1. Louie (FX; ended season September 8th)
Comedy is, obviously, subjective. What people find funny varies just as much as what music or art or food people like. This thread should be proof enough of that: all of the shows on this list pull in less than five million viewers. Hell, three of them draw less than two million. That’s a far cry than the highest-rated comedies; nearly thirty million people tuned in to watch the season premiere of
Two and a Half Men, for example. Obviously, there seems to be a big divide between critics and the TV-viewing public.
This principle is best exemplified by the case of Louie, my pick for the best comedy (and show) on television. The second season of
Louie is probably the best critically received season of television since
The Wire’s fourth season back in 2006. Like that low-rated but critically adored show, it radically bucks the conventions of its supposed genre, earning much praise but little attention. Unlike some of the other shows on this list (
Parks and Recreation being the big one) that I don’t understand why they aren’t more popular, I get why
Louie only has niche appeal. It’s strange, radical, and frequently deliberately not funny. It requires a basic understanding of the man behind and in front of the camera. It’s structured, written, and shot unlike anything else on TV.
That being said, I think everyone should attempt to watch
Louie. It’s literally reinventing what television can do, and it’s fascinating to watch purely in that respect. It’s also one of the most poignant and fearless examinations of parenthood, masculinity, self-worth, and all the myriad connections we make with others. It can be hilarious, or brutally difficult to watch, or anything else it wants to be.
The Wire always drew comparisons to great literature due to its scope and deliberate pace;
Louie could be compared to poetry. It’s incredibly insightful, imbued with a distinctive personal touch, and adopts many different forms and structures.
Louie is as close to a true auteur project that has ever aired on television. Shot on a shoe-string budget (in an exchange for total creative freedom), it’s written, edited, and directed solely by the creator and subject, Louis C.K. C.K.’s been one of the world’s best stand-ups for a while now, and his transition into acting and directing has been remarkably smooth. As the sole focus of the show (other characters exist, but they fade in and out of without a semblance of continuity), it depends almost entirely on his performance, and he delivers. I was pleasantly surprised that he got a couple of Emmy nominations (for acting and writing, as well as a pair for his most recent stand-up special), even if he never really stood a chance against the other nominees.
Louie’s not for everyone. It might not be for most. But everyone should at least try it, because it is without peer in its originality, insight, and style. More than anything else on this list, I sense that this show will survive in the cultural memory. It’s not reliant on pop culture, or elaborate set-ups or gags. Instead, it builds itself up from the emotions and life of its protagonist, in ways that will make it as relatable in fifty years as it is now. Why wait to appreciate after its time? It can be appreciated today.
Topic: The 5 Best Comedies (Currently) on TV (Read 5663 times)
