I wonder if his scandal was good for him. He has seemed more grateful since. He's not quite as cocky. Hopefully he understood that that was the point...
It's still extremely impressive how every single special over the many years has been good, nearly every single joke. But I know what he has to offer at this point. The jokes are novel enough to be good (insofar as novelty and quality are related) but not novel enough to be ecstatic. It's just more Louis, inevitable Louis, old friend.
With each special I feel optimistic it'll be good, and hopeful if not optimistic it'll feel new. I was especially hopeful this time as he said in his emails these may be his best jokes ever. I guess I fell for that. I wonder if he believed it. Maybe they are some of his best jokes ever, but it doesn't feel quite like it used to. I think that reflects more than just my aging. I think it says something about his evolving role in comedy.
My perception of his timeline since Shameless (2007) lifted him from irrelevance:
- a couple-two-three crucial specials. He's inspired, likable, groundbreaking, unrefined.
- a couple specials culminating in Comedy Store (2015) where the jokes are still good but he's getting more cynical, possibly depressed, less likable. He's refining his craft, but his persona is diving a bit. I recall Comedy Store as a low point. Personality matters.
- 2017 (2017) was good. He's still refining (his wardrobe) and his mood lightens. A couple experimental bits like in Comedy Store, but altogether lighter.
- scandal
- a few specials that feel mutually alike -- more gratitude and grace from him, likability as of old, but now he's a legend. He appears effortlessly great, time after time, though it simply can't shatter the scene like it used to, unless he shatters himself constructively.
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