Eastbound & Down: The Complete First Season

HBO

Aug 18, 2009 Web Exclusive By Nick Hyman

Kenny Powers. Man, myth, unbelievably broken asshole. From the team who brought you The Foot Fist Way comes this far superior creation starring Danny McBride as washed up MLB pitcher Kenny Powers, who ends up back home (Shelby, North Carolina) after boozing and drugging his way out of the major leagues. While there, he turns the town upside down with his outrageous behavior. In between making his brother’s life a living hell while living at his house and substitute teaching PE at the middle school he once attended, Powers pines for his old girlfriend who’s engaged to the school’s principal. Revealing any more would ruin the surprises and laughs that frequently come out of left field during the six-episode, three-hour series.

Jody Hill (who created with McBride and Ben Best) has crafted some classic losers (see his recent feature Observe and Report), and Powers leads the pack. You can’t take your eyes off of McBride’s creation, with his curly mullet, unfortunate clothes, and overly confident attitude. Since new episodes begin immediately after the following one ends, the show feels like a three-hour movie. Fortunately, the show has been picked up for another season, so we’ll get to see even more hilarious attempts by Powers to make it back to the major leagues.

The DVD set is excellent, featuring a satisfying mix of deleted scenes, making-ofs, gag reels, commentaries and more. (www.hbo.com)

Author rating: 8/10

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Average reader rating: 8/10