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'Louie' comes to FX June 23, eight great clips

By April MacIntyre May 3, 2011, 4:11 GMT

03/26/2011 - Louis C.K. - 1st Annual Comedy Awards - Arrivals - The Hammerstein Ballroom - New York City, NY, USA © Mario Santoro / PR Photos

FX fantastically melancholic comedy 'Louie' is coming back for a new season on June 23.

The summer usually means crap programming, but FX's series starring Louis C.K. is a feather in the network's already bedecked hat. The home of "Justified," "Sons of Anarchy," "Rescue Me" and "Archer" also shines with "Louie."

C.K. was briefly on HBO in "Lucky Louie," a show that I loved with Pamela Adlon (Marcie on Showtime's Californication) playing his wife. Bonus is that Adlon is on as a producer (and guest star) for "Louie."

On "Louie," C.K. plays a fictionalized version of himself a la Gary Shandling's "Larry Sanders Show" and Larry David on "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

The location is New York City, and the episodes are spliced with segments of C.K.’s standup in clubs such as The Comedy Cellar.

Middle-age angst rules in Louie's world, who tackles being a father, dating, race, religion, fame and even the notions of homosexuality with his boys over card games. The brilliant minds of Robert Kelly, Nick DiPaolo, Jim Norton and Todd Barry (Colin Quinn's much missed "Tough Crowd" alums) dress up the cast too, as the show riffs in a series of vignettes and defies traditional sitcom schlock. It works beautifully.

The complete first season of "Louie" will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on June 21.

FX fired over 8 of the best from season one

Louie on FX – Gentle Description:

Louie on FX –