Life with Louie

Life with Louie
"Life with Louie" title screen
Format	Animated television series/Comedy
Created by	Matthew O'Callaghan and Louie Anderson
Voices of	Louie Anderson Debi Derryberry Edie McClurg Miko Hughes Justin Shenkarow Mary Wickes
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	39
Production
Running time	20 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Fox Network
Original run	December 24, 1994 – March 3, 1998

Life with Louie is an American animated series. Debuting on December 24, 1994 as a Fox Kids Christmas special, it began its first season in fall of 1995 and lasted until March 1998. Life with Louie is based on the childhood of stand-up comedian Louie Anderson, growing up in Wisconsin with several brothers and sisters.

The series has since aired on the European version of Jetix and was popular enough to merit a few DVD releases in the region.

Contents 1 Characters 2 Episode list 2.1 Season 1 (1995-1996) 2.2 Season 2 (1996-1997) 2.3 Season 3 (1997-1998) 3 Intro and theme song 4 Home videos and merchandise 5 Reception 5.1 Awards 6 References 7 External links

Characters

• Louis 'Louie' Anderson - Main character; overweight eight-year-old child living in Wisconsin.
• Mike Grunewald and Jeannie Harper - Louie's friends. Jeanie often defends Louie when he's being harassed. Louie had a crush on Jeanie and once referred to her as his "knight in shining armor".
• Andrew 'Andy' Anderson - Louie's neurotic father. He says that he is a veteran from World War II but in episode 28, "Military Reunion", it's turning out that Andy was only a cook.(Nicknamed "Keister"). Much of the humor regarding Andy involved Andy's comic superiority complex and equally comical unawareness of his own limitations. Though he often appeared out of touch with reality, Andy was secretly a very gifted chess player, a skill Louie briefly displayed possessing, but he hid his gift during the latter half of his life because of the way he was supposedly mistreated for his gift in his youth (he even went so far as to disguise himself at chess tournaments so he wouldn't be recognized). His catchphrase was, "For crying out loud!". Despite his appearance, he is a very caring person.
• Ora Anderson - Louie's heavy set, sweet natured mother. A very good cook. Often has to cool down Andy when he loses his temper.
• Tommy Anderson - Louie's youngest brother.
• Glen Glenn - Boy who is bullying Louie.
• Henrietta Shermann - Louie's grandmother, mother of Ora. She dies in one of the episodes.
• Pepper - Louie's obese pet goldfish.
• Sid Anderson, John Anderson, Danny Anderson, Peter Anderson - Louie's older brothers.
• Mr. Jensen, Earl Grunewald, Gus Williams - Louie's neighbours
• Laura Anderson, Carol Anderson, Julie Anderson - Louie's older sisters.

Episode list

This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this section if you can. (September 2009)

1. A Christmas Surprise for Mrs. Stillman (Christmas special/pilot)

It's Christmas time. Ora asks Andy to decorate Mrs. Stillman's house by the Christmas lights. Andy seeks Louie's help and both decorate the house with the help of Louie's friends who arrived at the house for singing.

Season 1 (1995-1996)

1. Dad Gets Canned

Andy gets fired from his job for giving his friend the day off for the birth of his child. Louie gets upset because he wanted to spend his vacation relaxing and sitting around, but Andy forces him to work. Ora gets a job selling cosmetics to her neighbours. While Louie accompanies Ora, he learns the true reason behind Andy's job loss.

2. Lake Winnibigoshish

The Anderson family goes to Lake Winnibigoshish for their vacation where Louie meets Kelly Busset, who has a crush on him.

3. Raindrops Keep Falling on My Bed

The Jensen family moves into the house next to the Andersons. While Andy fights with Mr. Jensen about their property lines, a rain storm appears and floods the town.

4. A Fish Called Pepper

Jeannie moves because her father is given a new job. Afterwards, Louie's grandma comes to visit and, because of her, Louie sends a letter to Jeannie telling her he loves her. Meanwhile, the family gets a pet fish because they can not afford a dog and cats lick the butter.

5. Behind Every Good Coach

Louie joins the baseball team but during their first game, the coach gets hurt and Andy becomes the new coach. With the team unable to win, Ora gives the team a few pointers and they win their final game.

6. Alive! Miracle in Cedar Knoll, Wisconsin

While Andy and Ora leave to visit Grandma, Louie and Tommy are left alone at the house as a blizzard hits and causes a blackout in Cedar Knoll.

7. Pains, Grains, and Allergy Shots

Louie suddenly develops a food allergy.

8. The Fourth Thursday in November

All of the Anderson family comes to Louie's house for Thanksgiving dinner, including Ora's brother, who Andy hates.

9. Tracks of My Deers

While on a deer hunt with Andy and his friends, Louie meets a lonely deer and decides to keep it until the hunt finishes.

10. When Cedar Knoll Freezes Over

The winter carnival begins in Cedar Knoll and The Anderson family loses every competition they enter. Meanwhile, Louie develops a crush on Jeannie's sister and tries to learn how to skate to get close to her.

11. A Fair to Remember

The Anderson family goes to a fair where Ora tries to win the best cooking contest, and Andy wins a pig. Meanwhile, Tommy gets upset because Louie always takes him to the childish fair rides.

12. Born a Rambler Man

When Andy's Rambler gets damaged, Ora decides to buy him a new car for his birthday. After Andy complains and returns the car, Louie fixes the Rambler with the help of a repair man named Smitty.

Season 2 (1996-1997)

1. Caddy on a Hot Tin Roof

Louie needs some money and is hired as a caddy on a golf game.

1. Summer of My Discontent

Louie tries to escape from Glen Glenn, so he joins the trip to Chakami camp. The bad news: Glen Glenn also joins. While on a trip, Louie and Glen Glenn get lost inside a forest.

1. Anderson Ski Weekend

Earl Grunewald is promoted to be a main worker of the tractor factory. While the Grunewald family goes for a ski trip, Louie pretends to be a ski master, so the Anderson family also joins.

1. Roofless People

The tornado attacks the Cedar Knoll and Louie gets afraid of the tornado, so he stays at his room and doesn't want to leave until the cow, which was trapped on a tree because of the tornado, confronts him.

1. How to Succeed in Washington Without Really Trying

Louie's class must speak a speech and if someone wins, the class will go to Washington. Louie buys from Glen Glenn the speech and he wins. Andy accompanies the trip because he was on a war with the president. Andy tells Louie he must always tell the truth. While on the speech compitetion, Louie tells the truth about the speech.

1. Mr. Anderson's Opus

Louie gets jealous because Jeannie is having a crush at the new kid at school. Meanwhile, Andy and Ora are arguing for a date of their wedding anniversary day.

1. An Anderson Dozen

Ora is going to born a baby. Louie thinks if the baby will be born, someone will leave the family and he wouldn't leave the family.

1. Buzz Stop

Andy wants to have a big van than the Jensens' , so he buys lots of bees to make more money and becomes obssesed.

1. For Pete's Sake

While on a shopping, Louie gets rescued from an accident by a man named Pete and he decides to keep him at the garage of his house.

1. The Masked Chess Boy

Louie learns he's so talented in playing chess and he's written to the chess compitetion. When Andy confronts him someone laughs at the chess players, Louie decides to disguise himself as the Masked Chess Boy.

1. The Good, the Bad, & the Glenns

Glen Glenn's mother, Jen Glenn, scares the entire Cedar Knoll with her very loud voice. She suddenly loses her voice and goes to hospital. Because of this, the Cedar Knoll is happy and Glen Glenn pals with Louie.

1. Kazoo's Coming to Dinner

Louie meets a joker and Ora's ex-boyfriend, Marty Kazoo. Ora currently hates Marty.

1. The Thank You Note

While on Louie's birthday, The grandma gives Louie the sweater which she created for him. While trying to write the thanking letter, Louie doesn't have a time because his friends call him to do another things. Louie then writes the letter, but the grandma has already died.

Season 3 (1997-1998)

1. Louie's Gate

The cinema is opened and Louie visits the place every time, so Andy and Ora become worried. Thye decide to give him a camera. After Louie is given a camera, he decides to shoot a movie.

1. The Making of a President

Louie and Mike Grunewald try to win the Election Story.

1. Military Reunion

Louie tries to not listen anymore the war stories of Andy and he learns Andy said the uncorrect stories. While on the Military Reunion, Andy admits to Louie he was called Corporal Keister and he was a cook, though his friends from the military insist that he did save them.

1. Go Packers

Andy takes Louie for the Packers match. The Oackers team loses, but wins because of Anderson play.

1. The Undergraduate

While Louie's teacher gets ill, Louie gets a crush on the replacement teacher. Louie always reads the Shakespire, much to Andy's chagrin. Andy tries to order the principal to fire Mrs. Robertson, the name of the replacement teacher. Mrs. Robertson explains she's from the military family and Andy gives her the job at the military academy.

1. Louie's Harrowing Halloween

It's Halloween time. Ora disagrees to give Louie any candy on October. While on a shopping, Louie takes a candy without pay and feels he became a criminal, so he tries to get rid of the candy.

1. Mr. Louie's Wild Ride

The Anderson family goes to Snifferland for their vacation. After arrival, they learn the Sinfferland moved to Orlando in Florida.

1. Close Encounters of the Louie Kind

Louie and Mike create a spaceship which causes Andy to be an ambassador of the Earth.

1. The Kiss is the Thing

Louie must play the prince for the school performance about the Sleeping Beauty. Meanwhile, Andy replaces his boss.

1. Family Portrait

It's Christmas time. Louie tries to have a gift which he must pay for 5$. Louie learns one of his friends is an orphan and invites him to his house for Christmas.

1. Blinded By Love

Louie wants to have a dog much to Andy's chagrin. Louie takes a dog which is learned to be a guide for the unable to see people.

1. Do it or Donut

Louie feels he's good at basketball. Andy tries to be in form and Ora decides to eat the healthy food.

1. Project: Mother's Day

Andy's mother comes to visit for Mother's Day. Meanwhile, Ora gets sick and Louie does all of her jobs, so he doesn't have a time for buy her gift for Mother's Day.

Intro and theme song

The show's intro involved the main character running toward a TV set, turning one of the set's dials, and showing a live-action video of Louie Anderson as an adult saying, "Let me tell you about my family." Then after that showing clips of the show from Andy Anderson being pulled by sled dogs, Louie sticking chopsticks in his nose, to Louie jumping off a diving board at a swimming pool nearly wasting all the water and getting most of the other participants wet due to the fact of him being overweight, then the show's logo (in Pink) appears on the bottom left-hand corner of the screen, while the main character (wearing sunglasses) eats a dot while sitting on a raft while watching TV on a tire. The intro was used from season 2 to the last season. Season 1 episodes used a live-action intro by Louie Anderson talking to the audience about his childhood, then dissolving into the show.

Home videos and merchandise

Based on the popularity of the show, various merchandise was released including apparel, videos of various episodes, a "Lake Winnibigoshish" CD-ROM comic book,^[1] and a book series for children. The book series was based on the various episodes of the show and contained six books in total. Kids' meal toys were also produced for several fast-food restaurant chains including Taco Bell (1996), Hardee's (1997), Jack in the Box (1997), and Dairy Queen (1999).

In early January 2006, TVShowsOnDVD.com^[2] posted a news story that Life with Louie was released on DVD. The information came from Louie Anderson himself who mentioned this news on a radio program he was a guest on, KQRS-FM. There has been no other news since then and it is now unknown if this series will ever be released on DVD in the United States. However, three 2-episode sets were released in the United Kingdom in summer 2007 as Life with Louie: Volume 1, 2, and 3. The sets were released through Boulevard Entertainment as part of the Jetix programming brand.

Reception

As of 2009, based on 732 votes, Life with Louie holds an 8.5 rating on the Internet Movie Database. It also holds an 8.0 rating based on 131 votes on TV.com.

Awards

The series won two Daytime Emmy Awards. It also won the Humanitas Prize three times, which is more than for any other animated series.

• Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program - 1997
• Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program - 1998
• Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program - 1999 (nominated)
• Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program - 1999 (nominated)
• Genesis Award - 1997^[3]
• Humanitas Prize for Children's Animation - 1996
• Humanitas Prize for Children's Animation - 1997
• Humanitas Prize for Children's Animation - 1998 (nominated)^[4]
• Humanitas Prize for Children's Animation - 1998^[5]

References

External links

• Life with Louie at the Internet Movie Database
• Life with Louie at TV.com