Louie (season 4)

Last updated

Louie
Season 4
Louie season 4.png
DVD cover
Starring
No. of episodes14
Release
Original network FX
Original releaseMay 5 (2014-05-05) 
June 16, 2014 (2014-06-16)
Season chronology
 Previous
Season 3
Next 
Season 5
List of episodes

The fourth season of the American television comedy series Louie premiered on May 5, 2014, and concluded on June 16, 2014. It consists of fourteen episodes (an additional episode more than previous seasons), most running approximately 23 minutes in length. FX broadcast the fourth season on Mondays at 10:00 and 10:30 pm in the United States with back-to-back episodes. The season was produced by 3 Arts Entertainment and the executive producers were Louis C.K., Dave Becky and M. Blair Breard.

Contents

Louie was created, written and directed by Louis C.K., who stars as a fictionalized version of himself, a comedian and newly divorced father raising his two daughters in New York City. The show has a loose format atypical for television comedy series, consisting of largely unconnected storylines and segments (described as "extended vignettes") [1] that revolve around Louie's life, punctuated by live stand-up performances.

Production

FX announced in July 2012 that it had renewed Louie for a fourth season to consist of 13 episodes, [2] and was later confirmed in October 2012 that the season would be delayed from airing in summer 2013 to May 2014, to give more time for Louie C.K. to develop the season. C.K. said, "I want season four to go somewhere new...I'm looking back to when I did the first season and the time I took to do the show and decide which directions to go in and I want that back again. I want a little breathing room." [3] In March 2014, FX announced the season would premiere on May 5, 2014, moving to Mondays and would air back-to-back episodes for seven consecutive weeks, containing an additional fourteenth episode. [4] C.K. said that the fourth season would include a multi-part, connected storyline after the third episode. [5]

C.K. collaborated with comedian Steven Wright (who previously guest starred on the series as himself) on some of the scripts for the fourth season, and Wright is credited as a consulting producer for the season. [6] According to guest star Jeremy Renner, Philip Seymour Hoffman was supposed to appear in an episode this season, however, Hoffman died in February 2014. [7] Episodes 11 and 12, "In the Woods" have an extended run time of an hour and a half (with commercials). [8]

Cast

Main cast

Recurring cast

Guest stars

Episodes

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)
401"Back" Louis C.K. Louis C.K.May 5, 2014 (2014-05-05)XCK040010.94 [5]
Louie hurts his back when shopping for a vibrator after one of his friends suggests it.
412"Model"Louis C.K.Louis C.K.May 5, 2014 (2014-05-05)XCK040020.91 [5]
Jerry Seinfeld asks Louie to introduce him at a benefit in the Hamptons, but Louis is unprepared and the act is a disaster. After, Louie is invited to the home of a model (Yvonne Strahovski) who says she likes his act, but things turn very wrong very quickly.
423"So Did the Fat Lady"Louis C.K.Louis C.K.May 12, 2014 (2014-05-12)XCK040030.81 [9]
Louie is asked out by an overweight woman (Sarah Baker) who works at the comedy club, but he is hesitant to accept because he wants to be with someone thinner.
434"Elevator Part 1"Louis C.K.Louis C.K.May 12, 2014 (2014-05-12)XCK040040.68 [9]
When taking the subway with his two daughters, Jane decides to get off the subway before it departs, forcing Louie and Lilly to go back and get her. When returning to his apartment building, Louie helps out an old lady (Ellen Burstyn) who is stuck in an elevator, and is thanked by the lady's non-English speaking niece who gives him a tart.
445"Elevator Part 2"Louis C.K.Louis C.K.May 19, 2014 (2014-05-19)XCK040050.60 [10]
Louie has a couple of nice shopping trips, sandwiched around him getting to know more about his elderly Hungarian neighbor and her attractive niece, dealing with Jane's latest problems at her school, and disagreeing with his ex-wife about the virtues of private school.
456"Elevator Part 3"Louis C.K.Louis C.K.May 19, 2014 (2014-05-19)XCK040060.57 [10]
Louie runs into Pamela again and eschews her vague romantic interest, then learns Amia is leaving the U.S. soon and resolves to enjoy the time before she returns to Hungary. He also avoids planning for Jane's future and gets advice from a curt Dr. Bigelow.
467"Elevator Part 4"Louis C.K.Louis C.K.May 26, 2014 (2014-05-26)XCK040070.51 [11]
Louie and Janet see a therapist to seek advice on how to deal with Jane. A flashback shows a younger Louie and Janet as they plan to divorce, but they stay together and later end up getting pregnant with their first child.
478"Elevator Part 5"Louis C.K.Louis C.K.May 26, 2014 (2014-05-26)XCK040080.44 [11]
Louie takes Amia to the Comedy Cellar, and Louie's friend Todd Barry describes his gloriously self-absorbed typical day as an adult with no wife or kids. Louie helps Evanka yet again when she is found unconscious in the elevator. Louie and Amia's relationship takes a gloomy turn after they spend the night together.
489"Elevator Part 6"Louis C.K.Louis C.K.June 2, 2014 (2014-06-02)XCK040090.61 [12]
A hurricane hits New York City causing Louie to help Janet and his children evacuate to safety. Louie and Amia peacefully end their relationship.
4910"Pamela Part 1"Louis C.K.Louis C.K.June 2, 2014 (2014-06-02)XCK040100.71 [12]
After his break-up with Amia, Louie tries to reconnect with Pamela and ends up crossing every line.
50
51
11
12
"In the Woods"Louis C.K.Louis C.K.June 9, 2014 (2014-06-09)XCK04011
XCK04012
0.60 [13]
Louie catches Lilly smoking marijuana. In flashbacks, a thirteen-year-old Louie and his friends discover marijuana and its pitfalls for themselves.
5213"Pamela Part 2"Louis C.K.Louis C.K. & Pamela Adlon June 16, 2014 (2014-06-16)XCK040130.60 [14]
Louie takes Pamela on a romantic date to an outlandish art exhibit, then to the park for a lovely evening under the stars. Pamela finally embraces Louie as her lover.
5314"Pamela Part 3"Louis C.K.Louis C.K. & Pamela AdlonJune 16, 2014 (2014-06-16)XCK040140.56 [14]
Louie wants his romance with Pamela to welcome emotions. However, Pamela articulates disgust towards expressing her feelings.

Reception

Reviews

The fourth season of Louie received universal acclaim from critics, receiving a Metacritic score of 93 out of 100, based on 28 reviews. Robert Llyod of the Los Angeles Times wrote that "Each [episode] stands on its own as a TV art film, an independent work of short fiction." Andrew Romano of The Daily Beast wrote that "Season 4 is just as brilliant as the seasons that preceded it." [15] On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 93% with an average score of 8.9 out of 10 based on 43 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Thanks to Louis C.K.'s unique brand of awkward, brutally honest humor, Louie remains one of the best written and most relatable comedies on television." [16]

Ratings

The season 4 premiere received 941,000 total viewers, a 19 percent boost over last season's average. [5]

Accolades

For the 30th TCA Awards, Louie won for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy and Louis C.K. received a nomination for Individual Achievement in Comedy. [17] For the 4th Critics' Choice Television Awards, Louie received nominations for Best Comedy Series, C.K. for Best Actor in a Comedy Series, and Sarah Baker for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series. [18] For the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, the series was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series, and Louie C.K. was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the episode "Elevator, Part 6", and won for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the episode "So Did the Fat Lady". [19] For the 67th Writers Guild of America Awards, the series won for Best Comedy Series and C.K. won for Best Episodic Comedy for "So Did the Fat Lady". [20] For the 21st Screen Actors Guild Awards, C.K. was nominated for Best Comedy Actor. [21] For the 72nd Golden Globe Awards, C.K. was nominated for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy. [22] For the 67th Directors Guild of America Awards, C.K. was nominated for Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series for the episode "Elevator Part 6". [23]

Broadcast

The season premiered on OSN First Comedy HD in the Middle East on September 4, 2014. [24]

Related Research Articles

<i>Louie</i> (American TV series) American TV series

Louie is an American comedy drama television series that premiered on FX on June 29, 2010. It is written, directed, created, edited, and produced by comedian Louis C.K., who also stars in the show as a fictionalized version of himself, a comedian and newly divorced father raising his two daughters in New York City. The show has a loose format atypical for television comedy series, consisting of largely unconnected storylines and segments that revolve around Louie's life, punctuated by live stand-up performances. The show's comedy consisted of such styles as surrealism, satire, absurdism, and gallows humor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series</span> TV award

The Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series is one of the award categories presented annually by the Critics' Choice Television Awards (BTJA) (US) to recognize the work done by television actors. It was introduced in 2011 when the event was first initiated. The winners are selected by a group of television critics that are part of the Broadcast Television Critics Association.

<i>Louie</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of the American television comedy series Louie premiered on June 29, 2010, and concluded on September 7, 2010. It consisted of thirteen episodes, each running approximately 23 minutes in length. FX broadcast the first season on Tuesdays at 11:00 pm in the United States. The season was produced by 3 Arts Entertainment and the executive producers were Louis C.K., Dave Becky and M. Blair Breard. The first season was released on DVD and Blu-ray in region 1 on June 21, 2011.

<i>Louie</i> (season 2) Season of television series

The second season of the American television comedy series Louie premiered on June 23, 2011, and concluded on September 8, 2011. It consisted of thirteen episodes, each running approximately 23 minutes in length. FX broadcast the second season on Thursdays at 10:30 pm in the United States. The season was produced by 3 Arts Entertainment and the executive producers were Louis C.K., Dave Becky and M. Blair Breard. The second season was released on DVD and Blu-ray in region 1 on June 19, 2012.

<i>Louie</i> (season 3) Season of television series

The third season of the American television comedy series Louie premiered on June 28, 2012 and concluded on September 27, 2012. It consisted of thirteen episodes, each running approximately 23 minutes in length. FX broadcast the third season on Thursdays at 10:30 pm in the United States. The season was produced by 3 Arts Entertainment and the executive producers were Louis C.K., Dave Becky and M. Blair Breard.

<i>Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia</i> (season 9) Season of television series

The ninth season of the American comedy television series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia premiered on the new channel FXX on September 4, 2013. The season consists of 10 episodes, and concluded airing on November 6, 2013. The ninth season was released on DVD in region 1 on September 2, 2014.

<i>Louie</i> (season 5) Season of television series

The fifth and final season of the American television comedy series Louie premiered on April 9, 2015, and concluded on May 28, 2015. It consists of eight episodes, each running approximately 23 minutes in length. FX broadcast the fifth season on Thursdays at 10:30 pm in the United States. The season was produced by 3 Arts Entertainment and the executive producers were Louis C.K., Dave Becky and M. Blair Breard.

<i>Better Things</i> (TV series) American comedy-drama television series

Better Things is an American comedy-drama television series created by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K. for FX, starring Adlon as a divorced actress who raises her three daughters on her own. FX gave a 10-episode order on August 7, 2015. The series premiered on September 8, 2016. The series was renewed for a fifth and final season which premiered on February 28, 2022. The series concluded on April 25, 2022.

"New Year's Eve" is the thirteenth episode and season finale of the third season of the American comedy-drama television series Louie. It is the 39th overall episode of the series and was written and directed by Louis C.K., who also serves as the lead actor. It was released on FX on September 27, 2012.

"Bully" is the ninth episode of the first season of the American comedy-drama television series Louie. The episode was written and directed by Louis C.K., who also serves as the lead actor. It was released on FX on August 17, 2010.

"Duckling" is the eleventh episode of the second season of the American comedy-drama television series Louie. It is the 24th overall episode of the series and was written and directed by Louis C.K., who also serves as the lead actor. It was released on FX on August 25, 2011.

"Daddy's Girlfriend" is the fourth and fifth episodes of the third season of the American comedy-drama television series Louie. They are the 30th and 31st overall episode of the series and were written and directed by Louis C.K., who also serves as the lead actor, with Pamela Adlon getting a story credit for "Part 1". They were released on FX, with "Part 1" airing on July 19, 2012, and "Part 2" airing on July 26, 2012.

"Model" is the second episode of the fourth season of the American comedy-drama television series Louie. It is the 41st overall episode of the series and was written and directed by Louis C.K., who also serves as the lead actor. It was released on FX on May 5, 2014, airing back-to-back with the previous episode, "Back".

"So Did the Fat Lady" is the third episode of the fourth season of the American comedy-drama television series Louie. It is the 42nd overall episode of the series and was written and directed by Louis C.K., who also serves as the lead actor. It was released on FX on May 12, 2014, airing back-to-back with the follow-up episode, "Elevator Part 1".

"Elevator" is the fourth through ninth episodes of the fourth season of the American comedy-drama television series Louie. They are the 43rd through 48th overall episode episodes of the series and they were written and directed by Louis C.K., who also serves as the lead actor. It was released on FX; with "Part 1" airing on May 12, 2014, "Part 2" and "Part 3" airing on May 19, 2014, "Part 4" and "Part 5" airing on May 26, 2014, and "Part 6" airing on June 2, 2014.

"In the Woods" is the eleventh and twelfth episodes of the fourth season of the American comedy-drama television series Louie. They are the 50th and 51st overall episode episodes of the series and they were written and directed by Louis C.K., who also serves as the lead actor. It was released on FX on June 9, 2014.

"Pot Luck" is the first episode of the fifth season of the American comedy-drama television series Louie. It is the 54th overall episode of the series and was written and directed by Louis C.K., who also serves as the lead actor. It was released on FX on April 9, 2015.

"Bobby's House" is the fourth episode of the fifth season of the American comedy-drama television series Louie. It is the 57th overall episode of the series and was written and directed by Louis C.K., who also serves as the lead actor. It was released on FX on April 30, 2015.

"Sleepover" is the sixth episode of the fifth season of the American comedy-drama television series Louie. It is the 59th overall episode of the series and was written and directed by Louis C.K., who also serves as the lead actor, with producer Pamela Adlon receiving a story credit. It was released on FX on May 14, 2015.

References

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