Dr. Ben/Nick

"Dr. Ben/Nick" is the third episode of the American comedy-drama television series Louie. It first aired on the FX channel in the United States on July 6, 2010, and was written, directed, and edited by the show's creator and star, Louis C.K.

"Dr. Ben/Nick"
Louie episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 3
Directed byLouis C.K.
Written byLouis C.K.
Cinematography byPaul Koestner
Editing byLouis C.K.
Production codeXCK01002
Original air dateJuly 6, 2010 (2010-07-06)
Running time22 minutes
Guest appearance(s)

Plot

Louie tells the audience in his stand-up set that he has achieved having the body he wants, by having an "ugly, disgusting, body". But, he says he dislikes the unhealthy and uncomfortable aspect of having such a body.

He goes to the doctor's office, although he has not made an official appointment, and has only agreed to meet his old friend, Dr. Ben (played by Ricky Gervais), at 2.00 PM. Dr. Ben finishes with his patient and jokingly pretends he does not know Louie. It becomes clear the doctor has a twisted sense of humor, and he mocks Louie throughout the appointment. When Louie removes all of his clothes, Dr. Ben tells him he has the "worst penis I've ever seen in my life". During Louie's rectal examination, Dr. Ben presses his finger in and out of his anus.

Later, after finishing a stand-up set, Louie meets a waitress who says she is waiting for black people, who she presumes will not tip her. Louie asks a black waitress her opinion, who agrees. He eats dinner with the conservative Nick DiPaolo, who disagrees with Louie's liberal views. Louie calls DiPaolo a Nazi, which angers DiPaolo and results in him throwing his drink in Louie's face and getting in a fight, during which DiPaolo cuts his hand. The two go to the emergency room, exchange jokes, and discuss their personal lives. On their way home, Louie apologizes for his remarks, and DiPaolo says he envies Louie's life with his kids.

Louie tells the stand-up audience a story about picking up his friend's cousin, who lived on a farm. Upon arriving, his cousin sees a "particularly" homeless man and attempts to help him. Dr. Ben calls Louie at his apartment and tells him he may have "big, fat, ginger, ugly-itis." He then tells him he has AIDS, but that his cancer will kill him before the AIDS do. Louie hangs up.

Reception

Ratings

The episode was watched by 720,000 people in the United States.[1]

Critical reception

The A.V. Club's Nathan Rabin gave the episode a positive "A−" score and praised Gervais' performance, saying "I could see people finding Gervais’ shtick off-putting. I, on the other hand, found it hilarious".[2] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix praised the episode, also celebrating Gervais' performance and the drama in Louie and Nick's conversations.[3]

gollark: I see.
gollark: Stop being unaware, please. It's in the manual.
gollark: Were you unaware of the new classification system introduced 715Ts ago?
gollark: Or β-597/A'.
gollark: Obviously something something is-ought problem, but for most terminal goals people have being right is better than not being right, all else equal.

References
  1. Gorman, Bill (July 21, 2010). "Reader Mailbag: How Are FX's 'Louie' Ratings?". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  2. Rabin, Nathan. "Louie: "Dr. Ben/Nick"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  3. Sepinwall, Alan. "'Louie' - 'Dr. Ben/Nick': Using the whole fist, doc?". HitFix. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
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