Louis C.K.: Chewed Up (2008) Poster

(2008 TV Special)

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9/10
'Offensive' Is An Illusion, actually a Delusion
jthristino16 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I rarely expend time in my life typing up any kind of internet commentary on any subject, whether I love it or hate it. I just find that most of the things people write are useless for almost anybody else in the world aside from themselves, self-serving exercises of opinion with no real consequence. With that being said I could not sit by silent after reading 'hawaiitude's' (respectfully) ridiculous and immature critique of Louis C.K.'s newest stand-up special 'Chewed Up.' First off, before I attack someone else's rightful opinion on the subject matter I will talk about the subject matter itself: Louis C.K. I have been a big fan of Louie's for a number of years now. I thought 'Shameless' was a terrific, brutally honest AND hilarious stand-up showcase. His follow-up 'Chewed Up,' trumps his last one by miles. It is a GREAT stand-up special so refreshingly real that, expectedly, there are folks out there that would callously toss it under the category of 'offensive,' and that the performer (to paraphrase) is 'leaving his prejudices naked for all to see.' When I hear phrases like this it turns my stomach. The idea of 'brutal honesty' has gotten so watered-down, so cavalierly tossed about when it doesn't apply (Carlos Mencia, Ron White,etc, etc) that when someone comes along and TRULY EXERCISES this idea people curl up into a ball and weep about the insensitivity of it. COMEDY DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SENSITIVITY, NOR RESPECT, NOT CULTURAL AWARENESS. If a comedian chooses to worry and IS funny, more power to them, I'll laugh. But it is by no means a requisite. No means.

The people that complain about this stuff claim they are not PC but in truth hide their PC-ness under a thin veil. PC doesn't only mean hyphens in between ethnic descriptions, PC is also the idea that if people use a particular set of words (i.e. 'faggot,' 'nigger,' 'cunt') that they of course, have to be, prejudiced, racist, bigoted. That kind of close-mindedness and lack of insight is the very definition of political correctness. And 'Hawaiitude,' the whole comment about the white coffeshop worker being in a place of 'servitude' is such a pile of overanalytical garbage that it belongs nowhere near comedic assessment.

Louis C.K. leaves himself naked for us, that I will agree with, but in a vulgarly heroic way that brings a set of comfort to people who aren't afraid of every little aspect of the human condition, because a lot of it is ugly, even in the most righteous, virtuous souls.

I recommend 'Chewed Up' for anyone who wants to laugh at someone whose acerbic, subversive, SELF-deprecating, downright profane comedy leads you into places within your own psyche that you otherwise would be afraid to face, but is nonetheless there. And it's there, because you're human.

Anyway, that's my inconsequential polemic for the day (at the very least). Bye bye.
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10/10
He is a Comedian... Thats What Comedians Do
NBlankinship16 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This is not just some racist and homophobic man up there talking because he wants to get away with using bad words.

There is some truth to his statements. People, especially kids, do not think of certain words to actually be offensive. Saying that a comedian is not good, just because he offends you, is a little self centered and pathetic.

He packs the house at every show, he is well know, and personally, I think he is doing everything right by himself.

A comedian knows how to keep a crowd going, whatever crowd that is. George Carlin and Lewis Black know how to get the democrats riled up and ready to take down the Republican government as soon as they can. Jerry Seinfeld makes a joke out of everyday life and makes people realize that even the most simple things are funny.

Louis C.K. simply takes the subjects that NO one else will talk about, and makes them into funny situations to get a little light on the subject. He is not a racist and a homophobic man, and he is not angry at the world. He knows what people like and what they laugh at. Therefore he makes a great stand up comedian.
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8/10
Louis is on another level
SnoopyStyle5 October 2015
Louis is performing in Boston in 2006.

I love him. I love his show. And I love his takes on risky subject matters. I'm not sure how he gets his material. He must take the word fagget as a dare and he has to make it funny as a straight man. It's always fascinating how his humor also makes the audience think. It's a different way to look at the n-word. I just love the way his comedic unconventional takes on certain things. Of course, he also does the more traditional jokes about him being fat, unhealthy and old as well as jokes about his kids and his incompetent sex life especially with a cat.
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Further proof Louis C.K. is the best comedian working today!
jellyneckr28 January 2009
The death of George Carlin has left a huge hole in the world of stand-up comedy. Carlin was one of the only comedians left who would talk about absolutely anything, give his honest opinions, and make the jokes he wanted to make without caring for a second what anyone else thought. He was completely fearless and never once considered political correctness. Louis C.K. takes the same approach as Carlin did, but adds his own spin on it. He may not be quite in the same league as Carlin yet, though after sitting through 'Chewed Up' tonight for the third time, I have a feeling he may someday get there. Topics included in this special include being fat, political correctness, race, and sex. These are all common topics among comedians, however, Louis C.K. talks about the subjects without holding back for one second, never stopping to consider if he shouldn't be saying what he is about to say. He doesn't play it safe. As a result, there is more truth in his act than one is likely to see anywhere else. The only reason I don't give the special a 10 is I saw C.K. perform some of the same material live before the initial airing so seeing it taped wasn't quite as fulfilling. 9/10
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10/10
A brilliant and hilarious man
darrel07631 October 2019
Louis CK is one of the best comedians to live. This special reflects that. His material is smart, even when it's raunchy. Hes not crude for sale of being crude, people that don't understand his humour would think that. He is a way of saying things and manages to place where most of us would be jailed for. This is genius.
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10/10
One of the greatest hours of all time
jonorlowski18 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This is a special I always come back to. It's technically perfect. The structure and pacing is on another level. Louis has a way of turning words that may sound hurtful into deconstructed jokes and takes away the power we've given them as a society. In this special, he makes excellent points about several controversial topics that some may never have given a chance if it wasn't so funny.

The bits will stand the test of time. The Cinnabon airport joke? Absolute classic. He is in his best form in this special.
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6/10
Love Louis C.K., but I didn't relate to some of this material.
SeriousJest17 June 2014
Louis C.K. is one of my favorite comedians. As usual, he charismatically delivers brutally honest material that leaves you simultaneously uncomfortable and laughing. Some of the material in this special, though, especially the stuff in the beginning involving offensive words, I just don't relate to. Before you get all "that's what's wrong with 'Murica" on me, I'm not saying he was wrong for going there, but I just didn't find that material very funny…just like I'm not much into toilet humor. If you love that stuff, go for it…if you're offended by my lack of enthusiasm for it, though, I cordially invite you to pound sand and kick rocks.

For more reviews and a kickass podcast, check out: www.livemancave.com
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4/10
Louis C.K.: Talented Comedian, Needs Better Material
MBiker802 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Let me say that this was my first experience listening to Louis C.K. He is clearly a very talented and charismatic comedian. But I don't think "Chewed up" was his best work.

There were a few bits and pieces of outstanding material. But overall, Louis C.K. was too narrow focused: swear words (Fa-word, N-word, C-word), sex, masturbation, feces and vomit. It's as if Louis took down his pants and defecated on the entire audience.

So if this is your idea of "great comedy", then by all means sit down underneath this sewer pipe and enjoy Louis C.K.'s performance. Just don't forget to bring your raincoat!
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1/10
Offensive isn't funny or edgy
hawaiitude13 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Many comics react against anything 'politically correct' to get us to titter nervously and to push boundaries. We enjoy feeling like adults in a world already jaded with everyday shocking behavior. Unfortunately, the spirit and meaning behind Louis C.K.'s material in this show belie the ugly underside of his prejudiced opinions. What's shocking is how naked he is with it.

He starts off calling for a revival of the word 'faggot'. He likes its pejorative use and cites examples. This discourse is a silly gambit for him to scream the word out over and over. "Faggot! faggot! faggot!" He goes on to say he does not mean to use it as a slur towards gay men. Well, guess what? That's what it is - a slur used towards gay men. And he affirmatively approves using the word toward annoying, effeminate men. Is this a fair distinction for a straight, white guy to make?

To cap it off, he adds that every time a person performs fellatio it must take something out of that person. His assurance of respecting gay men is weak as he laughs and shouts a slur he admits he feels holds validity. No respect there. He does, however, respect the butterfly beauty he sees in female genitalia. Okay we get it, Louis CK. You're straight. You're also homophobic.

Next in the shocking-word-as-funny-gambit tirade is the big one . . . the "N" word. Like overuse of the word 'faggot', it's like a South Park episode where he seems intent on using it over and over as if he gets points each time he does. He goes on to tell a story about how a white guy makes him coffee and he thinks of the guy as a 'nigger' (and a good one no less).

The problem is - despite the coffee making guy's being white, he is in a position of servitude. The "N" word applies to both black people and people of servitude interchangeably. That's the problem with it! (One of many actually) Duh. It is offensive because people of color and people in service positions are not interchangeable. Not realizing this is at the heart of racism. Thinking of anyone as 'nigger' in your head, as Louis CK says he does, is an ugly thing. Not funny.

I think Louis CK has over shared. I do not like what I see - which is too much of his intolerance, lack of empathy, and inability to fully reason out his act. At best he has exploited words and concepts, which are shocking and taboo for a reason, just to get a few cheap laughs. I loved his short-lived sitcom, but this one act has permanently left me with an aversion to watching any of his future work.
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5/10
Weaker than Louis C.K.'s other stand-ups, but still noteworthy
Avetixz4 September 2014
The main topics of this show are curse words, being fat, children and sex. He wraps up these topics in hilarious stories like he always does and he isn't afraid to talk about controversial subjects. But that's about it. I feel like these are all random topics that Louis had something to say about thrown together to make a funny show. There were no real transition between his stories and there was no criticism on society, which is what I love about Louis' other stand-ups.

I love Louis' delivery and he really knows how to keep a crowd going. He isn't afraid to talk for a long time without any laughs, just to set up a joke. On a comedy level this is a hilarious show, but what I am missing is a hidden meaning, a message, something that connects his stories and makes them a complete show.

With "Louis C.K.: Chewed Up" being Louis C.K.'s second one-hour stand-up show, I have to say I liked his first one, "Louis C.K.: Shameless", better, but this is still an excellent sample into Louis' comedy.
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