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Sincerely Louis C.K.

Louis C.K.

LouisCK.com · 2020 · 60 min

A cynical and controversial comeback set filmed in Washington, D.C.

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How does a comic return to the stage after a career-imploding public scandal? Louis C.K. answers that by mostly sticking to his usual cynical posture, addressing the elephant in the room with a few opening jokes before moving on to broader targets. Filmed at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. in early March 2020, the set was released shortly thereafter on his website with no advance notice, right as the global pandemic was shutting down live entertainment.\n\nInstead of a standard apology, he opens by joking about his \”global amounts of trouble\” and proceeds to test the boundaries of his newfound pariah status. He uses a bleak, controversial analogy to explain his previous misunderstanding of sexual consent, then quickly pivots to safer, if still transgressive, subjects. Notable bits include an extended riff on what would happen if God gave a five-minute press conference to clear up theological confusion, a routine about visiting Auschwitz, and a segment on the linguistic shift away from outdated, taboo words.\n\nThe reception was predictably divided. Critics pointed out a sense of self-pity and some strained attempts to provoke, while loyal fans embraced his return, helping the performance earn a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.

The set list

4 bits

  1. Wheelchair in a drugstore window

    Tests audience hypocrisy by escalating the premise from an impulse buy to a Boston Marathon bombing survivor to draw gasps and call out the crowd's arbitrary boundaries of humor

  2. Addressing his sexual misconduct and consent

    Frames his actions as a kink, gives mock advice on asking permission to masturbate in front of someone, reflects on global notoriety by stating 'Obama knows my thing,' and discusses the challenges of sexual communication

  3. The evolution of the word 'retarded'

    Spends an extended segment examining how the term transitioned from common 1970s parlance to modern taboo, critiquing the media's fetishization of disability as inspirational stories

  4. Jesus being Jewish

    Lampoons Christians who cannot grasp or accept that Jesus was a Jew

How it plays

Tone
Dark, transgressive, unapologetic, and self-pitying
On stage
Provocative, unrepentant, appearing in a signature black T-shirt while displaying a naughty-kid demeanor rather than contrition
Pace
Deliberate, testing audience boundaries, leaning into tension before executing dark comedic releases
About
Sexual misconduct fallout and consent, Aging and physical deterioration, Language taboos and disability, Religion and Christianity, Family history and grief

What the critics said

Polarized; some reviewers praised the sharpness and craft of his dark humor, while others criticized the lack of genuine contrition, the self-pity, and the flippant handling of his sexual misconduct

In the room: Supportive and enthusiastic live crowd that chanted his name and gave standing ovations, punctuated by occasional shocked gasps and groans at taboo material

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, latimes.com, tv.apple.com, imdb.com, chortle.co.uk, slate.com, decider.com, pro.imdb.com.

Backstory

Filmed in March 2020 immediately preceding nationwide COVID-19 lockdowns and released without advance notice; personal backdrop includes the 2019 death of his mother to whom the special is dedicated

Details

Released
Taped
Warner Theatre, Washington
Runtime
60 min
Where
LouisCK.com
Director
Louis C.K.
Honors
Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album (64th Annual Grammy Awards)
Topics
Before
2017 (2017)
After
SORRY (2021)

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