SkimIt
Another outstanding episode of Louie as our favorite comic hits on a sexy bookstore clerk played by the great Parker Posey.
Bonding Over Literature
What kind of an awesome show has its protagonist go into a bookstore to meet women in this day and age? Louis C.K. asks Posey for help finding a book for his daughter, eventually letting her know that he's divorced. Louie takes things slow, returning to the store a couple of times. Despite Posey's apparent interest (she jokes with him and hello, takes off her glasses while they chat), Louie is a hilariously nervous wreck when he finally asks her out, spewing out a long speech before she can respond, and letting her know that he finds her "horribly cute."
Louie on the Prowl
With daughters Lilly (Hadley Delany) and Jane (Ursula Parker) cutely pressuring him about why mommy's dating and he's not, Louie gets a bit desperate. First he asks his "friend with benefits," fellow comic Maria Bamford, to come over for dinner and meet his kids. She responds with a firm "no," embellished by a hysterical guttural groan of disgust. She signs off by letting him know that he's "bad at sex." A dejected Louie moves on to scoping out all the teachers at Lilly's school.
Louie's Game
But it all ends happily. It's great to see C.K. play off a great comedic actress like Posey, and their scenes together are some of the best work he's done as an actor. (He got a well-deserved Emmy nomination, thought it's a shame the series wasn't nominated.) I also noticed that Pamela Adlon got a story credit on this one. I miss her character on the show, and I'm glad to see she's still collaborating with him.
Reality vs. Louie
Throughout the show characters were watching clips of some awful Big Brother-style reality show. It seemed like Maria might have been watching it specifically as a way to avoid engaging with Louie in any nonsexual way. The contrived "reality" of the reality show, with its titillation and violence, was kind of an interesting counterpoint to the uncomfortable realism of Louie itself.
I was a bit surprised that Louie didn't turn Posey off with that endless speech he gave, and even more surprised that she gave him an "A+" for it. What's the consensus, was this episode as great as all the rest?
Best Lines:
"I just know that would be the greatest thing that ever happened to me, and the worst thing that ever happened to her."
--Louie, in his act, discusses his desire to have sex with Scarlett Johansson.
"You really ruined my night... in two ways, now."
--Maria complains about Louie asking her to dinner at his place after the bad sex.
"Please, do you have any depressing novels about peoples' heads falling off, terrible things happening?"
--Louie asks Parker Posey for a book for Lilly.
"Okay, I'm gonna come right out and tell you that I'm asking you out. That's what I'm doing, and please don't answer yet, 'cause I know you might have a "no" queued up."
--Louie awkwardly begins his pitch to Parker.
"I don't choose guys based on looks. That made for a really s__tty life for me. And you're not a troll, for Christ's sake. Get some confidence."
--Parker says yes!
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