He's the Emmy Award-winning creator of two of cable TV's most successful comedy series and the main voice behind one of summer's biggest animated movies, so Louis C.K. has plenty to be happy about nowadays. Lucky us, though, he has returned to stand-up comedy to remind us how miserable he really is — which is when he's at his best.
The curmudgeonly comic, 48, returned to Target Center Tuesday for a sold-out stop on a summer comedy tour. The arena show was only his first gig of the night, too.
A few hours before the arena set, the top dog in the summer hit "Secret Life of Pets" and driving force behind the FX TV hits "Louie" and "Baskets" confirmed he would make a late-night appearance afterward at nearby Acme Comedy Club, a sign of support as the mainstay venue faces possible relocation.
The Target Center show underscored how far Louis' star has risen since his Acme days. It was a mob scene reminiscent of hip-hop mega-stud Drake's concert a week ago at Xcel Energy Center, as almost 15,000 fans bulged outside in long lines at show time waiting to get through tight security gates. As if Louis C.K. fans are a danger to anyone besides themselves.
Opening comic Michelle Wolf — a "Late Night With Seth Meyers" writer who was the first (and best) of three comedians to precede Louis to the stage — started out to a half-full arena. She ended with a golden bit in which she recounted a failed relationship through text messages.
During his 85-minute set, Louis pretty much covered human failure on the whole. He started his set with a regard about how "nice" the Minnesota weather was, but then flatly interjected, "I don't like a nice day." He then rolled into a surprisingly convincing routine about how naps — his chosen recreation for the day — are more enjoyable than sex.
As he's often done in the past, Louis showed an uncanny ability to cast a bright light on dark elements of human existence without getting too mired in bleakness. There was always the faint hint Tuesday that his most pained admissions had a healing element to them. Like when he said, "The decision to have children is not based on any intelligence," but then admitted said his two daughters are "the best thing that's ever happened to me."
The best surprise: Louis managed to make his set political in tone without directly addressing Donald Trump or the election on the whole. He talked about abortions in a way that seemed purely for shock effect, but ultimately stuck up for women's right to choose by imagining the choice being left up to men wanting to procreate. "It's her job to say, 'Nah, there's enough of you,' " he said.
One of his best bits was about demonizing public school teachers, whom he at first painted as poor suckers, then ultimately subtly stuck up for them. "What happens if I get really good at the job?" he feigned a prospective teacher saying to a boss. "Nothing," was the answer.
A lot of pay-off has come Louis C.K.'s way for being very good at his job, but let's hope he always find those rewards are nothing compared to an old-fashioned woebegone comedy show like this.
Chris Riemenschneider • 612-673-4658
