HBO, "Luckey Louie" and Louis C.K.

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on January 23rd, 2006

“I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages–the less you know about the process the more you respect the result.”–Quote from Otto von Bismarck

Add to Herr Bismarck’s observation the making of television.

A story in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal contains a lengthy description of the tribulations of Louis C.K. as he goes about the creation of a new sitcom under the auspices of HBO.

That same week, HBO executives watched an afternoon run-through of episode nine. In the episode, Mr. C.K. happens into a confessional in a Roman Catholic church where he describes to a priest a long, profanity-laced dream involving sexual relations with a demon in hell.

The HBO executives expressed skepticism. They huddled with the writers in a bungalow on the studio lot and questioned whether the scene rang true. “You want to keep him very real,” Tracy Katsky, a consulting producer on the show, said after the meeting. “But there were a couple of moments in the confessional that, while they’re funny, you don’t believe he would say them.”

When it came time to make revisions, Mr. C.K. declined to omit the scene. HBO didn’t press the issue and as it happens, it was the most popular scene with studio audiences. “This is his show and to some extent it’s HBO’s, but it’s really Louie and he’s going to do what he’s going to do,” Ms. Katsky said later.”

Do you detect perhaps a bit of disgust in Ms. Katsky’s statement? I’m guessing she’s a peach to work with.

The overall theme of WSJ staffer Joe Hagan’s story is that HBO is intent on “reviving the sitcom” (Here we go again!) and that Louis C.K. is just the man for the job. Then we read that chairman and CEO of HBO Chris Albrecht, “liked Mr. C.K.’s sense of mission and also his willingness to compromise.” Red flag city, or what?!

Fascinating story. (And, it might not be up there long… we got it via an emailed link from a reader who subscribes, so hustle!)