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It is a good time to be in the Louis C.K. Promise business. His new F/X show is one of the best things on TV right now. This scene, which opened the back-to-back second episode from last week’s premiere night features Louis, Nick Diapolo, Jim Norton, Hannibal Buress, Rick Crom, and Eddie Brill shooting some very serious shit at a poker game. It is TBS F/X very funny, obviously, but more than that, it is one of the most thoughtful, concerned, “brave” (which is a cheap word that gets tossed around far too often but in this case I think it is appropriate), interesting and intelligent pieces of social and political commentary I’ve seen in a long time, not to mention a great exploration of the differences between a word’s meaning, its usage, and the intent of the person using it at a time when that is definitely a thing that people seem to struggle with and be unclear about on a constant basis.
All of that after the jump:
Such a good clip. Such a good Videogum Promise! (Via AndrewSullivan via Vulture.)
SIDENOTE: actual etymology of the slur “faggot” here. (Via @danielradosh.)
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There’s only room for one Louie in my heart
Barf. I tried to leave an image of Louie Anderson’s IMDb page, because under the “trivia” section, I shit you not, it says “enjoys butter.”
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004706/bio
/new guy
/slash tags still cool?
Hi ricone! Welcome to commenting!
Actually I think since Twitter came around the proper cool thing to do would be #hashtags. But I am always behind on these things!
You must have an enlarged heart.
I tried to show my friend this episode (and by tried I mean forced) and her response was “is this supposed to be funny?”
You need new friends.
I was talking about this last week, I thought this scene was pretty brilliant but only served to fuel my hatred for Nick DiPaolo and Jim Norton. Upon learning that Nick DiPaolo was heavily featured in last night’s episode I turned it on with some serious dread, but holy shit did that episode do an amazing job of humanizing one of the most unlikable, hateful assholes in the comedy world today. As a whole I think last night’s episode was less funny than the other two (Ricky Gervais’ performance got kinda grating), but it was just fucking solid TV. After that DiPaolo scene I was like, double rainbow oh my god.
Is Nick Dipaolo like that in real life? I thought he was just playing a Nazi character or something.
I loved the episode and am getting acclimated to the funny-but-not-constantly-funny nature of the show. The DiPaulo plotline was fantastic, but I was seriously distracted by the notion that Gervais was supposed to be Louie’s high school friend?
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You had me at “I like Louis C.K.”, then lost me at “sleazy gay lifestyle”. I
I sincerely hope you didn’t think CC was in anyway serious when he said “sleazy gay lifestyle”. We all got that, right?
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Thanks for using “(to me)” to clarify that the show is not entertaining to you, I almost thought that you spoke for all mankind.
You are right about DiPaolo’s delivery, though. Particularly his lines at 4:25. Yeesh.
I thought the scene was absolutely great and had no problem with the acting or the message. But I agree that the etymology of “faggot” he offers is probably bullshit (reminds me of the old story about “fuck” being an acronym for “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge”). The word was used to refer to old women centuries ago, and to me this seems a much more likely origin — cf. queen, fairy, nancy.
I think the point of the story holds up, despite the fact checking issue.
This was like an after school special scene for adults.
EXACTLY. Very pedantic, very teachery, very lame. I read an interview (Onion AV Club) with LCK where he is boasting that no one has any input in his show but him, no one from FX, etc. Louis: Accept some outside help! Your show is not very good.
Sorry if I offended you Mr Coffee. It’s just that you are wrong 100% (IMO). I still love you and your commentator track record.
I love you too, Mr. Trash.
Let’s never fight again.
I saw Louis take his shirt off last night and he was not lying about his man boobs.
Just an OK episode for me last night. I thought it seemed closer to something you’d see on Lucky Louie and I think we all agree that show was horrible. The first 2 episodes were much better.
Boo. Lucky Louie was hilarious.
Yes! Backlash! I too thought the poker scene was condescending and boring and wrong.
It’s 2010. Stop saying “faggot.” Forever. Automatic joke ruiner.
I respectfully disagree. For instance, I think it’s genuinely funny when Zach Galifianakis jokes that reality tv will keep regressing until we end up with shows with titles like “Donkey, Donkey, Faggot, Donkey” and “Fishing With Vanessa Redgrave.” I think it enhances the joke, rather than automatically ruining it.
Clip here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH8WpsTPkpI&#t=2m37s
I disagree. Take back the night with faggot! We’re not so slow we can’t recognize when it’s being used with disdain.
ugh @ your scare quotes. Enough with the pc bullshit. We’re not victims.
the scene was perfect. they captured “that conversation’ so well. it’s a conversation i have had way too many times.
it was a really moving and smart way to show how human beings act around people with differences and stuff.
maybe it won’t mean anything to anyone who hasn’t been in that type of conversation, but if i had a nickel for every time my macho-macho straight guys ask about bath houses and park humping, i’d have a lot of money to play poker with my straight friends.
That was such a good clip?
I don’t mean to be a pain in the butt, but I don’t know…
I don’t really know much of Lous C,K.’s stuff, and what I’ve seen I think is fairly funny, more like my-funny-uncle funny than say Mitch Hedberg funny, but I did like this scene.
[This is basically the speech I give to my friends when they use that word, minus the middle ages part.]
I love Louis CK doing standup more than that one dude loves rainbows, but this just is not doing it for me at all. This is a really weird mix of jokes, awkwardness, serious issues, and bad acting. That was hard to watch all the way through.
Heavy-handed dialogue, couched in “dude talk” so maybe this feels more daring than it is? If Louie CK wasn’t in this clip, no one would give it a second thought.
In high school, I had a job interview at Journeys (yes, the shoe store in the mall that is like Hot Topic for your feet). In the interview, the manager asked me why I didn’t like my current job. I don’t really remember how I replied, but I do remember that at some point I was gathering my thoughts and said “Well, It’s just really…” and let the really linger while I searched for the right word. The manager, a salaried individual who has some kind of responsibility, even if it is just for a store that specializes in multi-colored slip-on shoes, tried to finish the sentence for me. “Gay? Were you going to say gay?”
“No, I wasn’t going to say gay, I was just trying to think of the right word.”
“Aw, ok man. You can say gay, dude. Fag, whatever. I just want you to be real with me.”
After that I made a conscious attempt to ween the words fag and retard out of my vocabulary. Something about the fact that a grown ass man wanting me to keep it “real” by using a derogatory slang word really bummed me out about this world, as if liberal use of fag is supposed to be the status quo and is something to just be accepted. As if the abuse and pain of a whole group of HUMAN BEINGS was something that can just be shrugged off for the use of someone who knows nothing about anything about any kind of suffering because he’s straight, white, and has cash to blow on multi-colored slip-on shoes.
That said, I’ll agree with Clown Coffee’s remarks that this scene isn’t really that well acted or in my opinion, even produced. But I think it’s an important scene in that it is accessible and not condescending to the viewer. When the scene hits a beautiful moment when he says, “I talk about gay sex with you guys more than my gay friends.” It’s a nice discussion, and it is a rare moment for television. I just wish it wasn’t buried on cable where I can’t currently watch it. It doesn’t damn one side or the other, which is kind of nice. Louie’s thoughtful expression at the end is endlessly satisfying.
/too long did not read
/seriousgum
That said, even as a straight man, I would like to get a picture of Nick Dipalo giving the a-ok sign stamped on my dick. AM I RIGHT LADIES?
“Gay? Were you going to say gay?” LOLOLO How did you not burst out laughing? I would have laughed until I barfed on his stupid, stupid face.
Well, I was trying to be professional. In most other casual social situations, I barf in faces quite often.
That’s always a good policy.
More importantly, did you get the job?
Between this, Lindsay Lohan going to jail, and Double-Rainbow…I feel like the world is starting to turn again. Like maybe Kevin Costner really will solve the oil spill, or something.
…Or maybe I’m still in a three-day-weekend afterglow. I dunno.
WHAT I DO KNOW IS after all the negative posts that have been raging on here for a while, it’s nice to just have some things touch my heart again.
I think this scene means a lot more to gay people than to straight people, which may be why a lot of monsters here don’t “get it” or think it’s very funny. It’s a really important scene just for the sheer fact that a discussion of homosexuality in such frank terms has never really been shown on TV (save for maybe LOGO). It’s about a group of straight men trying to understand a term that has lost all meaning (for them), but still has a powerful and hurtful connotation for the gay community. /Seriousgum.
Louie is the king. This show is his kingdom. Or something.
Hmm, I think you’ve got it flipped. I’m gay, and this scene “meant” nothing to me. I don’t hang around with dumbfucks like DiPaolo’s character, and anyway it’s not my job to enlighten anyone about gay life, PSA style. Meanwhile, I think some straight guys (like the kind that read VG) may like this scene because they can flatter themselves about how open-minded they (already) are.
[Geez, I sure am courting the Down Vote today, aren't I? Sorry!]
Really? My gay friend sent me a text after watching it saying it was “one of the most intelligent, poignant pieces of writing ever to hit television.” I guess it’s safe to say that it meant a great deal to SOME people.
Interesting to hear all sides.
I don’t understand how gay people aren’t offended by this, though. The gay guy literally takes shit for being gay for the first 5 mins of the clip, gets called disgusting, is expected to know everything about swingers parties, and then has to explain to his “friends” (who are grown adults) that using a famously hateful word might in fact upset some gay people. And the straight guys are just blown away (the close-ups of their pensive faces post-explanation is perhaps the most insulting)! I suppose they’ve never considered that.
Maybe I’m just of a different generation than the characters in this clip. But I believe I’m the same generation as most of you guys.
He didn’t “literally take shit.” That would be a different show.
Thought last night’s ep was pretty solid, have been enjoying the show so far. The one down note so far though has been that a couple of weeks ago, I decided to change things up, and bought some awesome new black Calvin Klein boxer briefs. Now I am wicked sexy! I am just like a Calvin Klein model! And now, two weeks in a row, we see Louis CK in his black Calvin Klein boxer briefs. And it has not been a pretty sight.
I know this thread is a mostly thoughtful discussion of the word “faggot” and the acting chops of Nick DiPaolo. But I just can’t stop thinking about the fact that I wear the same underpants as Louis CK.
GAY
FAKE
Not to be outdone by the Daily Show, Louie posted a pic of their female staff members on their site last night. Def pretty brave.