FX’s Baskets’ upcoming Aug. 22 season finale will double as the official series’ finale for the show. The now Disney-owned cable network made the announcement earlier on today in regards to the Zach Galifianakis led comedy.
“Over four seasons, Baskets has taken its place among the great FX comedies as an endearing and hilarious look at the dreams and ambition of Chip Baskets and his extended, loving family,” commented FX Entertainment president Eric Schrier. “This show has been a joy for everyone at FX and we are grateful to Jonathan Krisel, Zach Galifianakis, Louie Anderson, Martha Kelly and the rest of the cast and crew for giving us the gem that is Baskets.”
Originally premiering in January of 2016, the series was co-created by Louis C.K., Zach Galifianakis and Jonathan Krisel, with Krisel himself acting as the series’ showrunner and director. Galifianakis stars as the dual lead role as Chip and Dale Baskets, with the former being a failed professional clown who trained in Paris and winds up at a local rodeo in Bakersfield, California. FX Productions partners with Galifianakis, C.K., M. Blair Breard, Dave Becky, Marc Gurvitz and Andrea Pett-Joseph as executive producers.
The niche concept for Baskets never was a breakout hit for the network with a reported average of 407,000 same-day viewers in season three. However, the series has always managed to create critical buzz despite its shortcomings, with Galifianakis and co-star Louie Anderson earning Emmy nominations for their respective roles; the latter took took home the Emmy for supporting in 2016.
Despite being a key part of FX’s scripted lineup initiative, the series cancellation is indicative of the new direction the now Disney owned company will take moving forward. Other series cancellations from the network include Noah Hawley’s X-men spin-off Legion and FXX’s critical darling and dramedy You’re the Worst. The network’s original programming roster now only includes: Atlanta, Better Things, the upcoming Breeders, Mr Inbetween, What We Do in the Shadows and FXX’s Archer and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Below Season 4’s First Look trailer can be viewed: