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.

Matt Zoller Seitz of Vulture called it "bizarre, inventive, and bold" and Rob Owen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said "the series remains smart and thought-provoking but it's also quite funny.

The website's critical consensus reads, "Louie continues its evolution as a show that deftly – and bravely – juggles comedy, philosophy, and raunch.

[18][19] The series was also included as one of the Top Television Programs of the Year by the American Film Institute and won a 2013 Peabody Award.