BASKETS is a new clown-centric comedy series from the worryingly skewed imaginations of US comedy stars Louis CK, Zach Galifianakis and former Tim and Eric/Portlandia producer Jonathan Krisel, which comes fully loaded with self-obsessed, barely likeable characters failing at life in a variety of hilariously awkward ways.
Zach Galifianakis stars as Chip Baskets, an angry, insufferably pretentious professional clown wannabe forced to return home to the US after flunking out of a hi-falutin' French clown school.
Abandoned by his cruel and beautiful Green Card-seeking wife Penelope (Sabina Sciubba), the only job Chip can find is as a geek at the local rodeo where he is menaced/gored by bulls for $4 an hour in full clown regalia.
An embarrassment to his barely more successful twin brother Dale (also played by Galifianakis), with whom Chip competes for the affection of their scatty soft-drink addicted mother (Louie Anderson), the lone bright spark in the misanthropic clown's life is masochistically mild mannered insurance adjuster Martha (Martha Kelly), whose selfless support and friendship naturally goes unappreciated.
Defiantly offbeat and oddly emotional on occasion, Baskets is definitely an acquired taste – but those who prefer their comedy served twisted and laced with surreality will be in their element.
Baskets starts on Thursday April 13 at 10.30pm on FOX.
