Is anyone watching 'Baskets' with Zach Galifianakis and Louie Anderson?

March 3, 2016 8:04 AM

I've requested it be added to the list and I'll post the first episode shortly. If you are unsure about the show, give it a try; it's not at all what I was expecting, in a Bojack Horseman kind of way.

"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, France, he is stuck with a job at a local rodeo in his hometown of Bakersfield, California."

IMDB: Baskets
AV Club: The best thing about Baskets is that it’s not for everyone
Alan Sepinwall: Zach Galifianakis: 'I have no idea' if FX comedy 'Baskets' will work

posted by Room 641-A (8 comments total)

I watched a couple of episodes on Hulu. Not what I was expecting - less cringey, more authentic. Like an even weirder Suborgatory.
posted by fiercekitten at 10:22 AM on March 3, 2016

I DVRed and watched the first couple of episodes. It's really good, but it's not for me. I really really want to love it, but it's one of those times where I can't fight my feelings. I don't even know what is missing for me to love it, because it has everything that I want in a show. Maybe in like 5 years, and someone casually mentions it somewhere, I'll watch the whole thing in a weekend.
posted by numaner at 1:07 PM on March 3, 2016

I gave it a shot for a couple of episodes, but it just didn't click for me. It's one of those shows that has an interesting premise and a lot of elements that should result in something both brilliant and entertaining. But, it just falls flat for me.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:22 PM on March 3, 2016

I wanted to like it, too, and there were numerous things about it I liked but overall I didn't enjoy it and didn't want to watch another episode.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 8:33 PM on March 3, 2016

Baskets is a welcome return of the self parody character in Live at the Purple Onion that made Galifianakis a stand-up legend: an exasperated, pompous, self-involved diva who revels in unappreciated absurdity and then lashes out at the world for not recognizing his genius. Combining this premise with Louis CK's patience, foucs and slow pace burdens Baskets with two separate off-putting and intentionally alienating influences.

After Galifianakis made the Can't Tell Me Nothin' video, he made money off other people's more palatable creative projects, sometimes doing well (Bored to Death, Tim and Eric) and sometimes not so much (G-Force, Hangover III). I wish he would have stuck to his roots and just made weird, challenging fringe comedy for the last eight yeas, but I'll take what I can get.
posted by Hume at 9:33 PM on March 3, 2016

Agreed, his first stand up special is one of my favorite things ever. It was just fresh and so bizarre and you just knew he was going on to great things.
posted by numaner at 8:07 PM on March 4, 2016

I loved the Seth bits in Purple Onion, and Dale is most similar in my opinion. My issue is that, unlike Seth, almost every character on this show is so bitter and negative that it's kind of a downer; and unfortunately, 'mad at the world' just isn't that compelling a trait for a main character. Martha isn't like that, but she's such a doormat and the show hasn't examined that very much.

Christine is the only character I like. I wish it was all about her instead of Chip.
posted by heatvision at 3:39 AM on March 7, 2016

I watched the first episode (or two?) a while back, and I liked it a lot more than Horace and Pete, which just made me uncomfortable for all the characters, but I'm still on the fence. I might watch a few more this week to see if it sinks in for me, or if it's still too off for me. It's total for U.S. views is falling from it's opening high of 1.04 million, down to 0.399 for the 7th episode, for whatever that's worth, but AV Club has liked the episodes so far, and pointed out that FX renewed it for a second season.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:08 PM on March 7, 2016