David Farnor | On 29, Mar 2017

This is it, promises the trailer for Louis C.K.’s new stand-up special. What is “it”, exactly? That’s another matter entirely.

Is it that C.K. is heading to Netflix for his latest show? The comedian has never shied away from the online world, distributing his 2011 stand-up special directly through his website, releasing an audio version of his show at Madison Square Garden (he was the first comic to sell the place out), and, of course, making his own TV show, Horace and Pete, last year. He’s even worked with Amazon, exec producing Tig Notaro’s One Mississippi. Him joining up with Netflix, then, is kind of a big deal – not least because he’s signed up to film two new stand-up specials for the streaming service.

Or is it that he’s about to rain down some topical truth on an audience? This first of two Netflix specials is simply called “2017”, which, between Trump and Brexit, is a year full of things for the Emmy Award winner to pick apart.

Either way, we don’t have to wait long to find out: his first Netflix gig lands on Friday 4th April. Here’s the trailer:

 

Louis C.K. filming two new stand-up specials for Netflix

23rd February 2017

Louis C.K. is filming two new stand-up comedy specials exclusively for Netflix.

The six-time Emmy Award winner is these days as prolific on the screen as well as the stage. Most notably, he served as executive producer, writer, director, editor, and star of FX’s Peabody Award-winning hit show Louie. Under his multi-year development deal with FX, Louis also serves as co-writer and producer on Baskets starring Zach Galifianakis and the critically-acclaimed Better Things starring Pamela Adlon. He’s also voiced Max in The Secret Life of Pets, starred alongside Bryan Cranston and Elle Fanning in Trumbo, and appeared opposite Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine.

Louis is no stranger to streaming either. As well as serving as an executive producer on Amazon’s One Mississippi, he created and starred in Horace and Pete, which he directly released last year through his own website, louisck.net. (Hulu has since acquired exclusive US streaming rights.)

On stage, Louis released his 2011 standup special, Louis C.K. Live at the Beacon Theater, directly to consumers through his website for $5. The groundbreaking move was a tremendous success, and he donated a large portion of the proceeds to charity. His latest stand-up special, Louis C.K. Live From The Comedy Store, was also released in the same manner in January 2015, a few months before it premiered on FX.

That same month, he also became the first comedian to sell out Madison Square Garden three times for the same tour. The third show was recorded and released as a digital audio download on his website, which went on to take home a 2016 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.

“Louis has been one of the most innovative comedy voices in this new era of stand up. He has also been a thought leader in the business of comedy. We have marveled at his creativity and his ability to invent comedically and commercially, and are thrilled that he is bringing his newest specials to Netflix,” says Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer at Netflix.

The first of the two specials, titled 2017, was filmed in Washington DC, and will premiere on Netflix worldwide on 4th April.

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