FX's LOUIE Up After Two-Year Break

After a 19-month hiatus, television's most critically acclaimed comedy series Louie returned in fine fashion as the fourth season premiere episode (5/5/14, 10 PM) was up +19% vs. the series' season three average (941,000 vs. 791,000) and +26% in Adults 18-49 (635,000 vs. 505,000).

Episode 2 of Louie (10:30 PM) was rock solid, growing its audience by +3% in Adults 18-49 (651,000 vs. 635,000) compared to the Season 4 premiere episode, and it retained 97% of the Total Viewers (910,000 vs. 941,000).

Compared to its Season 3 average, Season 4 of Louie is +17% in Total Viewers (925,000 vs 791,000) and +27% in Adults 18-49 (643,000 vs. 505,000).

Last night's Season 4 debut of Louie outperformed its half-hour lead-in audience (9:30P) Horrible Bosses by +16% (941,000 vs. 809,000 Total Viewers).

Please note: Placing any major significance on season-to-season premiere episodes comparisons makes little sense considering the performance of the Season 3 premiere of Louie was overly inflated due to the heavily promoted premiere night of Anger Management (6/28/2012). Season 3 premier of Louie delivered 1.43 million Total Viewers (10:30 PM) coming out of Wilfred's lead-in audience of 2.53 million Total Viewers. (Anger Management averaged 5.6 million Total Viewers in the 9-10 PM hour that night).

Next episodes of Louie:

Episode 3 - "So Did the Fat Lady" (Airs May 12, 10:00 pm e/p) - Louie meets somebody new. Written by Louis C.K.; directed by Louis C.K.

Episode 4 - "Elevator Part 1" (Airs May 12, 10:30 pm e/p) - Louie helps a neighbor. Written by Louis C.K.; directed by Louis C.K.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Nationals, Live+Same Day (subject to change)