Sa Da Tay: The Louis CK Edition

I had a chance see this comedian in concert a couple of years ago, and it was the second funniest stand-up act I have ever seen – only behind Dave Chappelle.  His self-deprecating style and an overall distaste for family life also makes him a perfect fit for the Hater Hall of Fame:

Born September 12, 1967

Louis Szekely (pronounced se’-ke) was born in Washington D.C., but his parents moved to Mexico City shortly thereafter.  He lived there until he was five years old, and then moved with his family to Framingham, Massachusetts.  Louis wanted to be a comedian early in life, but said he wasn’t good because “I was only 17-years old and I had a lot to learn about life in general. But I just kept on trying…I had nothing else I was good at.”  His first performance was in 1984 at an open mic night in Boston, Massachusetts; things didn’t go so well, considering all his ”material” only translated into two minutes of actual stage time.  After this perceived failure, C.K. did not step foot on another comedy stage for two years.

In 1989 Louis moved to New York, and his career began to take a turn for the better; he appeared on shows like Evening at the Improv, Comic Strip Live, and Star Search - but lost to some guy named Steve McGrew.  Four years later he was hired as a writer on The Conan O’Brien Show, and worked there for a couple of years; he came up with “The Staring Contest” bit, and was actually the first comedian to appear on the show.  He also worked as a writer on the Late Show with David Letterman, the Dana Carvey Show, and was hired as the head writer/producer for the Chris Rock Show in 1996 – where he he won an Emmy for his work in 1998.

He began the new millenium by writing and producing his first feature length film, Pootie Tang.  The movie was panned by critics, but has developed a sizable cult following since its release - myself included.  His success and reputation as a must see comedian also continued to grow; this led to his first comedy CD in 2001 (“Louis CK: Live in Houston”) and accolades in several entertainment-based publications - like Variety, Entertainment Weekly, & the Hollywood Reporter.  He wrote, produced, and starred in a HBO sitcom pilot in 2005, and a year later “Lucky Louie” went on the air.  Sadly, it was cancelled after only one season, despite a rise in ratings each week and several great reviews.  He bounced back with his first hour long stand-up special in 2006, “Louis CK: Shameless”, and began selling out shows across the country while on tour.  Here are some videos that demonstrate why this comedian was a first ballot selection for The Hall: 

(None of these videos are safe for work)

2008 performance, “Chewed Up”