Emmys 2016: Louie Anderson’s Win is About Showcasing ‘Baskets’

68th Emmy Awards
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
louie anderson attends the 68th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 18, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.

Louie Anderson’s Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series win for his role of Christine Baskets on FX’s Baskets marks his first Primetime Emmy, but he said backstage that the real win was getting more attention on the series.

RELATED: More Emmys Coverage

“It got more [eyes] on the show, and that’s what it’s all about,” Anderson told reporters, of the Zach Galifianakis-led comedy. “Numbers matter…on FX, after five episodes had aired, they decided to keep us for another year. So that was a great, great compliment and honor. For me, it’s about everyone seeing everyone on the show. I’m just one of the gumballs in the machine…hopefully after you realized that [I’m playing Zach’s mother], I hope I disappear in that part and you never see me again until the next awards show.”

RELATED: The Full 2016 Emmys Winners List

Anderson admitted he wasn’t confident he’d win the Emmy—”I feel I stole one from some really talented people. I know I watched their episodes and I went, ugh, I have a one in four chance.”—but he was thankful for his family’s influence. “My family propelled me because of the chaos I was raised in,” he said. “You have two outlets you can go. I was lucky I found comedy. And I’m playing my mom. This is her award…every little thing your mother does, at some point in your life you’ll find you’re doing that. Just embrace it and realize they won.”