Louis CK on Stephen Merchant's BBC Radio 6 show (2008)

[@pi5549]

One of my favourite nuggets of radio gold. Louis is effortlessly funny and Merchant plays the perfect catalyst.

[@evansgate]

This is awesome. I've heard all of his OnA spots and finally stumble across this gem. Lots of hilarious unheard Louis ideas here.

[@davidbest983]

Proof that Merch cant go half an hour on Air without using the word "arbitrary"

[@davidduke2765]

he also seems to like the word 'misanthropic'

[@tipperary1082]

Interminable

[@wajihbec1087]

"Man alive"

[@YupaTube1974]

(Or) Sure

[@ENigma-um8zw]

Funny how they say at 19:00 , that “there’s no way you can ask Sean penn a question and become famous” (at inside the actors studio) and funnily enough there’s footage of a pre-fame Bradley cooper literally asking Sean Penn a similar question and it’s funny Louis chose to use Sean as an example bc almost that exact instance actually occurred.

[@andrewmalson-vv2dc]

Is that why Bradley Cooper beat up Louis in American Hustle?

[@Studeb]

@@andrewmalson-vv2dc Yes.

[@Studeb]

Funny, I was about to write that Bradley Cooper did ask a question, but I had forgotten that it was to Sean Penn, great point. Although the reason for me knowing Bradley had asked a question in the first place was that I had googled "were any future stars in the audience" in the first place, and I believe he was the only one, so lucky that it was Sean Penn of all people mentioned. :D

[@baka120y4]

That's mad! So cool that you knew that. Just watched Bradley Cooper and Louis C K @FlickFlockTV . They show the Cooper Penn Q&A (Cooper asked a good question imo) and they take the piss out of Louis! The whole thing is hilarious! :)

[@jamesmajor490]

Wasn't it Robert Deniro?

[@daniel_dumile]

I think I counted about 3 times someone stepped on his joke. These people don’t know how to be around comedians, they’d rather just talk

[@GeoffreyBronson]

This is brilliant, can't believe I've never heard it before.

[@maxgilroy1666]

Same thoughts I’m like 3 minutes in just grinning 😂

[@bobwilson9352]

thanks for the upload i did not know this existed , 2 of my favorites comedians , merchant being a big fan of louis ck

[@Dude0000]

When Louis said hed been on Richard and Judy there was no way i wasn't looking that up.

[@CorporationsBeingCute]

Yep, and after seeing that I searched for Chris Rock on there to no avail...

[@LuisCarruthers]

It's amazing how chilled out BBC radio was in 2008. There are multiple jokes from Merchant over this half hour that would get him instantly sacked in today's climate.

[@rascal6]

Maybe if it was in a netflix special and a bunch of snowflakes start watching it. Most normal people dont really care

[@stevenkelby2169]

Eyes bulging with imagined lawsuits.

[@nullakjg767]

honestly didnt seem that chill to me. louis couldnt even tell jokes because of how strict their format was. if its worse now, i cant imagine how bad it is. Must explain why the only radio to make it to the US is from family friendly pilkington. A man who isnt a comedian and is only funny by accident lol.

[@ydydy]

These things wax and wane over time. Possibly the most fascinating daily TV talk show host of all time was Ben Hecht back in 1958 after just 3 and a half months despite incredible ratings after for engaging with Salvador Dali on the subject of touchless orgasms.

[@Poorleeno]

6 music was awesome

[@topierland]

I’ve always been wondering why Norm Macdonald was razzing Merchant on his podcast so mercilessly. After listening to this I think he may have been doing a Merchant impression on him and giving him a taste of his own medicine haha.

[@louisbscheuer]

thank you soooo much for this x

[@baka120y4]

Damn! That's one of the funniest interviews I've ever heard! thanks for uploading it!

[@bmtalbott]

I like to imagine that the songs are actually that short.

[@christiananderson6761]

That would be on brand with a Louis bit

[@williamjglover]

19:00 Bradley Cooper, as an acting student, literally stood up and asked Sean Penn a question

[@MikePulcinellaVideo]

He asked Robert Deniro if I recall correctly

[@stuarthume9075]

I think it was Al Pacino

[@MikePulcinellaVideo]

@@stuarthume9075 Deniro kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYnQfGuGqtOfopo

[@williamjglover]

It was Sean Penn. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6vFlo2CeMd9Z5I he may well have asked questions to other actors though.

[@MikePulcinellaVideo]

@@williamjglover it was both obviously

[@NatS3703]

"Bake it on" - oh my Christ😅😅😅😅😅

[@Flashbax7]

IT'S ENTERED THE ALGORITHM.

[@YupaTube1974]

Awesome interview. Thank you so much for posting this! Stephen Merchant is brilliantly picking at Louis. Loved the dynamics and quick wit of both guys.

[@danieltarrant6827]

Funny how “sex on fire” went onto be one of the biggest songs of that year lol

[@1994moviebuff]

The diarrhea bit is god tier

[@Studeb]

And it was honest.

[@highnoon7097]

it's marginally funnier than Ricky Gervais' rubbish fat jokes in his Science stand-up

[@beback_]

​@@highnoon7097Standup isn't Ricky's strong suit.

[@highnoon7097]

@@beback_ I found his first two standups very good but returns were diminishing thereafter. Weak observations, poorly performed

[@-dash]

@@beback_agreed about standup. Rick is hilarious though

[@spockboy]

Two worlds collide. Thanks for posting!

[@fraserwebster8761]

It's mad that this is only 2008, yet none of it would get broadcast today. Or if it did the show would be pulled and presenters sacked.

[@daveryding1168]

Plot twist- Merchant is the genius!

[@baka120y4]

I think so too. It's prob true that his resume was on top so that's why Gervais gave him the job. That's like winning the lottery getting Merchant just like that.

[@christiananderson6761]

Can’t believe I’ve never heard this. What a gem

[@daviebananas1735]

This is such a weird vibe. Merchant is ripping him like they’ve been best friends for years, but also seems to be meeting him for the first time. Louis rolls with it pretty well, but some of the personal attacks seemed very odd. Edit: seems they do know each other and the part at the start was just a bit.

[@SaucyOperator]

Appreciate it. I'm listening now.

[@Frank7489]

These two have great chemistry. I wish there were more of these

[@Beeznitchio]

Willem Dafoe asked a question as a student on Inside the Actors Studio.

[@Sideeffection]

Also Bradley Cooper

[@TxWIll]

when was this? the show started in 94

[@ToneSoCooL3]

I thought Bradley Cooper was the only student to make it. He must have just attended out of interest

[@wormswithteeth]

Ricky really got the American accent down to a t here.

[@eljeffrinho]

Fans of Louis should look up his appearances on the Opie and Anthony show, US satellite radio so much more unleashed than the very uptight, rule-abiding BBC approach to radio...

[@TheNotthediver]

Bro dropped the f slur multiple times on a Sunday afternoon and wasn't even called out for it. They got away with awful stuff on XFM. In the UK we're more okay with bad language and less okay with obnoxiousness. Anthony Cumia was pretty mean and I don't believe his heart was always in the right place

[@eljeffrinho]

@@TheNotthediver oh sure if you find Louis offensive here then O&A is not going to be for you, but if you find Louis offensive here you’ve probably not seen much of Louis’s stand up at all. I’m from the UK and find this type of radio completely unlistenable to be honest, they’re so clearly restricted in what they can say, the limp inoffensive contributions of the panel here are just so twee and depressing. Horses for courses I suppose!

[@TheNotthediver]

@@eljeffrinho Opie and Anthony was radio gold, you're missing my point. London is not New York. That kind of obnoxious rudeness is great in NY but in London makes you seem like a cunt

[@lkripppler]

​@@eljeffrinhoeveryone's heard o&a, edgelord

[@eljeffrinho]

Excellent point

[@cain6981]

Love the flattering thumbnail

[@corncobjohnsonreal]

I love those caricatures, they're so dishonest and comic-like but you know who they are. I don't even care about Steven merchant that much and I knew that was Stephen merchant

[@EatinBubsy]

Louis CK saying he's proud of his dick has aged so well

[@quinnparker6111]

Louis' bit about lying changing reality...sounds like another bit Ricky ripped off for his own material. Good to know he doesn't get all his material from Karl only!

[@ToneSoCooL3]

Louis is wrong, Bradley Cooper was in the Actor's Studio and he actually asked Dinero a question on his episode before he became famous.

[@Kneenibble]

The single example in the entire 24 year run of the show. Wow kid, you get a gold star!

[@ToneSoCooL3]

@@Kneenibble He talks as if it never happens, never say never my friend

[@twelvecatsinatrenchcoat]

"i'm very proud of my penis." Oh, Louis...

[@TommyLikeTom]

their opinion of Sex is on Fire hasn't aged well

[@healthwithmarcus]

This is gold. Merchant really is as sharp as Ricky but in a different way.

[@AB-gb6zz]

Smerch is the smarter and funnier of the two, gervais' solo projects lack all the smartness of their collaborations.

[@Jacam781]

@@AB-gb6zz 'Smarter', hmm, not sure. Ricky is (or was) much more widely read and knowledgeable in general. If I was to make a comparison I'd say Ricky is much more direct. His crazy infectious laugh....

[@AB-gb6zz]

@@Jacam781 if you think afterlife or derek were smart comedies then I don't know what to say to you...ricky's stand up is equally facile

[@JR-hi9bu]

Ricky Gervais is wide read in science trivia children's books

[@baka120y4]

@@AB-gb6zz Merchant brings a hell of lot, and Gervais has said that he gets more credit for The Office because he was the driving force. I don't know who's smarter but The Office would have failed without Merchant. I thought Gervais was an ass for saying that. But regarding Gervais' solo stuff - I did love watching Ricky's stand up shows. And his Golden Globes stuff was mind bending, funny, true, ballsy, just so cool and amazing!

[@FDCLDN]

Never knew about this

[@pjgrantland3058]

I miss these days

[@vshekar]

"Lying is like magic. You change reality for other people." Did Louie come up with the plot for The Invention of Lying?

[@billiessphincter4104]

They talked about gay and the lady Said its a grower

[@anjansarkar9803]

This was in 2008, a few years past the XFM days - was Steve still struggling to find a girlfriend? Wonder is Karl knows. Also the cartoons are great - they have captured Lanky and Louis !! 😄

[@AllofJudea]

Accurate picture

[@jessdckey7712]

This is the only comment section where OnA fans (americas embarrassment and racisms last stand) intersect with some polite british folk. I wish we could all be together forever but i think this is a hit it and quit it. Cheerio! Thats how you guys say bye and how we say Cereal. Maybe its a good thing that we're not going to see each other again.

[@traviscoates6878]

Merchant is hilarious. His HBO show was his hilarious!

[@whenwasthat]

The art looks like William Montgomery on meth and Robin Ince on Ricky.

[@mariusstrmglendrange2411]

❤️❤️

[@multicellll]

ToP Tier Comedian

[@nullakjg767]

why was merchant so offended? They dont understand context which is why they dont understand why the entire world hates them.

[@downagear4323]

He wasn’t offended at all

[@nullakjg767]

@@downagear4323 seemed that way to me. he was acting like louis ck had done something offensive, thats for sure.

[@pi5549]

He wasn't offended. But he clearly felt a responsibility to not get the radio station in trouble with UK regs.

[@nullakjg767]

@@pi5549 you spelled "dregs" wrong.

[@byHexted]

Damn I love the streets!

[@byHexted]

Of course Louis hates it 😂

[@OGRE_HATES_NERDS]

neat

[@garybartley9879]

Merchant and a Jew

[@buzzandjim4265]

He's catholic

[@TransoceanicOutreach]

3:52 'one of those other black fellahs' - 2023 CANCELLED

[@williambarringer6513]

He had gas from eating like a pig and probably some slight withdrawal

[@LeekowalskiWalker]

The Streets suck

[@TransoceanicOutreach]

22:56 'What do you want to apologize for?' 'Mainly the jacking off...' 'What?'

[@slowfuse]

Wow this show is terrible despite Louis doing everything in his power to save it

[@shanewilliams5150]

He took the penis thing too far it seems