Louis CK

Arguably the funniest stand-up comedian currently working, Louis CK's brilliant comedy is being recognized by an ever-increasing audience. Did it ever matter that prop comedian Gallagher once gave a shit when Louis CK was ranked two spots ahead of him on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time? Or that Barbara Walters described CK's criminally underrated, misunderstood late sitcom Lucky Louie as "unbelievably vulgar" and "racist?" (Go to thecoast.ca to see Louis CK's take on his appearance on The View.) Or that he just might be Dane Cook's best (unintentionally so) writer? Maybe CK's life still stinks---"My life fucking stinks, it just does...When you're a parent...all the pleasures are gone, no one fucks you ever again"---but with a starring role in Ricky Gervais's new movie The Invention of Lying, a sizable upcoming guest role on Parks and Recreation as Amy Poehler's love interest and a new TV series on FX due out in 2010, can it really be all that bad? –Mark Black