Louie Anderson on "Baskets" is Must See TV

Go change the channell and watch Louie Anderson on "Baskets"

From time to time I like to point out certain actors that I feel like are doing something exceptional. For instance, I wrote about Jaime Foxx in “Baby Driver”, and Rob Lowe in pretty much any comedic performance he’s done recently. Today I want to talk about the wonderful job that Louie Anderson is doing on the show “Baskets”.

I was a fan of this show from the beginning. One of the things I’ve liked the most is the fact that Anderson plays Chip and Dale Basket’s Mom, Christine. I had no idea that Anderson was going to be on this show, let alone, playing a mom. His performance has been truly remarkable. During the first season, for which he was critically acclaimed, and won some awards (the Emmy), it was always kind of wild to see him playing a mom. But, he totally pulled it off. He was believable. He doesn’t even have to change his voice or his appearance, besides wearing a wig, and I started up but his performance by the second episode of season one. What I loved was how caring/gullible Christine is/was on the show. She loves her kids, including her adopted twin DJ sons. But, she also runs up credit card debt and makes poor decisions based on getting people to like her. It was great.

In season 2 Christine met a man while trying to help Chip, who did some unfortunate stuff. She met a father of a lady that Chip was hanging with while jumping trains. Again, the best thing was how believable their relationship is. I totally bought it again. The episode where Christine takes him to a Reagan(screw they guy) museum was tremendous. It is one of the better 25 minute TV episodes that I have seen. By the end of season 2 I found myself rooting for Christine and this gentleman to get together. And, spoiler alert, they do. When they shared their first kiss, it was perfect for this type of show.

Now that “Baskets” is in their third season, Anderson’s Christine is the true star. He has taken over for Zach Galifinakis. The show is supposed to be about him, but this season has been all Christine. A bunch has happened and it’s all really centered on her journey buying the rodeo and other things outside her life. The stuff with her friends is tragic and heartbreaking and Anderson pulls it off. The opera at the rodeo episode was amazing because of Anderson. The back and forth between her and Martha has been awesome. The stuff with her and the horses and the old cowboy, riotous, but also sad.

Louie Anderson has been the true star of the show this season. His performance is so amazing, and I’m very excited to see where they take Christine from here. I never really saw Anderson do anything besides stand up before this, and he is absolutely nailing it. This is an odd show, but if you decide to watch it, I think you will be amazed at how well Anderson is pulling good role off. It is quite a feat. My hat is off to him.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He always thought that Louie Anderson's career would be defined by his iconic role as "Flower Deliveryman" in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". It is ok to be wrong.  

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