Hot off of his Emmy win on Monday night, FX has given Louis C.K. a second show on the network. FX put in a series order for Baskets, a pilot co-created by C.K. and starring The Hangover’s Zach Galifianakis.
It was reported back in January that C.K. and Galifianakis would work on an FX show together. C.K. created the series with Jonathan Krisel (Portlandia) and it centers on Chip Baskets, a clown dreaming of becoming a respected clown. However, after studying clowning unsuccessfully in Paris, he can only get a job at a rodeo.
The pilot was written by the trio and Krisel will stay on as showrunner. He also directed the pilot.
Executive producers include Galifianakis, C.K., Krisel, Blair Breard, Dave Becky, Marc Gurvitz and Andrea Pett-Joseph.
“Zach Galifianakis, Louis C.K. and Jonathan Krisel have created an absolutely brilliant show,” Eric Schrier, co-President of Original Programing for FX Networks and FX Productions, said in a statement. “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.”
This will be the first project for FX under the overall deal C.K.’s Pig Newton signed with FX back in December 2013. C.K.’s own Louie just wrapped up its acclaimed fourth season and won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing on Monday night.
FX Networks is also still developing a Tracy Morgan-fronted pilot for FXX, along with The Comedians with Billy Crystal for FX.
This is not going to be Galifianakis’ first role on television. He previously starred on HBO’s Bored to Death with Jason Schwartzman.
image courtesy of INFphoto.com