No joke: FX has ordered the comedy series “Baskets,” which is co-created and exec produced by Zach Galifianakis, Louis C.K. and Jonathan Krisel and stars Galifianakis as a man who leaves his job in the corporate world to pursue his dreams of becoming a respected clown.
Production on the 10-episode half-hour laugher will begin next year with the series scheduled to launch in 2016.
The pilot episode of “Baskets” was co-written by Galifianakis, C.K., and Krisel, who also directed the pilot. Blair Breard, Dave Becky, Marc Gurvitz, and Andrea Pett-Joseph are also exec producers.
“Zach Galifianakis, Louis C.K. and Jonathan Krisel have created an absolutely brilliant show,” said Eric Schrier, who, with Nick Grad, is president of original programming for FX Networks and FX Productions. “To say Zach’s portrayal of the lead character Chip Baskets is hilarious/unique/riveting/fascinating would be an understatement. We can’t wait for the world to meet him.”
“Baskets” is the first production under FX Productions’ overall deal with C.K. and his production company Pig Newton. On Monday, C.K. received the Emmy Award for comedy writing for his eponymous FX comedy. A week prior, Galifianakis was part of the team that received an Emmy Award in the short-format live-action entertainment category at the Creative Arts ceremony for his interview with President Obama for his web series “Between Two Ferns.” Krisel is an Emmy-nominated writer and director for “Portlandia.”
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Galifianakis is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners, CAA and attorney Jared Levine. C.K. is represented by 3 Arts Entertainment. Jonathan Krisel is represented by CAA, Mosaic, and attorney Alex Kohner of Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman.
“Baskets” is the fifth comedy series ordered by FX Networks this year along with “The Tracy Morgan Project” (FXX), “The Comedians” (FX), “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll” (FX), and the Krisel-directed “Man Seeking Woman” (FXX), taking the FX Networks comedy roster to 11 series across FX and FXX.
