3 out of 5

Created by: Louis C.K., Zach Galifianakis and Jonathan Krisel

covers season 1

Y’uh huh.  So what is Baskets?  It is: the exact midground between Louis C.K.’s life as tragedy (which is actually comedy), Zach Galifianakis’ straight-faced snark and dunder humor, and Tim and Eric – via showrunner Jonathan Krisel – style late-night outre humor.  But… what… what does that equal?  It equals a show about a non French speaking man – Chip, played by Galifianakis – who goes to France to train at clown college, then returns home to Bakersfield and works as a rodeo clown while dealing with his constant one-upper brother (Galiafianakis), a deadpan-clueless-quip-for-deadpan-clueless-quip insurance adjuster, Martha (Martha Kelly), and his overbearing mother, Christine (…Louie Anderson?).

But…  But what does that equal, besides a horrible explanation on a random review site?  As is the case with the various comedians’ styles, it equals what it equals.  Baskets is explained as is; Baskets is as Baskets does.  And at moments, genius from each contributor shines through: whether it’s the brilliantly goofy casting of Anderson, a very Tim and Eric-esque touch that’s never played as a direct gag – and he’s hilarious in the role, nudging the viewer into an odd, squirmy discomfort whenever he’s on screen – or Galifianakis the pitch-perfect choice to navigate the ridiculousness of the setup while wending in the human element – to a nigh-unlikable character, mind you – that one might recognize from C.K.’s later Louie seasons.  And at other moments, you’re just watching, head cocked, sort of puzzled by the show’s appeal but watching all the same.  It’s not a laugh out loud show, nor is it so bizarre as to require nerves of steel to brave potential cringe- or gross-out humor… but it is undeniably fringe.  No one’s in on the joke, of course; the Marthas and Chips exist in a Baskety vacuum.

If you’ve had any success in watching the projects related to the names involved, you’ll be able to watch Baskets.  It will not be your new favorite show.  It will not be something you outwardly recommend.  But you will put it on, and you will have odd feelings for this odd world, and you’ll be happy that it’s coming back for a second season.