Aarcflick

 When Louis C.K. was publicly accused of sexual misconduct—and subsequently confirmed that "these stories are true"—he partially withdrew from public life before gradually making a comeback. This trajectory began with performances at comedy clubs just nine months after the news broke in the fall of 2017 and continued with sold-out tours, self-distributed specials, a Grammy, and, finally, *Ridiculous* (a new hour-long special available on Netflix); yet, one thing was never in doubt: his talent. C.K. is one of the most gifted and influential artists of his generation, and he would remain so even if he never stepped onto a stage again. His FX series *Louie* paved the way for a wave of auteur-driven comedies like *Ramy* and *Dave*; his pioneering method of selling specials and self-funded projects—such as the drama *Horace and Pete*—directly through his website anticipated the so-called "creator economy," built on a direct connection between artists and fans. (This same...