The good news? FX announced that its Emmy-nominated comedy “Louie” was renewed for an additional season.
The bad news? The order only calls for seven fifth season episodes. That count is half that of the show’s recently-concluded fourth season.
Still, considering the fan and critical buzz surrounding “Louie,” it is doubtful the glass half empty approach will be commonplace in this case.
“Louie’s fourth season was once again groundbreaking. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking – always thought provoking,” said FX’s John Landgraf. “The show went to narrative and cinematic places no comedy has gone before and we look forward to seeing what Louis comes up with next.”
Far from a ratings winner, “Louie” represents a valuable vanity property for the network. In addition to garnering significant media attention, the show is also a force on the awards show circuit. Its five Emmy nominations this year included nods for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
The fifth “Louie” season will premiere in the spring of 2015.