FX has placed a 10-episode for 'Baskets' - a comedy produced by and starring Zach Galifianakis about a corporate businessman who leaves his job to pursue his dreams of becoming a respected clown. The show will begin production next year with a scheduled launch in 2016. The pilot was written by Galifianakis, Louis CK - who also produces - and Jonathan Kristel, who directed the episode. 

Zach GalifianakisZach Galifianakis at the New Yorker Festival [Getty/Neilson Barnard]

"Zach Galifianakis, Louis C.K. and Jonathan Krisel have created an absolutely brilliant show," said Eric Schrier, co-president of original programming for FX Networks and FX Productions. "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."

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Galifianakis' character hails from Bakersfield but after an unsuccessful enrolment at a prestigious clowning school in Paris, the only job he can find is with the local rodeo. 

Louis CKLouis CK is producing 'Baskets' [Getty/Jemal Countess]

Baskets represents the first show spawned from FX Productions' deal with Louis CK and his production company Pig Newton, however, it's the fifth comedy series ordered by FX this year after 'The Tracey Morgan Project', 'The Comedians', 'Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll' and 'Man Seeking Woman'. 

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The announcement comes in the same week that Galifianakis and his team won the Emmy Award in the short-format live-action entertainment category for his interview with President Obama on 'Between Two Ferns'. Louis CK won an Emmy for comedy writing on his eponymous FX show.

Production on 'Baskets' is likely to begin after Galifianakis completes work on Jared Hess's forthcoming comedy movie Loomis Fargo, about a night guard at a car company who organizes one of the biggest bank heists in American history. It stars Kristen Wiig, Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis. 

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