FX is adding another comedy series to its roster, and this one has a fantastic pedigree.  The network announced today that it has picked up the pilot Baskets to series, which stars Zach Galifianakis as Chip Baskets (brilliant name), a Bakersfield native who dreams of becoming a clown.  After an unsuccessful enrollment at a prestigious clown school in Paris, however, Baskets finds himself taking on the only clowning job that will have him: the local rodeo.  Galifianakis created the series with Louis C.K.  and Portlandia/SNL alum Jonathan Krisel, and all three will executive produce the show with Krisel acting as showrunner.

Given Galifianakis’ busy schedule, production on Baskets won’t begin until next year.  As such, FX has slated the 10-episode first season to debut in 2016.  That’s a long time to wait before we see the show, but this feels like a stellar marriage of talent and material (that name…) so I’m confident it will be well worth it.  Read the full press release after the jump.

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Here’s the press release:

LOS ANGELES, August 27, 2014 – FX has ordered Baskets, a half-hour, single camera comedy series starring Zach Galifianakis, and co-created by Galifianakis, Louis C.K. and Jonathan Krisel, it was announced today by Eric Schrier and Nick Grad, the Presidents of Original Programing for FX Networks and FX Productions.  FX has ordered 10 episodes of Baskets and production will begin next year with the series scheduled to launch in 2016.

The pilot episode of Baskets was co-written by Executive Producers Galifianakis, Emmy Award-winner Louis C.K., and Emmy Award-nominated Writer and Director Jonathan Krisel (PortlandiaSaturday Night LiveMan Seeking Woman), who is the Showrunner on Baskets and also directed the pilot. Blair Breard, Dave Becky, Marc Gurvitz, and Andrea Pett-Joseph are Executive Producers.

In a world constrained by corporate interests and the homogenization of society, one man in Bakersfield, California dares to follow his dream of becoming a professional clown.  But after an unsuccessful enrollment at a prestigious clowning school in Paris, the only job he can find is with the local rodeo.  Baskets follows Chip Baskets’ (Zach Galifianakis) pursuit of his dream, against all odds, to be a respected clown.

“Zach Galifianakis, Louis C.K. and Jonathan Krisel have created an absolutely brilliant show,” said Schrier.  “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.”

Baskets is the first production under FX Productions overall deal with Louis C.K. and his production company Pig Newton.

Zach Galifianakis is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners, CAA and attorney Jared Levine. Louis C.K. is represented by 3 Arts Entertainment.  Jonathan Krisel is represented by CAA, Mosaic, and attorney Alex Kohner of Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman

Baskets is the fifth comedy series ordered by FX Networks this year along with The Tracy Morgan Project (FXX), The Comedians (FX), Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll (FX), and Man Seeking Woman(FXX), boosting the FX Networks comedy roster to 11 series across FX and FXX.

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