In this hilarious new HBO comedy series, Kenny Powers, a washed-up former Major League Baseball star, is forced to return to his hometown to teach P.E. at his old middle school. While preparing for his triumphant return to the big leagues, Kenny moves in with his brothers family and proves adept at burning every bridge he crosses.Stepping up to the plate in this six-episode HBO series, comedy’s newest It Boy, Danny McBride (The Foot Fist Way, Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder), hits it out of the park as Kenny Powers, a former baseball phenom, who, after spending his millions and burning all bridges, returns to his high school to teach physical education. The delusional Powers (he still wears a mullet!) insists that he will return to the majors. Until then, he makes a play for his former high school flame (Katy Mixon), now an art teacher who is engaged to the boring, by-the-book principal (Andrew Daly). He runs roughshod over his brother and his disapproving wife (John Hawkes and Jennifer Irwin), who allow Powers to live with them and their children. He lures the idolizing nerdy band teacher to the dark side. Eastbound and Down has an odd sense of humor. To say that the foul-mouthed, substance-abusing Powers is “inappropriate” is an understatement. He makes Billy Bob Thornton’s Bad Santa look like Edmund Gwenn in Miracle on 34th Street). When one of his students repeats his father’s claim that Powers ruined baseball, Powers tells the class, “Anybody want to pick on anybody in class, aim for him, because I ain’t watching.”
Eastbound and Down benefits from some big league talent. Will Ferrell, who helped get The Foot Fist Way into theatres, appears as a car salesman who wants to exploit what’s left of Powers’ celebrity with predictably disastrous results. Episodes were directed by McBride collaborator Jody Hill (Observe and Report), David Gordon Green (Superbad), and Ferrell’s partner in comedy, Adam McKay (Talladega Nights, Anchorman). There are other obnoxious characters on television, but Kenny Powers is in a league of his own, and he may take some warming up to. But McBride imbues this extreme character with an uncompromised integrity that is oddly admirable. Despite what his brother tells him at one point, Powers is someone you like being around. –Donald Liebenson
Stills from Eastbound and Down- The Complete First Season (click for larger image)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Buy “Eastbound & Down: The Complete First Season” For Only $17.50
January 19, 2006
#1
this show would maybe be a better show if the lead character had at LEAST one redeeming quality. nothing against the actor, he plays the part well, but who would ever like or want to hang out with his guy. that’s where the show loses it’s reality. nobody would put up with a jerk like him.
don’t get me wrong, i love it’s always sunny in philadelphia, seinfeld, and shows similiar about selfish people who get theirs in the end. at least there is a freindship of some form between them that makes it believable.
January 19, 2006
#2
There are people like this in the world, but none that anyone wants to be associated with on even an every now and then basis. The whole series was painful to watch and it is easy to see why the series was cancelled.
January 19, 2006
#3
Kenny Powers has a lot in common with the Larry David character in “Curb Your Enthusiasm:” self-centered, obnoxious, and absolutely convinced of his own greatness despite all evidence to the contrary. But the similarities end there. “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is invested with the belief in justice, at least, justice in human relationships. David’s misfortunes stem from his insistence on being right, his refusal to apologize, his willingness to lie, cheat, and exploit others for his own ends. In other words, he gets what he deserves.
Kenny Powers, on the other hand, does not suffer any consequences for his unrelenting mistreatment of those closest to him – his brother’s family, the kids unlucky enough to be subjected to his gym class, and the band teacher who idolizes him. Instead, he is abused by people to whom he has done nothing, such as the school principal and Will Ferrell’s hilarious auto dealer. One can only conclude that these characters despise Powers for having allowed his career to disintegrate.
I disagree with other reviewers’ contention that Powers grows or evolves by the series’ end. The final scene proves that he has learned nothing. The eventual affection of his former flame, who he relentlessly stalks through the series, is not credible – unless she is a lot shallower than she first appears to be.
It is fun to watch a racist, sexist, ignorant character make a fool of himself, but “Eastbound and Down” shortchanges in this regard as well. If you enjoy that sort of thing, “Borat” makes Kenny Powers look like a Hugh Grant character. Overall, a minor and forgettable series.
January 19, 2006
#4
I believe that this is the dumbest and most obnoxious TV show I’ve ever tried to watch. I plowed through a few episodes but soon gave up.
Don’t waste your time on this loser.
January 19, 2006
#5
After all the hype I expected more. Very boring, poor acting and very disapointing. The show put me to sleep!