Wilfred and Louie, Huge Hits for FX, You Know Why? They're Funny

By April MacIntyre Jul 2, 2011, 7:02 GMT

"Wilfred" and "Louie" smoked once again for the network, as the ratings kept up in week two and the people in the FX offices on the Fox lot did their happy happy joy joy dance and fired out press releases to everyone with a blog and a pulse.

"Wilfred" and "Louie" smoked once again for the network, as the ratings kept up in week two and the people in the FX offices on the Fox lot did their happy happy joy joy dance and fired out press releases to everyone with a blog and a pulse.

So - seriously, is it any surprise these unique shows did so well? Americans are starved for original, absurd and introspective concept comedy that isn't canned sitcom hooey (Whitney, I am talking to you) written in a formulaic beat.

How can any of you watch "Two and a Half Men" or past shows like "Yes, Dear" or Kath & Kim" without screaming "dear God can someone please get Buck Henry and Mel Brooks together again in a room and get them to write some good material?"

Crazy comedies of the 1960s like "Mr. Ed," "Get Smart", "My Favorite Martian," "I Dream of Jeannie", "Bewitched" and even the early 1960s Ernie Kovacs shows were all brilliant, batshit ridiculous shows that worked.  

Great writers, actors perfectly cast and a willingness to try something new and far out paid off in a generation whose imprint of the comedy genre was one that crossed over the PC lines, was slightly dangerous and totally subversive and silly. 

We need "Wilfred" in today's world of so much soap opera news (Casey Anthony, Schwarzenegger's divorce and scattered seed) and fake reality TV.

A reminder that sometimes a totally escapist comedy is just what the over-saturated psyche needs to decompress from a TV full of douchebaggery and evildoers.

"Louie" brings comedy to a fine point with a wistfulness and bemusement at life's bittersweet highs and lows. It is grown up, sly and raucously funny because the man delivering the performance has spent years sharpening his teeth perfecting his craft, which is the core of the show.  C.K. is a heavyweight in a sea of not quite there comedic talents. FX was lucky to get him, and this is his time.

The numbers intel from FX:

Following last week’s record-setting performance (highest comedy premiere ever for FX), the multi-telecast total audience for Wilfred showed strong retention from its series premiere delivering 3.3 million Total Viewers (-13% vs. 3.8 million for ep. 1) and 2.2 million Adults 18-49 (-8% vs. 2.4 million for ep. 1). Wilfred posted week-to-week increases of +7% in Men 18-49 (1.4 million vs. 1.3 million), +17% in Adults 25-54 (2.1 million vs. 1.8 million), and +23% in Men 25-54 (1.3 million vs. 1.05 million).

The multi-telecast total audience for Louie showed equally impressive week-to-week retention with 2.2 million Total Viewers (-8% vs. 2.4 million for ep. 1) and 1.5 million Adults 18-49 (-6% vs. 1.6 million for ep. 1).  Louie gained +8% week-to-week in Adults 25-54 (1.4 million vs. 1.3 million), +19% in Men 25-54 (933,000 vs. 787,000), and +7% in Women 25-54 (513,000 vs. 480,000). Last night’s episode reps Louie’s second most-watched telecast to date among Adults 18-49 behind last week’s Season 2 premiere.  (In its first season, Louie showed significant declines of almost -40% from Week 1 to Week 2, so last night reps a very strong showing for Louie.) Two weeks in, the second season average (1st-run eps.) of Louie is up +78% in Total Viewers (1.4 million vs. 785,000) and +85% in delivery of Adults 18-49 (984,000 vs. 532,000) vs. its season one average.