Steve Coogan pretty much did this last year, with <i>Alan Partridge's Mid Morning Matters.</i> It went out on youtube, sponsored by Fosters and then I think it got bought by sky and shown on TV. They were only 15 minute single camera things though. Plus, he already part owns his own production company, so I guess it's not a direct comparison.<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid_Morning_Matters_with_Alan_Partridge" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid_Morning_Matters_with_Alan_P...</a><p>Also, just last week there was a 20 minute comedy pilot called <i>People Just Do Nothing</i> on the BBC which started life as a series of 10 minute youtube shorts. It had various industry people behind it, such as the producer from <i>The Office.</i> It'll likely get a series.<p>It seems that in UK comedy at least, instead of pitching your show to commissioning editors at the channels, who probably won't understand it, you just make your own pilot and put it on youtube to demonstrate the concept. Peter Serafinowicz did this back in 2007: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Peter_Serafinowicz_Show" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Peter_Serafinowicz_Show</a>
'It's only a matter of time...'.<p>Somehow, I doubt it. Louis C.K. is in a pretty unique space to try and do this kind of thing, and as mentioned in the article he would have no obvious reason to do this for his own show. To my, admittedly limited, knowledge no-one has managed to replicate the success that Louis has had, so if the implication is that we're on the cusp of major disruption in the distribution model, then I remain sceptical. In the next 10-20 years? Sure, why not.
I'd sure like to see Dave Chappelle get the cast back together and resurrect his old show. Maybe if he was in total control he could deal with the pressure. He could even stage it on his Ohio farm if he wanted.
I can't see him doing it for the show "Louie" itself, since it's already in a good position.<p>But I could completely imagine someone else in a similar position doing, perhaps even with Louis CK's help and the same platform. Imagine if Chris Rock wanted to launch a new crazy-experimental TV show. Funding via the Internet, with Louis CK's help, and then license it to a TV channel as well. I think it would be a huge success.