Baskets Information

Baskets is an American comedy television series that premiered on January 21, 2016 on FX. The series was co-created by Louis C.K., Zach Galifianakis and Jonathan Krisel, who is also the showrunner. 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 and Pig Newton as production companies. On February 23, 2016, FX renewed the series for a second season to air in early 2017.

Premise

With hopes and dreams, 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 at a local rodeo in his hometown of Bakersfield, California.

Cast

Main cast

• Zach Galifianakis as twin brothers Chip Baskets and Dale Baskets.
• Martha Kelly as Martha Brooks, a low-key insurance agent who is Chip's only friend and tolerates his angry and rude treatment of her.
• Louie Anderson as Christine Baskets, mother of Dale and Chip

Recurring cast

• Sabina Sciubba as Penelope, a French woman who is married to Chip, but outright tells him she does not love him at all and only married him so she could live in America.
• Ernest Adams as Eddie, the owner and manager of the Buckaroo Rodeo, who hires Chip because he gives a job to anyone who actually wants to work there for low pay and at huge injury cost, and who later promotes Chip to "head clown".
• Ellen D. Williams as Nicole Baskets, Dale's wife.
• Malia Pyles as Sarah Baskets, Dale's eldest daughter.
• Julia Rose Gruenberg as Crystal Baskets, Dale's youngest daughter.

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.

Episodes

| ShortSummary = Chip Baskets pursues his dreams of being a professional clown but finds as much failure there as he does in his personal and family lives. | ProdCode = XBS01001 | Viewers = 1.04 | LineColor = 97BCD4 }}

| ShortSummary = Chip mentors a Juggalo devotee at the rodeo, while Martha tries to sell a Costco membership so she won't get fired. | ProdCode = XBS01003 | Viewers = 0.658 | LineColor = 97BCD4 }}

| ShortSummary = Martha faces a problem at home, while Chip meets his wife's lover. | ProdCode = XBS01002 | Viewers = 0.625 | LineColor = 97BCD4 }}

| ShortSummary = The Easter holiday brings more strife, but also some understanding, to the Baskets family. | ProdCode = XBS01004 | Viewers = 0.567 | LineColor = 97BCD4 }}

| ShortSummary = While Chip and Martha spend an eye-opening day watching Dale's kids, Christine finally meets Penelope. | ProdCode = XBS01005 | Viewers = 0.649 | LineColor = 97BCD4 }}

| ShortSummary = Chip's potential big break comes as his mom's favored second set of twins bring their DJ act to Bakersfield. | ProdCode = XBS01006 | Viewers = 0.483 | LineColor = 97BCD4 }}

| ShortSummary = Rodeo boss Eddie enlists Chip and Martha to join him on a road trip that could end in violence. | ProdCode = XBS01007 | Viewers = 0.399 | LineColor = 97BCD4 }}

| ShortSummary = Christine Baskets suffers a serious health crisis that affects her sons in different ways. | ProdCode = XBS01008 | Viewers = 0.396 | LineColor = 97BCD4 }}

| ShortSummary = Chip reminisces about happier times in Paris with Penelope, as Christine takes a turn for the worse. | ProdCode = XBS01009 | Viewers = 0.500 | LineColor = 97BCD4 }}

| ShortSummary = A perceived betrayal by Dale, further rejection by Penelope, and the closing of the rodeo cause Chip's life to unravel completely. | ProdCode = XBS01010 | Viewers = 0.564 | LineColor = 97BCD4 }} }}

Reception

Baskets has received positive reviews from critics. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a rating of 67% 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".

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref.
2016	Primetime Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series	Louie Anderson

Broadcast

Internationally, the series premiered in Australia on January 26, 2016.