Parents' Guide to

Louie

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Mature comedy series is both crude and entertaining.

TV FX Comedy 2010
Louie Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 14+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Mooviefan
Mooviefan Adult
March 31, 2020
age 7+
Glee rockz
Glee rockz Adult
June 4, 2017
age 14+

A comedian grows

There is lots of sexual content in this series. But the growth of a Louie, a divorced comedian raising two girls, is great. He learns that his way isn't always the right way. He also tries to help others. Lots of laughs and dramatic moments.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

LOUIE centers on the life of Louie (comedian Louis C.K.), a stand-up comedian working and raising two young daughters in New York City. In between gag-filled sketches about sharing class trips with his daughters and awkward first dates, the comedian gets on stage to offer his rather morose perspective about life after divorce.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (7 ):

Louie -- which is loosely based on C.K.'s real life -- combines the comedian's trademark routines with smartly written comedy sketches. Adding to the fun are guest appearances by comics like Rick Crom, Nick Di Paolo, and Ricky Gervais. The show's strong sexual content, salty language, and sometimes crude humor make it a decidedly adult-oriented comedy. But it also has lots of genuinely funny moments that mature viewers with a taste for edgy comedy will definitely enjoy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the different types of humor. Why do some comedians use strong language and/or make crude references, while others don't? Is edgy material funnier than tamer stuff?

  • Why do different people find different things funny? Teens: What do you find hilarious that your parents just don't get? Why?

TV Details

  • Premiere date: June 29, 2010
  • Cast: Louis C.K.
  • Network: FX
  • Genre: Comedy
  • TV rating: TV-MA
  • Last updated: August 31, 2022

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate