‘Louie’: Free-flowing, scathing hilarity

“EVERYONE’S a Hero”

Not a traditional, feel-good sitcom, “Louie” is the acclaimed half-hour comedy series created by and starring former “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” writer Louis C.K.

C.K., whose actual surname Szekely is pronounced “seekay” in Hungarian, brings his uniquely scathing and disarming wit to the show about a divorced stand-up comic raising two daughters in New York.

The comedian, apart from portraying a more problematic version of himself, also writes and edits the show, giving the similarly named comedian character a lot of familiar, even bizarre situations that aren’t always inspired by C.K.’s own experiences.

Series’ backbone

Several self-esteem issues and relationship foibles form the backbone of the series’ first season. A somewhat disenchanted Louie attempts to date again, but for one reason or another, things don’t work out for him. It’s the opposite of his character’s status quo in his short-lived, adult-oriented sitcom in 2006, “Lucky Louie.”

But this current show lets C.K. cut loose and experiment, wryly tackling topics such as sex, politics, racism and religion. Its darkly comic situations are sometimes bookended by his stand-up routines made exclusively for the show.

Through these short but effective bits, the comedian gets to examine and dissect everything from the minutiae of home life to his health issues, the self-deprecation and sharp observational tone consistently inspiring giggles. But C.K.’s humor almost always conjures up things to seriously think about, whether they’re stand-up routines or the situational parts.

THE WANTED

And the heavier episodes of the first season easily stand out. In “Bully,” Louie gets intimidated by a teen thug, but later discovers disturbing reasons for his tormentor’s abrasive behavior. In another episode, “God,” it’s revealed that Louie unnecessarily carried extreme guilt back when he was a boy because of the misguided actions of a religion teacher.

Guests

Recurring guests like Ricky Gervais (as Louie’s odd, pranking doctor) and Pamela Adlon (who co-starred in “Lucky Louie”) keep some arcs running even though continuity isn’t always focused on (hence the personality inconsistencies of some characters). Other episodes benefit from the guest appearances of Matthew Broderick and “Smash’s” Megan Hilty.

Similarly accomplished comics like Joan Rivers, Robin Williams and Chris Rock eventually appear as themselves in subsequent seasons of “Louie,” subdued but sublime presences complementing C.K.’s unusual but welcome brand of hilarity.

(“Louie” airs Tuesdays, 9:30 p.m. on Jack TV.)

Sporty Disney

Disney Channel offers sporty viewing fare this month.

“Everyone’s Hero,” a  heartwarming comedy-adventure, is set on Aug. 26 (10 to 11:30 a.m.).  It follows a young boy who travels a thousand miles to help Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees win the World Series.

On Aug. 31 (from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.), new episodes of the series “Upin and Ipin,” and “BoBoiBoy,” plus a 30-minute special compilation of “WaktuRehat” will be aired. The series marathon is to be followed by the premiere of “The Game Plan,” which tells the story of an NFL quarterback who discovers that he has an 8-year-old daughter.

‘The Wanted’

Fans of the boy band The Wanted can’t get enough  of these hip, hot, hunky idols.

Still curious about the good-looking  lads in the band?

In 2009,  a mass audition was conducted, in search of gifted and gorgeous guys.

Over 1,000 boys tried their luck and after nine months, manager Jayne Collins put together Nathan Sykes, Max George, Tom Parker, Jay McGuiness and Siva Kaneswaran.

Collins is also behind the girl groups  The Saturdays and Parade.

The group’s youngest member, Nathan Sykes is the son of a musician-teacher. He loves R&B and soul music.

Brawny Max George is the football player of the group. He played for Preston North End Football Club.

Tom Parker started playing the guitar at 16. He also auditioned for the reality search “The X Factor” and joined a tribute band.

A product of Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama, Jay McGuiness was dubbed  2011’s Sexiest Male Vegetarian.

A former model, Siva Kaneswaran was spotted by Collins after appearing in a string of TV commercials and shows.

Groupies can now follow the boys’ adventures and misadventures in Hollywood via the reality show “The Wanted,” which airs every Sunday at 9 p.m., on the E! Channel, SkyCable Channel 57.

‘Misibis Bay’

A bombshell of a revelation will be detonated in the “Misibis Bay” finale tonight at 8 on TV5.

Mysteries will be solved in the sexy drama mini-series. Expect steamy scenes that will surely shock viewers. Be riveted by the conflict between Miranda (Vivian Velez) and Maita (Ritz Azul) and the intriguing love triangle of Andrew (Daniel Matsunaga), Lara (Megan Young) and Bernard (Victor Silayan).

Find out the identity of the murderer behind all the killings on “Misibis Bay.” Whose lives  will come to an end? Who will reconcile? And who will live happily ever after?

Meanwhile, catch the “Best of Misibis Bay” which will feature some of the fascinating scenes, bloopers, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage that have never been shown on primetime TV. The “Best of Misibis Bay” airs from Aug. 20 to 30, 8 p.m. on TV5.