Baskets (TV series)

Baskets is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on January 21, 2016, on FX. The series was co-created by Louis C.K., Zach Galifianakis, and Jonathan Krisel; Krisel is also the showrunner and director. Galifianakis stars in the dual lead role as Chip Baskets, a failed professional clown in Paris, who instead becomes a local rodeo clown in Bakersfield, California, and his twin brother, Dale Baskets. Galifianakis, C.K., M. Blair Breard, Dave Becky, Marc Gurvitz and Andrea Pett-Joseph serve as executive producers, with FX Productions as the production company. In 2017 C.K.'s production company Pig Newton had all ties to the show and FX cut after C.K. admitted to sexual misconduct with five women. On May 24, 2018, FX renewed the show for a fourth and final season, which premiered on June 13, 2019. The series ended on August 22, 2019.

Premise
Chip Baskets aims to become a professional clown. After failing to get a degree at a prestigious clowning school in Paris, he is stuck with a job as a rodeo clown in his hometown of Bakersfield, California.

Main cast

 * Zach Galifianakis as
 * Chip Baskets, a classically trained clown who is forced to return to his hometown of Bakersfield, California to become a rodeo clown.
 * Dale Everett Baskets, Chip's twin brother and the dean and founder of a local vocational college. He is a married father of two.
 * Martha Kelly as Martha Brooks, Chip's low-key auto insurance agent at Costco. Despite his angry and rude treatment of her, she is Chip's closest friend.
 * Louie Anderson as Christine Baskets, mother of Chip and Dale, as well as two adopted twins, Cody and Logan.

Recurring cast

 * Sabina Sciubba as Penelope (seasons 1-2, 4), Chip's French wife. She only married Chip to get a green card so that she could further her singing career in the United States.
 * Ernest Adams as Eddie, the owner and manager of the Buckaroo Rodeo.
 * Garry and Jason Clemmons as Cody and Logan Baskets (seasons 1-2, 4), Christine's adopted sons who are also twins.
 * Ellen D. Williams as Nicole Baskets, Dale's wife.
 * Malia Pyles as Sarah Baskets, Dale's elder daughter.
 * Julia Rose Gruenberg as Crystal Baskets, Dale's younger daughter.
 * Ivy Jones as Grandma (seasons 1-2), Christine's mother and Chip and Dale's grandmother.
 * Adam Zastrow (season 1) and Tommy Snider (seasons 2-4) as Jode, a juggalo and Arby's manager.
 * Maree Cheatham as Maggie, Christine's friend.
 * Alex Morris as Ken (seasons 2-4), a Denver-based carpet supply company owner and Christine's new boyfriend.
 * Mary Wiseman as Trinity (seasons 2-4), a busking clown who Chip helps get a job at Arby's.
 * Peter Jason as Jim (seasons 2-4), Chip and Dale's uncle and Christine's brother.
 * Ryun Yu as Daniel (seasons 3-4), a reverend.
 * Andrea Marcovicci as Tammy Nielman Zemonski (season 4), a life coach.
 * Anna Konkle as Anita (season 4), a realtor.

Production
In December 2013, Louis C.K.'s production company, Pig Newton, signed a deal with FX for him to create new shows for their various networks. FX ordered a pilot episode for Baskets with C.K. and Galifianakis to co-write, and Galifianakis to star. On August 27, 2014, FX picked up the show for a 10-episode first season with production to commence in 2015. In November 2017, after Louis C.K. confirmed the sexual misconduct allegations against him were true, FX canceled their overall deal with C.K. and his production company, Pig Newton. C.K. would have no involvement in future seasons of the series.

Baskets incorporated several ideas Galifianakis originally came up with for Between Two Ferns: The Movie but were discarded early in the film's development.

Reception
Baskets has received positive reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives the first season 70% with an average score of 7.4 out of 10, based on 36 reviews. The site's consensus reads, "Though its themes may be unpleasant for some and LOL moments are few and far between, Baskets succeeds on the strength of its deadpan delivery and terrific cast." On Metacritic, the first season holds a score of 68 out of 100, based on 32 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Broadcast
Internationally, the series premiered in Australia on January 26, 2016. It aired in the UK on Fox from April 13, 2017.