Playlist: Louie

2 episodes tonight which I did not know that was the case.

Louis C.K. names the show "Louie"...why not "Louis" like he spells his name?...so he directed it, wrote it, produced it...and the Pilot episode he also edited it...the first episode was not very good and was sporadic like the reviewer in the last "Future List" wrote...it cut too often between the stand-up act and the show/plot...we need more of Louis and less plot...or less "sit-com" style jokes...more of Louie as a single dad I guess...but the show needs time...

The second episode was much better...they worked kinks out of the pilot and the editing was done by someone else...the same could be said for most pilots...like the pilot for "Its Always Sunny"...that was not great

Louis' second episode was funny and sad...there are a lot of moments of true reflection about life...the "faggot" story that is told...and the "whip it out" segment in the show...I won't spoil it but I think he is going for a drama/comedy rather then a straight up sit-com like "Lucky Louie" was on HBO...the sad part is that his comedy really needs to be on something like HBO...but on FX they will just bleep stuff out.

Result: Not wall to wall laughs...nothing groundbreaking...and a few laugh out loud (more like chuckle)...it's a bit predictable...but I want this guy to succeed so I will continue to watch it. Also there were 2 spots..1 for the new Season of "It's Always Sunny"...and another for "The League" ...two great shows that will air beginning in September...so till then we can look forward to a July 25th "Mad Men" start.

Out

Playlist: Justified

FX had me at "The Shield". Then, "Sons of Anarchy". So, my faith in their programming is...well, justified, but that's just a coincidence. Stupid puns.

There's nothing like good writing, is there? Smooth segue, eh? Good writing delivered via good actors. I'm not sure why so many producers treat this as a top secret formula. Sometimes it feels like more people know KFC's magical recipe. Which, SPOILER ALERT, is people.

Justified is based on the exploits of the Elmore Leonard character, U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens (played cool as all hell by Timothy Olyphant). If you're not familiar with Leonard, get familiar with him. He's one of the best crime fiction writers ever and a master of dialogue. And this show is dripping with his style and flair. At first, I worried it would unfold as a case-of-the-week procedural--which would have been entertaining enough--but having been spoiled by so many good recent shows, I have come to expect more. And this does deliver as a season-long arc hit a very satisfying conclusion last night.

But back to the writing and acting. Some of the best scenes you'll see on TV--anywhere, really--are between Olyphant and Walton Goggins, who was so powerful on "The Shield". Mesmerizing. Not so much for what is said, but how. How they own their characters and the space they're in, how they feed off each other, and how you could watch one scene play out for the whole hour and still want to see more.

So, yeah, check it out.

Playlist: It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Milk Bath
Banana Eating Nazis
Nightman
Dayman
Masturbating Bums

These things all have one thing in common. The best new (to me) sitcom in years. Not since the American Office started have I watched a new show that I really care about...and I missed the first 4 seasons..how?...how did I miss this gloriously ridiculous show..I have recently watched all the seasons for the first time (just have season 4 to go..and I saw most of those during discovering it during season 5)...right now they (The Gang) are filming season 6...this will air in September most likely and I will be waiting. If you don't like this show I don't want to be your friend...I am that sure of myself and the people I want to be associated with.

This got me thinking about show taste...what shows make you a good friend...I could talk Seinfeld with about 75% of the public..but if my bosses knew how much I liked Always Sunny...I may not be able to continue my tenure at my current job.

What other shows must you like to be my friend?...well here is a list:

• Get a Life
• Twin Peaks
• Its Always Sunny
• The Wire
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• East Bound and Down

 and to satisfy most of the public I think you must appreciate:

• The Office
• Quantum Leap
• The original V
• All In the Family
• Mad Men
• The Sopranos
• Seinfeld

I don't think this is asking too much. I don't like most TV...I just can't put much time into all that's out there...so when I fall in love with Sweet D's retarded hip hop boyfriend, Charlie's unrequited love for the waitress, Dennis' odd pedophilic/homophobic/sadomasochistic tendencies and Mac's super agro hostility...you either take me with it all or leave me alone.

Synopsis: watch this show