*** "Poker" fits this description as well. [[WordOfGod Louis C.K.]] admitted that [[http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/06/29/louis-ck-breaks-down-a-scene-from-his-fx-show-louie/ the skit was inspired by a discussion he had with gay comedian Rick Crom]]. [[invoked]]
[[/folder]]
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[[folder:S-Z]]
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* WhatCouldHaveBeen: In-show example: Once Louie's divorce from his wife is finalized, he looks up an old high school crush. After they sit down for coffee and talk for a bit, she comes right out and says that he's been playing coulda-been. [[spoiler: They ''do'' end up having sex, however.]]
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* WhatCouldHaveBeen: In-show InUniverse example: Once Louie's divorce from his wife is finalized, he looks up an old high school crush. After they sit down for coffee and talk for a bit, she comes right out and says that he's been playing coulda-been. [[spoiler: They ''do'' end up having sex, however.]]
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* WriteWhoYouKnow: Louie regularly bases his in-show stand-up material on some incident that occurs in the episode.
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* ShaggyDogStory: Occasional, like the second half of Season 3's "Ikea / Piano Lesson". [[spoiler:Louie watches an old comedy show and ends up phoning Sarah Silverman. Talking about how he fell out with Marc Maron, he proceeds to meet with him and give a drawn out apology, only for Marc to explain he did this five years ago, and Louie leaves.]]
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* AbilityOverAppearance: Louie's ex-wife is later played by [[spoiler:African American Susan Kelechi Watson; Louis has even confirmed that he chose the actress not only because it humorously ignores how they have completely Caucasian children, but because he felt her being perfect for the role took priority.]]
to:
* AbilityOverAppearance: Louie's ex-wife is later ex-wife, Janet is played by [[spoiler:African African American Susan Kelechi Watson; Louis has even confirmed that he chose the actress not only because it humorously ignores how they have completely Caucasian children, but because he felt her being perfect for the role took priority.]]priority. Confusing matters further, in a flashback in "Elevator Part 4", she's played by a white actress.
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** Louie's brother, Robbie, plays a recurring role in Season 1; come Season 2, and Louie suddenly has two sisters with no further mention of his brother.
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** Louie's brother, brother Robbie, plays played by comic Richard Kelly, has a recurring role in Season . In Season 1; come Season 2, and 2 Louie suddenly has two sisters with no further mention of his brother.Robbie.
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*** Robbie is back in season 4.
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** The incredibly sardonic doctor from the third season premiere.
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** The incredibly sardonic doctor from the third season premiere.premiere:
--->'''Doctor:''' Let's take a look here. ''(exasperated sigh)'' You know, there's nothing dumber than riding a motorcycle, it's just stupid. We get motorcycle fatalities in here all the time and I gotta tell you, I feel sorry for none of them. Had a guy in here a week ago--four pieces. His legs both cut off, torso, and his helmet. And a bag which has his head in it. Cut off at the neck. You know what his mom said to me? ''(turns to Louie for emphasis. Mockingly:)'' ''"Is he gonna be alright?"''
--->'''Doctor:''' Let's take a look here. ''(exasperated sigh)'' You know, there's nothing dumber than riding a motorcycle, it's just stupid. We get motorcycle fatalities in here all the time and I gotta tell you, I feel sorry for none of them. Had a guy in here a week ago--four pieces. His legs both cut off, torso, and his helmet. And a bag which has his head in it. Cut off at the neck. You know what his mom said to me? ''(turns to Louie for emphasis. Mockingly:)'' ''"Is he gonna be alright?"''
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--->'''Doctor:''' Let's take a look here. ''(exasperated sigh)'' You know, there's nothing dumber than riding a motorcycle, it's just stupid. We get motorcycle fatalities in here all the time and I gotta tell you, I feel sorry for none of them. Had a guy in here a week ago--four pieces. His legs both cut off, torso, and his helmet. And a bag which has his head in it. Cut off at the neck. You know what his mom said to me? ''(turns to Louie for emphasis. Mockingly:)'' ''"Is he gonna be alright?"''
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added to dr jerk and celeb paradox
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** The doctor played by Charles Grodin in the fourth season opener, who loudly continues to eat once Louie comes into his office, and then ultimately doesn't help him, telling him to 'come see me when you have something fun, like a blood disease.'
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** Stand-up comic Robert Kelly plays Louie's brother, Robbie.
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* ActorAllusion: Louie plays a cop in a ''Film/TheGodfather'' sequel, like he did in ''ParksAndRecreation''.
** Alcoholic, drug addicted, bitter comedian Doug Stanhope guest stars as Eddie Mack, ''an alcoholic, drug addicted, bitter comedian.''
** Alcoholic, drug addicted, bitter comedian Doug Stanhope guest stars as Eddie Mack, ''an alcoholic, drug addicted, bitter comedian.''
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* TheDanza: Pamela Adlon's character is named Pamela (unlike other characters in the show, she doesn't seem to be just a [[AsHimself fictionalized version of the actor]]).
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* HeyItsThatGuy: Ricky Gervais has a reccuring role as Louie's asshole doctor/friend.
** [[JakeAndAmir Amir]] as a comedy writer [[CringeComedy who cannot tell a joke]] in "Halloween/Ellie".
** Doug Stanhope as [[ActorAllusion run down, drunk comedian]] Eddie Mack in "Eddie".
** Tom Noonan appears as the ScareEmStraight doctor in "God".
** Pamela Segall-Adlon ([[KingOfTheHill Bobby Hill]], [[TimeSquad Otto Osworth]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Recess}} Spinelli]], ''PajamaSam'') appears as Louis' friend/crush in one of the few times she's been in anything live action that wasn't a documentary about an animated show's creation.
** [[BoardwalkEmpire Bobby Cannavale]] appears in "So Old/Playdate" as an athletics expert at Louie's daughters' school.
** In the season 3 finale, Creator/AmyPoehler appears as Louie's sister.
** [[JakeAndAmir Amir]] as a comedy writer [[CringeComedy who cannot tell a joke]] in "Halloween/Ellie".
** Doug Stanhope as [[ActorAllusion run down, drunk comedian]] Eddie Mack in "Eddie".
** Tom Noonan appears as the ScareEmStraight doctor in "God".
** Pamela Segall-Adlon ([[KingOfTheHill Bobby Hill]], [[TimeSquad Otto Osworth]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Recess}} Spinelli]], ''PajamaSam'') appears as Louis' friend/crush in one of the few times she's been in anything live action that wasn't a documentary about an animated show's creation.
** [[BoardwalkEmpire Bobby Cannavale]] appears in "So Old/Playdate" as an athletics expert at Louie's daughters' school.
** In the season 3 finale, Creator/AmyPoehler appears as Louie's sister.
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* LanguageOfLove: In season 4, Louie dates a Hungarian woman who only speaks a few words in English.
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** TheBusCameBack: Pam is back as of Season 4.
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** Episode 12 of the first season, Louie's brother asks him when was the last time he exercised, and Louie responds never. Five episodes earlier, Louie and his brother are shown exercising together at the gym.
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** "Elevator (Part 1)" touches on the very real fear of being separated from one's child for a lengthy period of time in a public setting. Louis is with his kids in a subway car when Jane, believing herself to still be in a dream, decides to walk away from Louie and Lilly as the doors are closing. Frantic, Louis yells for someone to stop the train while Jane assuredly yells at him that she will stay exactly in place until Louis comes to find her. From there, we follow Louis and Lilly as they're forced to ride the train to the next stop, get onto a different train to take them back to Jane, and sprint from the subway station to Jane's location across the street. Meanwhile, at one point, Jane is approached by a man, and the audience isn't sure if he'll take her away from her spot or not. When Louis finally reaches Jane, it offers a moment of relief and sadness, as Louis proceeds to yell at and shake Jane, admonishing her for acting so irresponsibly (leading her to cry). The action is rough to watch, but completely understandable for any parent scared to death of a similar situation happening to them and their kids.
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end of hiatus update
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Following the third season, the show is currently on an extended hiatus between seasons; Louis has stated season four [[http://weblogs.variety.com/thevote/2012/10/louie.html will air around May 2014.]]
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Following the third season, the show is currently went on an extended hiatus between seasons; Louis has stated so CK could recharge his creative batteries, finally returning for its fourth season four [[http://weblogs.variety.com/thevote/2012/10/louie.html will air around in May 2014.]] 2014.
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* YouHaveToHaveJews: Louie's agent gets him a part he doesn't want in Matthew Broderick's remake of ''The Godfather'', which is set two years in the future and "with all Jews".
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* YouHaveToHaveJews: Louie's agent gets him a part he doesn't want in Matthew Broderick's remake of ''The Godfather'', which is set two years in the future and "with "it's all Jews".
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Following the third season, the show is currently on an extended hiatus between seasons; Louis has stated season four [[http://weblogs.variety.com/thevote/2012/10/louie.html will probably air around May 2014.]]
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Following the third season, the show is currently on an extended hiatus between seasons; Louis has stated season four [[http://weblogs.variety.com/thevote/2012/10/louie.html will probably air around May 2014.]]
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* WidgetSeries: It's definitely a W(H)AT, but in a more casual way than outwardly crazy.
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** In the season 3 finale, [[AmyPoehler]] appears as Louie's sister.
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** In the season 3 finale, [[AmyPoehler]] Creator/AmyPoehler appears as Louie's sister.
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*** As of season 3, Louie has an additional (or just the one?) sister played by [[AmyPoehler]].
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*** As of season 3, Louie has an additional (or just the one?) sister played by [[AmyPoehler]].Creator/AmyPoehler.
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** [[BoardwalkEmpire Bobby Cannavale]] appears in "So Old/Playdate" as an athletics expert at Louie's daughters' school.
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** [[BoardwalkEmpire Bobby Cannavale]] appears in "So Old/Playdate" as an athletics expert at Louie's daughters' school. school.
** In the season 3 finale, [[AmyPoehler]] appears as Louie's sister.
** In the season 3 finale, [[AmyPoehler]] appears as Louie's sister.
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*** As of season 3, Louie has an additional (or just the one?) sister played by [[AmyPoehler]].
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** Louie's uncle Excelsior, played by F. Murray Abraham.
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[[quoteright:220:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2s99ish_8487.png]]
''Louie'' is a semi-autobiographic comedy show written by, directed by and starring stand-up comedian LouisCK, shown on FX.
Typically following Louie performing stand up (similarly to ''{{Seinfeld}}''), the episode also delves into a fiction version of his real life with his daughters, and is set to a mostly dry soundtrack (or silence) and no LaughTrack. Most episodes [[HalfwayPlotSwitch have two unrelated stories]], and some of the material is either somewhat surreal or similar to his Youtube material, but overall the show gives the impression of being [[TruthInTelevision fairly true to life.]]
Somewhat similar to ''CurbYourEnthusiasm'', ''Louie'' features no laugh track and most of the humor is derived from [[CringeComedy excruciatingly awkward or painful situations]]; however, it doesn't really carry season arcs beyond the occasional link or two, and each episode half can be seen on it's own. Occasionally, the show delves into [[WhamEpisode more serious topics]] (like [=S1E11=] "God") which are more about significant experiences in Louis C.K.'s life that made him who he is.
Following the third season, the show is currently on an extended hiatus between seasons; Louis has stated season four [[http://weblogs.variety.com/thevote/2012/10/louie.html will probably air around May 2014.]]
----
!!Provides examples of:
* AbilityOverAppearance: Louie's ex-wife is later played by [[spoiler:African American Susan Kelechi Watson; Louis has even confirmed that he chose the actress not only because it humorously ignores how they have completely Caucasian children, but because he felt her being perfect for the role took priority.]]
* ActorAllusion: Louie plays a cop in a ''Film/TheGodfather'' sequel, like he did in ''ParksAndRecreation''.
** Alcoholic, drug addicted, bitter comedian Doug Stanhope guest stars as Eddie Mack, ''an alcoholic, drug addicted, bitter comedian.''
* {{Adorkable}}: Louie.
* AdultFear: A couple of thugs are following you? Scary. A couple of thugs catch up to you and start threatening your children? Terrifying.
* AerithAndBob: There is a student in one of Louie's girls' class named Never.
* AnAesop: Episodes will carry morals on occasion, such as the importance of neighbors in "Pregnant."
* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Louie and Pam, who even turns him down when he vents how much he loves Pam. Even taken to the extreme in the Season 2 finale when [[spoiler:she leaves with Serge and tells him they can't be together, only for Louie to later mishear her shouting "Wave to me!" as "Wait for me!" as she heads into the airport.]]
* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: Hoo boy, Louie's mom....
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Louie's list of things it would be weird to start doing after age 40 include getting into fights, sucking other guys' dicks, and skiing.
* AsHimself: Louie obviously, but Todd Barry, Nick Di Paolo and a few other stand-up comedians appear as themselves.
** The most notable real-life cameos from the second season are Joan Rivers, Dane Cook, and Creator/ChrisRock.
** The third season Late Show arc brings us Jay Leno, Chris Rock again, and, briefly, Susan Sarandon and Paul Rudd as guests during Louie's test show. Fellow stand-ups Maria Bamford and Sarah Silverman also made a few appearances each earlier in the season.
* AuthorAppeal: "Come On, God" and "Duckling" both featured Louie hitting on (and getting rejected by) "good Christian girls". Maybe he's just attracted to women who would never sleep with him.
** Also he tends to fantasize about and lust after mostly blondes (Pamela being the major exception).
* BittersweetEnding: Frequently, but especially the end of Night Out.
** Also the ending of New Jersey/Airport.
** Also the ending of "Eddie." [[spoiler:Eddie finally confides that he's doing one more show and killing himself. Eddie also admits he visited Louie because he was his only friend, and Louie eventually accepts that he can't stop him and says goodbye.]]
* BlackComedy: One of the main sources of humour.
** One episode even has [[spoiler:Louie's sister, who previously miscarried her baby (and was so devastated her marriage fell apart) suffering severe abdominal pains in the night, and is rushed to hospital screaming about how she thinks her baby is dying; upon reaching the hospital and following the episode aesop, however, ''it turns out her pain was just wind pains from a huge fart.]]''
** In universe, one episode has Louie pitching a movie. His idea is an entire movie of HumiliationConga and DespairEventHorizon. [[spoiler: The producer ditches him ''during a lunch date'' as soon as possible.]]
* BlackComedyRape: While at a dentist's appointment, Louie find himself under the influence of some laughing gas. He has hallucination of being fed a banana by the dentist. As he comes out of his hallucination, the audience can see the dentist zipping his pants back up....
* [[BrotherSisterIncest Brother-Brother Incest]]: Louie's brother Robbie tries to rope him into a threeway with a girl he's been seeing (she claims that a single guy won't get her horny).
* BumblingDad: Louie loves his daughters, and claims to be good at dealing with them, but his interactions with them can evoke this trope from time to time.
* ButtMonkey[=/=]ChewToy: Louie.
* [[CallingTheOldManOut Calling the Old Bag Out]]: Louie's mom comes out as a lesbian. Louie is more concerned with his mom's really cruel neglectful behavior in the past, all of which she handwaves. Finally, he lets her have it with both barrels.
-->'''Mom''': Don't you want to hear about how I met my wife?
-->'''Louie''': [[PrecisionFStrike I don't give a shit!]]
* TheCastShowoff: The season 3 episode "Dad" opens with a minute-long sequence of Ursula Parker, the little girl who plays Louie's younger daughter Jane, flawlessly playing the violin. Of course the music is cut off by Louie yanking the instrument out of her hands and yelling at her to go do her homework.
** That same episode, Ursula Parker shows off her fluency in Slovenian.
* CelebrityParadox: For the most part, almost every recognizable comedian showing up on the show is playing as themselves... and then we have Amy Poehler playing as Louie's sister Debbie.
* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Christians Against Masturbation leader Ellen Farber, when Louie rants at her about how she doesn't have the right to tell him that masturbation is wrong:
-->'''Louie:''' And later I'm gonna masturbate and I'm gonna think about ''you,'' and there's nothing you can do about it.\\
'''Farber:''' ''(concerned)'' I hope you do think about me! I hope you think about what I've said--that's exactly what I want!
* ContinuityNod: For the most part, every episode can stand on its own, but in "Blueberries", Louie has a rather disturbing sexual encounter with the mother of one of his daughters' classmates (to clarify, she asks him to spank her and breaks down hysterically on the bed). In "Duckling", Louie glimpses her coming out of the class as he's picking up his daughter and she gives him a dirty look. In "Ikea[=/=]Piano Lesson", she asks him to come to therapy with her to talk about the incident.
** In "Pregnant," the first episode of season 2, Louie's neighbors offer to watch his kids while he tends to an emergency with his sister. Midway through season 3, in "Lilly Changes," Louie has the idea to leave his younger daughter with the same neighbors so he can search for his missing older daughter, only to find that they're in the middle of a serious argument and can't help him right then.
* CrapsackWorld: Nearly every single character but Louie (and occasionally even him) is an unrepentant asshole and Louie never, ever, ''ever'' catches a break.
* CringeComedy: The entire show.
* CutenessProximity: Louie's duckling is cute enough to [[spoiler:defuse a possible shootout between Afghani militia and US soldiers]].
* TheCutie: Ellen Farber.
* TheDanza: Pamela Adlon's character is named Pamela (unlike other characters in the show, she doesn't seem to be just a [[AsHimself fictionalized version of the actor]]).
* ADateWithRosiePalms:
** "Here's the thing: I'm 42, I'm really good at masturbating."
** [[http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpti5r7ZML1qca3u4o1_500.png Masturbation and a bit of premarital sex is basically the whole premise of "Come On, God".]]
* DisproportionateRetribution: A young bully named Sean threatens to put Louie in the hospital. Why? [[spoiler: Because Louie asked him (and his friends) to be quiet while he was out on a date.]]
** On the other hand, [[spoiler: after his date is spoiled]], Louie decides to [[spoiler: follow the bully back to his home in '''''Staten Island''''', to personally approach the parents of his date-ruiner]]. Things don't go well, but do end on a [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet]] note, with Louie [[spoiler: bonding with the bully's father]].
* TheDogBitesBack: Depending on whether or not he can, Louie will attempt to get back at the people who've wronged him. It can be petty at times.
* DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale: In the episode "Telling Jokes/Set Up", Louie goes out with a woman named Laurie. After Laurie gives him oral in his car, she expects him to return the favor, but Louie refuses. Laurie eventually smashes his head against the window and threatens to break his fingers. Louie relents, and in the end, they decide to go out again.
** A feminist writing for Slate managed to write [[http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/07/06/louis_c_k_and_melissa_leo_take_on_sexual_reciprocity_on_louie_.html two]] [[http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2012/07/06/512082/date-rape-and-last-nights-louie/ entire]] posts without explicitly calling it "rape" or even clearly saying it was wrong, even when she directly compared the incident to male date rape. Apparently, it's just "coercion" to threaten to break someone's fingers if they don't give you head. Even feminist readers of the article took issue with her hypocrisy.
* DrJerk:
** Dr. Ben, who insults Louie for being out of shape and having "the worst penis ever." He's the second biggest jerk in the series, after the first version of Louie's mother.
** The incredibly sardonic doctor from the third season premiere.
--->'''Doctor:''' Let's take a look here. ''(exasperated sigh)'' You know, there's nothing dumber than riding a motorcycle, it's just stupid. We get motorcycle fatalities in here all the time and I gotta tell you, I feel sorry for none of them. Had a guy in here a week ago--four pieces. His legs both cut off, torso, and his helmet. And a bag which has his head in it. Cut off at the neck. You know what his mom said to me? ''(turns to Louie for emphasis. Mockingly:)'' ''"Is he gonna be alright?"''
* DramaticIrony: The second season finale. [[spoiler:Pamela leaves for Paris and makes it ''extremely clear'' that Louie shouldn't keep pining for her. Then after she crosses the turnstile, she yells halfway across the airport at Louie to "wave at me!" only for him to mishear it as "wait for me!". Louie goes home in high spirits.]]
* [[{{Dude Not Funny}} Dude Not Funny]]: In-universe. Louie is interviewed by a couple of obnoxious Kansas City radio DJ's. Louie tolerates their antics and tries to get into the spirit by making fun of Kansas City. They respond with shocked silence before dropping his call.
* DumbassDJ: Louie is forced by his agent to call in to a show with them to promote a performance in Kansas City. Their spiel includes several nonsense words, which Louie understands clearly.
* DysfunctionJunction: Maybe the children aren't disturbingly neurotic.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Compared to the later seasons, the first season was a bit more surreal, with the pilot episode ending with his date ''escaping from him via helicopter''.
* EverybodyLaughsEnding: Happens in "Poker". After gay comedian Rick Crom explained the serious implications of freely using the word "faggot" for comedic purposes, the room goes silent...until Nick breaks the tension by trash talking Rick using the very slur. The laughing doesn't feel contrived here or the rest of the sketch, because the viewers are, more than likely laughing along with the comedians.
* FutureMeScaresMe: The subject of a tag. Present Louie appears to child Louie and shows him that he'll grow up to be fat and ugly ("you're gonna be bald, too"), but when child Louie asks what the hell happened, present Louie simply says, "I dunno, man. You'll see."
* GangOfBullies: Sean and his friends could qualify as this.
* GoingCosmic: Episode 11 of the first season. Apart from two short segments of Louis' stand up, the entire episode is a very personal story of Louis' early experiences with religion.
* GoodSamaritan: "Brother, do not let your sister die from pain or lose her baby because you are awkward with strangers."
* HeroicBlueScreenOfDeath:
** Louie has an epic one while dealing with his sister's pregnancy scare in the season two premier.
** Another bad one in the next episode, where Louie dodging a crazy hobo causes the guy to get hit by a garbage truck full-on.
* HeyItsThatGuy: Ricky Gervais has a reccuring role as Louie's asshole doctor/friend.
** [[JakeAndAmir Amir]] as a comedy writer [[CringeComedy who cannot tell a joke]] in "Halloween/Ellie".
** Doug Stanhope as [[ActorAllusion run down, drunk comedian]] Eddie Mack in "Eddie".
** Tom Noonan appears as the ScareEmStraight doctor in "God".
** Pamela Segall-Adlon ([[KingOfTheHill Bobby Hill]], [[TimeSquad Otto Osworth]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Recess}} Spinelli]], ''PajamaSam'') appears as Louis' friend/crush in one of the few times she's been in anything live action that wasn't a documentary about an animated show's creation.
** [[BoardwalkEmpire Bobby Cannavale]] appears in "So Old/Playdate" as an athletics expert at Louie's daughters' school.
* HollywoodAtheist: [[PetTheDog Surprisingly averted]] with (the second version of) Louie's mother, who, despite not having any strong belief in God or Jesus, seems to find it unfair to totally deprive Louie of religion just because she's not a believer and stresses that treating everyone kindly is good enough.
* HypocriticalHumor: One of Louie's dates reveals that she already has a kid, something she assumes will scare off Louie. When he says that he's cool with it and he has two daughters himself, the woman says that she "can't take this all right now." What.
* IDidntMeanToTurnYouOn: Ellen from "Come On, God", despite completely meaning to stay celibate until marriage, invites Louie to drinks and then to her apartment, where she changes into a silk robe.
* IdiotBall: Louie's decision to buy a motorcycle and the resulting accident is treated in this manner by everyone in the third season premiere.
* ImagineSpot: "Come On, God" demonstrates that Louie has ''really'' lame masturbation fantasies.
* {{Jerkass}}: ...pretty much everybody, but (the first version of) Louie's mother is a standout. She's impossible to please and doesn't care about a single person in any capacity but herself. Hell, she invited Louie and his daughters to her house for Christmas once and ''stood them up'' to go to Phoenix! It takes a real piece of work for someone telling his own mother that he doesn't love her and to get out of his life forever in public after she comes out as a lesbian to him to ''not'' come across as a KickTheDog moment.
-->'''Louie:''' My kids spent Christmas in a ''Holiday Inn.'' And Santa brought them each a bag of ''[=M&Ms=]''.\\
'''Mother:''' Are you serious? Your mother tells you that she just found out who she is, and you have ''no'' opinion?\\
'''Louie:''' Nope. I don't care.\\
'''Mother:''' A-ha! [[ComicallyMissingThePoint You're homophobic!]]
* JitterCam: Used on occasion.
* KickTheDog: Louie's youngest daughter expresses her greater love for her mother, while he's in the middle of brushing her teeth. This is when Louie previously expressed the idea of suicide when his daughters grow too old to need him. This happens to Louie in general.
* LipstickLesbian: Louie's mother's wife, Jasmine.
* LiteralMinded: When Louie tells his therapist that sometimes he sees his mother when he looks at his daughter, the therapist keeps asking in confusion as to whether she's in the house.
* LoveConfession: [[spoiler:Louie to Pamela in "Pamela".]]
* {{Malaproper}}: Robbie consistently says "lesbonian".
* MarijuanaIsLSD: Probably done for comedic effect, but the pot that Louie smokes with his neighbor in season one apparently can make a dog appear to change breed and replace his neighbor's face with freaky animal masks. To be fair, Louie's neighbor was getting him REALLY high, and was messing with him throughout the whole sequence.
* MatzoFever: Louie claims to have it in a stand-up routine, apparently because they're very no-nonsense sexually.
* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Liz considers herself this.
** Louie is dragged around by another woman who seems to be a deconstruction of the trope in Looking For Liz. She tries to be quirky and exciting and adventurously passionate in love and life, but is just awkward and scary, and gross, with her wacky schemes falling on her face.
* MoodWhiplash: Often, but dear God, "New Year's Eve" (the Season 3 finale) takes the cake. [[spoiler:Louie, depressed at being alone on Christmas Eve in the aftermath of his failure to get the Late Show gig, earns a slight amount of elation when he spots Liz, his love interest from earlier in the season. They recognize each other on the bus and begin to hug, when - SECONDS LATER - blood starts pouring out of her nose. The scene cuts to the hospital, where we see doctors working on her. Liz realizes how serious things are and can only leave Louie with a somewhat confused "Goodbye?" before she faints... and [[KilledOffForReal dies.]] What... the... Hell.]]
** And to add to that, [[spoiler:immediately after she dies Louie walks out of the hospital room to people counting down to and celebrating the New Year.]]
* NWordPrivileges: Acceptable usage of "faggot" is discussed in "Poker" at the beginning of season one's second episode.
* NegativeContinuity: Continuity in characterization, et cetera is of little concern to Louis C.K., and he's explicitly stated that if he gets bored of some element of the show, he'll change it without any kind of announcement.
** In the episode "Mom", Louie's mother is a callous, self-centered, and unloving black hole of a person, while in "God" she's kind and reasonable.
** Louie goes from having a brother in season 1 to having two sisters in season 2. [[WordOfGod An interview]] would imply that they don't exist side-by-side and that it was a {{retcon}}.
* NightmareDreams: Louie has a terrible nightmare after the incident described in ScareEmStraight.
* NoSocialSkills: Louie is a pretty awkward guy. His difficulty connecting with other people is the main point of "Niece".
* ParentWithNewParamour: Louie's mother shows up out of the blue midway through the first season with a new sexuality and a new wife to match.
-->'''Robbie:''' So let me get this straight...my mother's married to a girl who's ''younger'' than me, and ''way'' hotter than any chick I've ever dated--or ever ''will'' date--in my life.
* PutOnABus: Pam moves to France at the end of season two.
* OneSteveLimit: Averted. The name Ellen (and variations such as Ellie) show up frequently as the names of various unrelated female characters.
* OverlyLongGag: Louie rocking out to the entirety of The Who's "Who Are You?" in "Country Road".
* [[RacistGrandma Racist Great-Great-Aunt]]: Louie's great-aunt Ellen. It's initially implied to be a simple case of HaveAGayOldTime (she calls Brazil nuts "nigger toes"), but when she hears that Louie and his daughters live in New York...
-->'''Ellen:''' Oh, my. That's no place to have two young girls! There's nothing but ''niggers''--and even worse today, I hear!
* RealLifeWritesThePlot
** It's very possible that the episode where he tries to play a cop for an all-Jewish remake of ''Film/TheGodfather'' is a reference to his role in ''ParksAndRecreation''.
** Certain moments on the show feel all too specific and detailed to be that made up, the shining example of this being 'God'.
*** "Poker" fits this description as well. [[WordOfGod Louis C.K.]] admitted that [[http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/06/29/louis-ck-breaks-down-a-scene-from-his-fx-show-louie/ the skit was inspired by a discussion he had with gay comedian Rick Crom]].
* RealSongThemeTune "Brother Louie" by Stories, also qualifies as an EarWorm.
* ReligiousStereotype: Subverted. Several Christian characters have appeared on the show that didn't see eye-to-eye with Louie (at all), but were shown to otherwise be decent, friendly people.
* RightThroughHisPants: Louie always wears a shirt during sex. In a stand-up routine in season 2, episode 2 he claims that it's for the woman's benefit.
* ScareEmStraight: Back in Louie's Catholic school days, when someone laughs during a lecture on the crucifixion, the nun calls in a doctor to provide a painstaking description of injuries involved in the scourging and crucifixion. Louie continues to have nightmares about it into adulthood.
* SkywardScream: Louie when he realizes that [[spoiler:he just passed up a chance for sex with Pamela]].
* SpiritualSuccessor: The show has often been described as basically being ''{{Seinfeld}}'' [-IF IT WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT NOTHING-]!
** Or ''Seinfeld'' if HBO picked it up instead of NBC and it was a dramedy instead of a sitcom.
* StandUpComedy: The show's main stories are interspersed with Louie's material performed at (mostly) a small club in New York.
* SurroundedByIdiots: Louie learns this in the very first episode. He's chaperoning a school field trip to the Bronx Botanical Gardens and has to deal with a bus driver who knows neither how to get there nor which roads are bus-legal and a teacher who apparently thinks it's wise to have a classful of children walk on foot to a subway station in Harlem.
* TheTag: Might be HilariousOuttakes, another standup segment, or a short scene tying up loose ends.
* TearJerker: Robbie starts sobbing quietly after his mother abjectly refuses to say "I love you" to him and walks out of the restaurant they were in. [[invoked]]
* TensionCuttingLaughter: In a standoff between [[spoiler:Afghani militia and US soldiers,]] all it took was Louie tripping all over himself to make everyone laugh and diffuse the situation entirely.
* ThereAreNoTherapists: Louie has one, sure, but he seems to be impressively useless.
-->'''Therapist:''' Do think it might be because you're fat?\\
'''Therapist:''' ''(on another occasion)'' Have you ever...heard news about somebody dying...and then you got an erection?
* ThreeShorts: There might be some continuity between the three shorts, but they're always named as separate vignettes in the episode's closing credits.
* AThreesomeIsManly: Robbie doesn't seem to mind the idea of a two-man three-way. [[BrotherSisterIncest He doesn't even seem to mind the idea of his own brother being the second man.]]
* {{Tsundere}}: Pamela could qualify as this. She's abrasive, cynical, and jerky towards Louie. But she does care about him and enjoys having him as a friend, though Louie would like to be something more. [[spoiler: Too bad he blows it.]]
* TheVerse: A strange version; while the episodes tend to be unrelated and independent of one another, the characters can completely change in between them.
** Louie's mom, who is initially a selfish asshole who puts herself before everyone else in ''[=S01E07=] "Mom,"'' turns into a loving, caring parent by ''[=S01E12=] God."''
** Louie's brother, Robbie, plays a recurring role in Season 1; come Season 2, and Louie suddenly has two sisters with no further mention of his brother.
** Louie's ex-wife initially appears only once as a white-skinned pair of hands in ''[=S02E07=] "Oh, Louie."'' [[spoiler:Come Season 3, she is humorously played by black actress Susan Kelechi Watson ''with zero explanation or [[HandWave handwaving]] as to how a mixed race couple has completely white children.'']]
* VitriolicBestBuds: Louie and Nick [=DiPaolo=] (their characters, at least).
** Louis and Dr. Ben might qualify, as Louis never seems to get particularly upset at the doc, but will call him an ass.
** There are also cases, as which Louie's friendship with Pamela and Eddie, where there's a lot of bile directed at Louie, and he barely reprises because he values their friendship (and he probably finds it funny).
* WellDoneSonGuy: Louie's brother [[{{Jerkass}} Robbie]] loves their mother very much and just wants to hear her say that she loves him. [[spoiler:Not only does she not say it, she storms out of the restaurant very visibly offended.]]
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Osama is shown to think he is one during Louie's laughing gas hallucination in episode 10. [[ShutUpHannibal Louie calls it bullshit.]]
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: In-show example: Once Louie's divorce from his wife is finalized, he looks up an old high school crush. After they sit down for coffee and talk for a bit, she comes right out and says that he's been playing coulda-been. [[spoiler: They ''do'' end up having sex, however.]]
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Louie has a strong phobia of seeing the dentist.
* WomenPreferStrongMen:
** In the episode "Bully," Louie is on a date with another middle-aged woman. It goes well until a teenager whom Louie asked to quiet down comes over and threatens to beat Louie up. Louie backs down and his date explains in brutally honest fashion that while she understands intellectually that Louie made the sensible, adult choice, at some gut level for her he's simply not a sexual or romantic prospect anymore because he wasn't "strong." They exchange awkward, mutually unhappy goodbyes, with both of them acknowledging that this is a screwed up situation, and the date ends.
** Another episode has Louie attempt to woo a black woman. As he questions her over and over again as to why she wont give him a chance, he eventually happens on the reason: she's used to big, strong, athletic black guys, and Louie is pasty, pudgy, and white--practically gay in comparison, to paraphrase.
* WriteWhoYouKnow: Louie regularly bases his in-show stand-up material on some incident that occurs in the episode.
* YouLookFamiliar: Occasionally.
** William Stephenson appears as both a bus driver in the pilot and as himself in "Oh Louie/Tickets".
** Amy Landecker appears as Louie's date in "Bully" and as a young Louie's mother in "God".
---->''Do you want a doughnut?.''
** F. Murray Abraham plays a swinger in "New Jersey" and Louie's uncle Excelsior in "Dad".
* YouHaveToHaveJews: Louie's agent gets him a part he doesn't want in Matthew Broderick's remake of ''The Godfather'', which is set two years in the future and "with all Jews".
----
''Louie'' is a semi-autobiographic comedy show written by, directed by and starring stand-up comedian LouisCK, shown on FX.
Typically following Louie performing stand up (similarly to ''{{Seinfeld}}''), the episode also delves into a fiction version of his real life with his daughters, and is set to a mostly dry soundtrack (or silence) and no LaughTrack. Most episodes [[HalfwayPlotSwitch have two unrelated stories]], and some of the material is either somewhat surreal or similar to his Youtube material, but overall the show gives the impression of being [[TruthInTelevision fairly true to life.]]
Somewhat similar to ''CurbYourEnthusiasm'', ''Louie'' features no laugh track and most of the humor is derived from [[CringeComedy excruciatingly awkward or painful situations]]; however, it doesn't really carry season arcs beyond the occasional link or two, and each episode half can be seen on it's own. Occasionally, the show delves into [[WhamEpisode more serious topics]] (like [=S1E11=] "God") which are more about significant experiences in Louis C.K.'s life that made him who he is.
Following the third season, the show is currently on an extended hiatus between seasons; Louis has stated season four [[http://weblogs.variety.com/thevote/2012/10/louie.html will probably air around May 2014.]]
----
!!Provides examples of:
* AbilityOverAppearance: Louie's ex-wife is later played by [[spoiler:African American Susan Kelechi Watson; Louis has even confirmed that he chose the actress not only because it humorously ignores how they have completely Caucasian children, but because he felt her being perfect for the role took priority.]]
* ActorAllusion: Louie plays a cop in a ''Film/TheGodfather'' sequel, like he did in ''ParksAndRecreation''.
** Alcoholic, drug addicted, bitter comedian Doug Stanhope guest stars as Eddie Mack, ''an alcoholic, drug addicted, bitter comedian.''
* {{Adorkable}}: Louie.
* AdultFear: A couple of thugs are following you? Scary. A couple of thugs catch up to you and start threatening your children? Terrifying.
* AerithAndBob: There is a student in one of Louie's girls' class named Never.
* AnAesop: Episodes will carry morals on occasion, such as the importance of neighbors in "Pregnant."
* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Louie and Pam, who even turns him down when he vents how much he loves Pam. Even taken to the extreme in the Season 2 finale when [[spoiler:she leaves with Serge and tells him they can't be together, only for Louie to later mishear her shouting "Wave to me!" as "Wait for me!" as she heads into the airport.]]
* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: Hoo boy, Louie's mom....
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Louie's list of things it would be weird to start doing after age 40 include getting into fights, sucking other guys' dicks, and skiing.
* AsHimself: Louie obviously, but Todd Barry, Nick Di Paolo and a few other stand-up comedians appear as themselves.
** The most notable real-life cameos from the second season are Joan Rivers, Dane Cook, and Creator/ChrisRock.
** The third season Late Show arc brings us Jay Leno, Chris Rock again, and, briefly, Susan Sarandon and Paul Rudd as guests during Louie's test show. Fellow stand-ups Maria Bamford and Sarah Silverman also made a few appearances each earlier in the season.
* AuthorAppeal: "Come On, God" and "Duckling" both featured Louie hitting on (and getting rejected by) "good Christian girls". Maybe he's just attracted to women who would never sleep with him.
** Also he tends to fantasize about and lust after mostly blondes (Pamela being the major exception).
* BittersweetEnding: Frequently, but especially the end of Night Out.
** Also the ending of New Jersey/Airport.
** Also the ending of "Eddie." [[spoiler:Eddie finally confides that he's doing one more show and killing himself. Eddie also admits he visited Louie because he was his only friend, and Louie eventually accepts that he can't stop him and says goodbye.]]
* BlackComedy: One of the main sources of humour.
** One episode even has [[spoiler:Louie's sister, who previously miscarried her baby (and was so devastated her marriage fell apart) suffering severe abdominal pains in the night, and is rushed to hospital screaming about how she thinks her baby is dying; upon reaching the hospital and following the episode aesop, however, ''it turns out her pain was just wind pains from a huge fart.]]''
** In universe, one episode has Louie pitching a movie. His idea is an entire movie of HumiliationConga and DespairEventHorizon. [[spoiler: The producer ditches him ''during a lunch date'' as soon as possible.]]
* BlackComedyRape: While at a dentist's appointment, Louie find himself under the influence of some laughing gas. He has hallucination of being fed a banana by the dentist. As he comes out of his hallucination, the audience can see the dentist zipping his pants back up....
* [[BrotherSisterIncest Brother-Brother Incest]]: Louie's brother Robbie tries to rope him into a threeway with a girl he's been seeing (she claims that a single guy won't get her horny).
* BumblingDad: Louie loves his daughters, and claims to be good at dealing with them, but his interactions with them can evoke this trope from time to time.
* ButtMonkey[=/=]ChewToy: Louie.
* [[CallingTheOldManOut Calling the Old Bag Out]]: Louie's mom comes out as a lesbian. Louie is more concerned with his mom's really cruel neglectful behavior in the past, all of which she handwaves. Finally, he lets her have it with both barrels.
-->'''Mom''': Don't you want to hear about how I met my wife?
-->'''Louie''': [[PrecisionFStrike I don't give a shit!]]
* TheCastShowoff: The season 3 episode "Dad" opens with a minute-long sequence of Ursula Parker, the little girl who plays Louie's younger daughter Jane, flawlessly playing the violin. Of course the music is cut off by Louie yanking the instrument out of her hands and yelling at her to go do her homework.
** That same episode, Ursula Parker shows off her fluency in Slovenian.
* CelebrityParadox: For the most part, almost every recognizable comedian showing up on the show is playing as themselves... and then we have Amy Poehler playing as Louie's sister Debbie.
* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Christians Against Masturbation leader Ellen Farber, when Louie rants at her about how she doesn't have the right to tell him that masturbation is wrong:
-->'''Louie:''' And later I'm gonna masturbate and I'm gonna think about ''you,'' and there's nothing you can do about it.\\
'''Farber:''' ''(concerned)'' I hope you do think about me! I hope you think about what I've said--that's exactly what I want!
* ContinuityNod: For the most part, every episode can stand on its own, but in "Blueberries", Louie has a rather disturbing sexual encounter with the mother of one of his daughters' classmates (to clarify, she asks him to spank her and breaks down hysterically on the bed). In "Duckling", Louie glimpses her coming out of the class as he's picking up his daughter and she gives him a dirty look. In "Ikea[=/=]Piano Lesson", she asks him to come to therapy with her to talk about the incident.
** In "Pregnant," the first episode of season 2, Louie's neighbors offer to watch his kids while he tends to an emergency with his sister. Midway through season 3, in "Lilly Changes," Louie has the idea to leave his younger daughter with the same neighbors so he can search for his missing older daughter, only to find that they're in the middle of a serious argument and can't help him right then.
* CrapsackWorld: Nearly every single character but Louie (and occasionally even him) is an unrepentant asshole and Louie never, ever, ''ever'' catches a break.
* CringeComedy: The entire show.
* CutenessProximity: Louie's duckling is cute enough to [[spoiler:defuse a possible shootout between Afghani militia and US soldiers]].
* TheCutie: Ellen Farber.
* TheDanza: Pamela Adlon's character is named Pamela (unlike other characters in the show, she doesn't seem to be just a [[AsHimself fictionalized version of the actor]]).
* ADateWithRosiePalms:
** "Here's the thing: I'm 42, I'm really good at masturbating."
** [[http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpti5r7ZML1qca3u4o1_500.png Masturbation and a bit of premarital sex is basically the whole premise of "Come On, God".]]
* DisproportionateRetribution: A young bully named Sean threatens to put Louie in the hospital. Why? [[spoiler: Because Louie asked him (and his friends) to be quiet while he was out on a date.]]
** On the other hand, [[spoiler: after his date is spoiled]], Louie decides to [[spoiler: follow the bully back to his home in '''''Staten Island''''', to personally approach the parents of his date-ruiner]]. Things don't go well, but do end on a [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet]] note, with Louie [[spoiler: bonding with the bully's father]].
* TheDogBitesBack: Depending on whether or not he can, Louie will attempt to get back at the people who've wronged him. It can be petty at times.
* DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale: In the episode "Telling Jokes/Set Up", Louie goes out with a woman named Laurie. After Laurie gives him oral in his car, she expects him to return the favor, but Louie refuses. Laurie eventually smashes his head against the window and threatens to break his fingers. Louie relents, and in the end, they decide to go out again.
** A feminist writing for Slate managed to write [[http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/07/06/louis_c_k_and_melissa_leo_take_on_sexual_reciprocity_on_louie_.html two]] [[http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2012/07/06/512082/date-rape-and-last-nights-louie/ entire]] posts without explicitly calling it "rape" or even clearly saying it was wrong, even when she directly compared the incident to male date rape. Apparently, it's just "coercion" to threaten to break someone's fingers if they don't give you head. Even feminist readers of the article took issue with her hypocrisy.
* DrJerk:
** Dr. Ben, who insults Louie for being out of shape and having "the worst penis ever." He's the second biggest jerk in the series, after the first version of Louie's mother.
** The incredibly sardonic doctor from the third season premiere.
--->'''Doctor:''' Let's take a look here. ''(exasperated sigh)'' You know, there's nothing dumber than riding a motorcycle, it's just stupid. We get motorcycle fatalities in here all the time and I gotta tell you, I feel sorry for none of them. Had a guy in here a week ago--four pieces. His legs both cut off, torso, and his helmet. And a bag which has his head in it. Cut off at the neck. You know what his mom said to me? ''(turns to Louie for emphasis. Mockingly:)'' ''"Is he gonna be alright?"''
* DramaticIrony: The second season finale. [[spoiler:Pamela leaves for Paris and makes it ''extremely clear'' that Louie shouldn't keep pining for her. Then after she crosses the turnstile, she yells halfway across the airport at Louie to "wave at me!" only for him to mishear it as "wait for me!". Louie goes home in high spirits.]]
* [[{{Dude Not Funny}} Dude Not Funny]]: In-universe. Louie is interviewed by a couple of obnoxious Kansas City radio DJ's. Louie tolerates their antics and tries to get into the spirit by making fun of Kansas City. They respond with shocked silence before dropping his call.
* DumbassDJ: Louie is forced by his agent to call in to a show with them to promote a performance in Kansas City. Their spiel includes several nonsense words, which Louie understands clearly.
* DysfunctionJunction: Maybe the children aren't disturbingly neurotic.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Compared to the later seasons, the first season was a bit more surreal, with the pilot episode ending with his date ''escaping from him via helicopter''.
* EverybodyLaughsEnding: Happens in "Poker". After gay comedian Rick Crom explained the serious implications of freely using the word "faggot" for comedic purposes, the room goes silent...until Nick breaks the tension by trash talking Rick using the very slur. The laughing doesn't feel contrived here or the rest of the sketch, because the viewers are, more than likely laughing along with the comedians.
* FutureMeScaresMe: The subject of a tag. Present Louie appears to child Louie and shows him that he'll grow up to be fat and ugly ("you're gonna be bald, too"), but when child Louie asks what the hell happened, present Louie simply says, "I dunno, man. You'll see."
* GangOfBullies: Sean and his friends could qualify as this.
* GoingCosmic: Episode 11 of the first season. Apart from two short segments of Louis' stand up, the entire episode is a very personal story of Louis' early experiences with religion.
* GoodSamaritan: "Brother, do not let your sister die from pain or lose her baby because you are awkward with strangers."
* HeroicBlueScreenOfDeath:
** Louie has an epic one while dealing with his sister's pregnancy scare in the season two premier.
** Another bad one in the next episode, where Louie dodging a crazy hobo causes the guy to get hit by a garbage truck full-on.
* HeyItsThatGuy: Ricky Gervais has a reccuring role as Louie's asshole doctor/friend.
** [[JakeAndAmir Amir]] as a comedy writer [[CringeComedy who cannot tell a joke]] in "Halloween/Ellie".
** Doug Stanhope as [[ActorAllusion run down, drunk comedian]] Eddie Mack in "Eddie".
** Tom Noonan appears as the ScareEmStraight doctor in "God".
** Pamela Segall-Adlon ([[KingOfTheHill Bobby Hill]], [[TimeSquad Otto Osworth]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Recess}} Spinelli]], ''PajamaSam'') appears as Louis' friend/crush in one of the few times she's been in anything live action that wasn't a documentary about an animated show's creation.
** [[BoardwalkEmpire Bobby Cannavale]] appears in "So Old/Playdate" as an athletics expert at Louie's daughters' school.
* HollywoodAtheist: [[PetTheDog Surprisingly averted]] with (the second version of) Louie's mother, who, despite not having any strong belief in God or Jesus, seems to find it unfair to totally deprive Louie of religion just because she's not a believer and stresses that treating everyone kindly is good enough.
* HypocriticalHumor: One of Louie's dates reveals that she already has a kid, something she assumes will scare off Louie. When he says that he's cool with it and he has two daughters himself, the woman says that she "can't take this all right now." What.
* IDidntMeanToTurnYouOn: Ellen from "Come On, God", despite completely meaning to stay celibate until marriage, invites Louie to drinks and then to her apartment, where she changes into a silk robe.
* IdiotBall: Louie's decision to buy a motorcycle and the resulting accident is treated in this manner by everyone in the third season premiere.
* ImagineSpot: "Come On, God" demonstrates that Louie has ''really'' lame masturbation fantasies.
* {{Jerkass}}: ...pretty much everybody, but (the first version of) Louie's mother is a standout. She's impossible to please and doesn't care about a single person in any capacity but herself. Hell, she invited Louie and his daughters to her house for Christmas once and ''stood them up'' to go to Phoenix! It takes a real piece of work for someone telling his own mother that he doesn't love her and to get out of his life forever in public after she comes out as a lesbian to him to ''not'' come across as a KickTheDog moment.
-->'''Louie:''' My kids spent Christmas in a ''Holiday Inn.'' And Santa brought them each a bag of ''[=M&Ms=]''.\\
'''Mother:''' Are you serious? Your mother tells you that she just found out who she is, and you have ''no'' opinion?\\
'''Louie:''' Nope. I don't care.\\
'''Mother:''' A-ha! [[ComicallyMissingThePoint You're homophobic!]]
* JitterCam: Used on occasion.
* KickTheDog: Louie's youngest daughter expresses her greater love for her mother, while he's in the middle of brushing her teeth. This is when Louie previously expressed the idea of suicide when his daughters grow too old to need him. This happens to Louie in general.
* LipstickLesbian: Louie's mother's wife, Jasmine.
* LiteralMinded: When Louie tells his therapist that sometimes he sees his mother when he looks at his daughter, the therapist keeps asking in confusion as to whether she's in the house.
* LoveConfession: [[spoiler:Louie to Pamela in "Pamela".]]
* {{Malaproper}}: Robbie consistently says "lesbonian".
* MarijuanaIsLSD: Probably done for comedic effect, but the pot that Louie smokes with his neighbor in season one apparently can make a dog appear to change breed and replace his neighbor's face with freaky animal masks. To be fair, Louie's neighbor was getting him REALLY high, and was messing with him throughout the whole sequence.
* MatzoFever: Louie claims to have it in a stand-up routine, apparently because they're very no-nonsense sexually.
* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Liz considers herself this.
** Louie is dragged around by another woman who seems to be a deconstruction of the trope in Looking For Liz. She tries to be quirky and exciting and adventurously passionate in love and life, but is just awkward and scary, and gross, with her wacky schemes falling on her face.
* MoodWhiplash: Often, but dear God, "New Year's Eve" (the Season 3 finale) takes the cake. [[spoiler:Louie, depressed at being alone on Christmas Eve in the aftermath of his failure to get the Late Show gig, earns a slight amount of elation when he spots Liz, his love interest from earlier in the season. They recognize each other on the bus and begin to hug, when - SECONDS LATER - blood starts pouring out of her nose. The scene cuts to the hospital, where we see doctors working on her. Liz realizes how serious things are and can only leave Louie with a somewhat confused "Goodbye?" before she faints... and [[KilledOffForReal dies.]] What... the... Hell.]]
** And to add to that, [[spoiler:immediately after she dies Louie walks out of the hospital room to people counting down to and celebrating the New Year.]]
* NWordPrivileges: Acceptable usage of "faggot" is discussed in "Poker" at the beginning of season one's second episode.
* NegativeContinuity: Continuity in characterization, et cetera is of little concern to Louis C.K., and he's explicitly stated that if he gets bored of some element of the show, he'll change it without any kind of announcement.
** In the episode "Mom", Louie's mother is a callous, self-centered, and unloving black hole of a person, while in "God" she's kind and reasonable.
** Louie goes from having a brother in season 1 to having two sisters in season 2. [[WordOfGod An interview]] would imply that they don't exist side-by-side and that it was a {{retcon}}.
* NightmareDreams: Louie has a terrible nightmare after the incident described in ScareEmStraight.
* NoSocialSkills: Louie is a pretty awkward guy. His difficulty connecting with other people is the main point of "Niece".
* ParentWithNewParamour: Louie's mother shows up out of the blue midway through the first season with a new sexuality and a new wife to match.
-->'''Robbie:''' So let me get this straight...my mother's married to a girl who's ''younger'' than me, and ''way'' hotter than any chick I've ever dated--or ever ''will'' date--in my life.
* PutOnABus: Pam moves to France at the end of season two.
* OneSteveLimit: Averted. The name Ellen (and variations such as Ellie) show up frequently as the names of various unrelated female characters.
* OverlyLongGag: Louie rocking out to the entirety of The Who's "Who Are You?" in "Country Road".
* [[RacistGrandma Racist Great-Great-Aunt]]: Louie's great-aunt Ellen. It's initially implied to be a simple case of HaveAGayOldTime (she calls Brazil nuts "nigger toes"), but when she hears that Louie and his daughters live in New York...
-->'''Ellen:''' Oh, my. That's no place to have two young girls! There's nothing but ''niggers''--and even worse today, I hear!
* RealLifeWritesThePlot
** It's very possible that the episode where he tries to play a cop for an all-Jewish remake of ''Film/TheGodfather'' is a reference to his role in ''ParksAndRecreation''.
** Certain moments on the show feel all too specific and detailed to be that made up, the shining example of this being 'God'.
*** "Poker" fits this description as well. [[WordOfGod Louis C.K.]] admitted that [[http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/06/29/louis-ck-breaks-down-a-scene-from-his-fx-show-louie/ the skit was inspired by a discussion he had with gay comedian Rick Crom]].
* RealSongThemeTune "Brother Louie" by Stories, also qualifies as an EarWorm.
* ReligiousStereotype: Subverted. Several Christian characters have appeared on the show that didn't see eye-to-eye with Louie (at all), but were shown to otherwise be decent, friendly people.
* RightThroughHisPants: Louie always wears a shirt during sex. In a stand-up routine in season 2, episode 2 he claims that it's for the woman's benefit.
* ScareEmStraight: Back in Louie's Catholic school days, when someone laughs during a lecture on the crucifixion, the nun calls in a doctor to provide a painstaking description of injuries involved in the scourging and crucifixion. Louie continues to have nightmares about it into adulthood.
* SkywardScream: Louie when he realizes that [[spoiler:he just passed up a chance for sex with Pamela]].
* SpiritualSuccessor: The show has often been described as basically being ''{{Seinfeld}}'' [-IF IT WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT NOTHING-]!
** Or ''Seinfeld'' if HBO picked it up instead of NBC and it was a dramedy instead of a sitcom.
* StandUpComedy: The show's main stories are interspersed with Louie's material performed at (mostly) a small club in New York.
* SurroundedByIdiots: Louie learns this in the very first episode. He's chaperoning a school field trip to the Bronx Botanical Gardens and has to deal with a bus driver who knows neither how to get there nor which roads are bus-legal and a teacher who apparently thinks it's wise to have a classful of children walk on foot to a subway station in Harlem.
* TheTag: Might be HilariousOuttakes, another standup segment, or a short scene tying up loose ends.
* TearJerker: Robbie starts sobbing quietly after his mother abjectly refuses to say "I love you" to him and walks out of the restaurant they were in. [[invoked]]
* TensionCuttingLaughter: In a standoff between [[spoiler:Afghani militia and US soldiers,]] all it took was Louie tripping all over himself to make everyone laugh and diffuse the situation entirely.
* ThereAreNoTherapists: Louie has one, sure, but he seems to be impressively useless.
-->'''Therapist:''' Do think it might be because you're fat?\\
'''Therapist:''' ''(on another occasion)'' Have you ever...heard news about somebody dying...and then you got an erection?
* ThreeShorts: There might be some continuity between the three shorts, but they're always named as separate vignettes in the episode's closing credits.
* AThreesomeIsManly: Robbie doesn't seem to mind the idea of a two-man three-way. [[BrotherSisterIncest He doesn't even seem to mind the idea of his own brother being the second man.]]
* {{Tsundere}}: Pamela could qualify as this. She's abrasive, cynical, and jerky towards Louie. But she does care about him and enjoys having him as a friend, though Louie would like to be something more. [[spoiler: Too bad he blows it.]]
* TheVerse: A strange version; while the episodes tend to be unrelated and independent of one another, the characters can completely change in between them.
** Louie's mom, who is initially a selfish asshole who puts herself before everyone else in ''[=S01E07=] "Mom,"'' turns into a loving, caring parent by ''[=S01E12=] God."''
** Louie's brother, Robbie, plays a recurring role in Season 1; come Season 2, and Louie suddenly has two sisters with no further mention of his brother.
** Louie's ex-wife initially appears only once as a white-skinned pair of hands in ''[=S02E07=] "Oh, Louie."'' [[spoiler:Come Season 3, she is humorously played by black actress Susan Kelechi Watson ''with zero explanation or [[HandWave handwaving]] as to how a mixed race couple has completely white children.'']]
* VitriolicBestBuds: Louie and Nick [=DiPaolo=] (their characters, at least).
** Louis and Dr. Ben might qualify, as Louis never seems to get particularly upset at the doc, but will call him an ass.
** There are also cases, as which Louie's friendship with Pamela and Eddie, where there's a lot of bile directed at Louie, and he barely reprises because he values their friendship (and he probably finds it funny).
* WellDoneSonGuy: Louie's brother [[{{Jerkass}} Robbie]] loves their mother very much and just wants to hear her say that she loves him. [[spoiler:Not only does she not say it, she storms out of the restaurant very visibly offended.]]
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Osama is shown to think he is one during Louie's laughing gas hallucination in episode 10. [[ShutUpHannibal Louie calls it bullshit.]]
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: In-show example: Once Louie's divorce from his wife is finalized, he looks up an old high school crush. After they sit down for coffee and talk for a bit, she comes right out and says that he's been playing coulda-been. [[spoiler: They ''do'' end up having sex, however.]]
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Louie has a strong phobia of seeing the dentist.
* WomenPreferStrongMen:
** In the episode "Bully," Louie is on a date with another middle-aged woman. It goes well until a teenager whom Louie asked to quiet down comes over and threatens to beat Louie up. Louie backs down and his date explains in brutally honest fashion that while she understands intellectually that Louie made the sensible, adult choice, at some gut level for her he's simply not a sexual or romantic prospect anymore because he wasn't "strong." They exchange awkward, mutually unhappy goodbyes, with both of them acknowledging that this is a screwed up situation, and the date ends.
** Another episode has Louie attempt to woo a black woman. As he questions her over and over again as to why she wont give him a chance, he eventually happens on the reason: she's used to big, strong, athletic black guys, and Louie is pasty, pudgy, and white--practically gay in comparison, to paraphrase.
* WriteWhoYouKnow: Louie regularly bases his in-show stand-up material on some incident that occurs in the episode.
* YouLookFamiliar: Occasionally.
** William Stephenson appears as both a bus driver in the pilot and as himself in "Oh Louie/Tickets".
** Amy Landecker appears as Louie's date in "Bully" and as a young Louie's mother in "God".
---->''Do you want a doughnut?.''
** F. Murray Abraham plays a swinger in "New Jersey" and Louie's uncle Excelsior in "Dad".
* YouHaveToHaveJews: Louie's agent gets him a part he doesn't want in Matthew Broderick's remake of ''The Godfather'', which is set two years in the future and "with all Jews".
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