There are really only four recurring characters on FX’s “Louie”: Louie, his two adorable daughters, and Pamela, played by Pamela Adlon. The rest of the cast is made up of guest stars, some playing hyperbolized versions of themselves and others playing virgins, hobos, casino comedy bookers, and the like. On the next few pages are the ten I believe have been the show’s best so far, knowing full well that tonight’s episode “Duckling” — in which Louie has an adventure in Afghanistan — might make the numbering obsolete. But humor me, folks — I need the page views like Louie needs pictures of the cast of “M*A*S*H” to masturbate.

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Earlier this week, news broke that Ricky Gervais would team with “Dexter” showrunner Clyde Phillips to create “Afterlife,” a show about an atheist who dies and goes to heaven. The two are currently writing the pilot, with plans to film in early 2012. And Gervais, an outspoken atheist, will play God. He writes:

He’s a slightly different God to the one you may have seen in Bruce Almighty and other Hollywood films. He’s an arrogant, wisecracking son of a bitch, who thinks he’s the best thing since sliced bread… Actually he thinks he’s the best thing ever because… well, he is. (He invented sliced bread by the way.) He also loves welcoming atheists to heaven with a smug grin on his face.

He likes atheists deep down though. Or rather he likes good atheists. He admires the fact that they were moral people even though they didn’t believe they would ever be rewarded with everlasting life.

I’m sure this will be warmly received by religious groups. Devout people are always so jovial about different interpretations of God. You ever met a born-again southern Baptist? Great senses of senses of humor.

Here’s one for the comedy geeks: Ricky Gervais sat down and talked about comedy with Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, and Louis C.K., and the resulting conversation will be aired on HBO April 22nd as a one-hour special called “Talking Funny.”

I’ve got a couple preview clips below, and even though they’re short, they effectively give me a big ol’ comedy boner. It’s not often you get to see four giants of stand-up talk about their craft like this. I mean, sure, my personal preference would be to see Dave Chappelle sitting in Seinfeld’s chair, but I’m not THAT finicky about such an impressive lineup. The last person I want to sound like is the music snob who quibbles with the Coachella lineup. Even though the Strokes are unbelievably boring live and have no business co-headlining with Kanye and Arcade Fire and Kings of Leon.

Aw crap.

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Following Ricky Gervais’s cameo on “The Office” earlier this season, the star of the original British series will return for another guest stint on the American version’s Season 7 finale, joining Will Arnett for what promises to be a star-laden send-off for Steve Carell.

What will [Gervais and Arnett] be doing? Can’t say. The episode is still being written. We can tell you the one-hour episode will air May 19, have Gervais appearing on the show for the second time, and has Arnett appearing for the first time. Also, that there will be other notable guest stars as well.

Sources did warn that one shouldn’t assume that just because Gervais and Arnett are  in the finale, that either is going to replace Carell next season as the Office boss (but one can dream of it, right?). [EW]

Personally, I’d like to see more of the Will Arnett character from “The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret.” I’d also like to see the characters of Jim and Pam die in a car wreck, and my dog ride a bicycle, and Kate Upton nude in my bed, but that doesn’t mean any of those things are going to happen. At least not until I get my dog some training wheels.

Last night was a great night for television, and if you didn’t watch at least one show from the combination of “Community,” “Parks and Recreation,” “The Office,” “30 Rock,” “Archer,” and “Jersey Shore,” then you’re probably visiting the wrong TV blog. Here’s a quick rundown of what I found most buzzworthy:

Parks and Recreation — A flu sweeps Pawnee, sending even the sharpest characters into fever-induced dementia. Rob Lowe’s “Stop. Pooping.” was probably the highlight of the episode.

Archer — I would have liked to have seen Krieger and Cheryl/Carol in the premiere, but there was still plenty to love, including: the farrier/furrier confusion, a pikemen joke, and “the Alabama of Europe.” (Also, for anyone who liked yesterday’s explanation of obscure “Archer” references, you’ll enjoy this discussion on Reddit. Judge Crater and “lampshade hanging” definitely should have made our list, and I liked the clarification on Chekhov’s gun. Bonus: for anyone who thought Quadroon got snubbed, you may enjoy its Wikipedia page.)

The Office — I’ve got video and a GIF of Ricky Gervais’s appearance on the show below. Nothing ground-breaking or all that special, but it’s cute in its own way. By the way, there’s been a lot of talk about how “The Office” went downhill after Michael Schur left to work on “Parks and Rec,” but it’s worth stating that it’s bounced back this season.

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