Louis C.K. Talks Fatherhood and New TV Show, 'Louie'

By Nicki Gostin Posted Jun 29th 2010 11:40AM

Stand-up comic Louis C.K. lives in New York City, playing single dad to his 8- and 5-year-old daughters. Starting tonight on FX, the 42-year-old laugh-master stars in 'Louie' as ... yup, a single dad with two young daughters in the Big Apple.

The raunchy comedian calls his new show "autobiographical fiction -- it's me and how my life feels, but it's all made up things."

C.K., who starred in a 2006 HBO sitcom, 'Lucky Louie,' and had a stint on 'Parks and Recreation,' spoke to PopEater about his kids, his divorce and his show, which derives from both.

What's the humor involved in being a single dad?
Oh God -- you're alone with your kids. I have them half of the week. It's very challenging, but I love it. It's a lot of balance between the kids and going off to work and trying to have a social life or a sex life.

Do you ever have sleepovers?
Not when I have the kids. Once in a while I get a babysitter when they're asleep and I go out and think, "What am I doing?" and go back in and pay the babysitter for the night. I'm exhausted from spending the day with them and putting them to bed, so I'd rather just stay home.

What's harder, doing stand-up or dealing with two cranky kids?
Definitely the kids. That's one thing that's great about it -- I used to think that going onstage was such a challenge and I'm such a tough guy, and boy, the stakes are so high, but once you have kids it all falls into perspective -- go onstage, so what.

What do your kids think of the show?
They don't watch a lot of TV but they're proud of their dad -- that he got a new job. I've even been able to show them some clips of the girls who play them and are nothing like them. My kids are very measured, smart, sweet and thoughtful people. But there's nothing funny about that.

Ever see yourself remarrying and having more kids?
That's just a no.

Guys say that and then they meet a younger woman who wants a kid and yada yada yada.
You're describing a very stupid man.

Ever been scoped out by a MILF?
Yeah. You'll see a single mom or a mom that has a kid your kid knows showing interest and you go, "Oh God, that's the last thing I need."

But if you hadn't gotten separated, you wouldn't have a show.
This show no, but you know, life goes on. I don't think divorce is a bad thing. If a marriage doesn't work out, then end it. It's better for the kids as long as everybody does what they're supposed to do. I don't think of divorce as this great tragedy. I think there is a lot of pressure on marriages to stay together for appearances. Whatever I'd be doing in my life, I'd be doing a show about it.

You worked on Letterman. Ever see any hanky-panky?
No, nothing like that in front of me. He wasn't f***ng people in the street. I had no reason to know about it.

Were your parents upset you became a comic?
I was kind of nutty in high school, so I think they were happy I was doing anything. I don't think things looked so good for me in high school. My mom was happy I was just trying something in life.

Versus what? Jail?
Yeah, I made a lot of bad choices. I delved pretty far into drugs in junior high school. It wasn't looking so good for me for a couple of years.

Stand-up has a pretty big drug culture, yeah?
Yes, and I'm glad I did drugs when I did because I was still living in my mom's house and I was safe. I'm sorry for her because she had to cope with it. I hate thinking of it now because I'm a dad and I'm terrified of that happening with my kids. But by the time I was in stand-up, I was like, "Why would I waste my time doing that?" I knew where it lead, so I wasn't going to recklessly screw around.

'Louie' premieres tonight on FX at 11 PM. See a clip here: