Fans of hilarious, unrepentantly crude, and life-lesson-phobic television rejoice: HBO has just picked up Eastbound & Down for a second season, which will air sometime in 2010. I’m thrilled, because I was worried about its future. When Danny McBride’s comedy about a foul-mouthed, steroid-sticking, drug-gobbling, incomprehensibly arrogant, washed-up baseball phenom-turned-gym teacher began, HBO barely gave it any press at all. Usually, they send out multiple episodes of their series in advance (as they did with season 2 of Flight of the Conchords, which was premiering at the same time), but with Eastbound there was deafening radio silence. It seemed odd that they wouldn’t be bragging about having a Will Ferrell-produced project featuring a rising star like McBride, who had just appeared in two comedy hits, Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express. And yet we had to request a screener, just so Ken Tucker could give it an A-. It was as if Eastbound was the fat, racist family member the network didn’t want anyone to know about. When, in reality, Eastbound was the fat, racist family member they should have introduced to everyone.
I loved the show as soon as I saw it: McBride’s Kenny Powers was a masterwork of crudeness, so much so that I can’t really quote anything he said here. (Though I am partial to this statement from his motivational tapes: “If there’s one thing I hate, it’s losing. If there’s two things I hate, it’s losing and cancer.”) But I was amazed at how many other people discovered it on their own; it was so good that HBO couldn’t keep it a secret. I went to a dinner party during the show’s second week, and three different people, knowing I cover TV for EW, came up to me in a kind of weird daze, and said, “Have you seen this show Eastbound & Down? It’s hilarious!” They had this weird disbelievingly look on their face as they said it, as if they’d made this really weird and wonderful discovery and wanted to share it, but weren’t quite convinced it hadn’t just been a bizarre dream. I imagine this is the same look people have when they’ve just been abducted by aliens and seduced by a really hot martian.
I’ll be curious to see where season 2 goes. Kenny seemed humbled last season, even before his offer to come back up to the majors fell apart. Will he go back to being his self-centered self? We last saw him driving away from town, having dumped April — the old girlfriend he convinced to leave her husband and run away with him — at a gas station. Will he come back to town and get his gym teacher job back, allowing him to call a whole new class of kids some variation on the word "wuss"? Will creepy car salesman Ashley Schaeffer (Ferrell) be waiting for him with a crowbar? At least we can hope for a tearful reunion with his vaguely brain-damaged acolyte, Stevie.
Did you join the Eastbound cult? And how did you discover it? And do you have trouble quoting it in mixed company?
More ‘Eastbound & Down’:
Ken Tucker: TV Review: ‘Eastbound & Down’
Snap Judgment: ‘Eastbound & Down’ premiere
Danny McBride: The next Will Ferrell
Ken Tucker: ‘Flight of the Conchords’ and ‘Eastbound & Down’: Which ended funnier?
Comments (1-17) of 17 Add your comment
Great show and news! McBride may be the funniest person on the planet right now. Too bad we have to wait almost a year to watch another episode. Seems like HBO could’ve done a better job with this show from the jump. Only 6 episodes, no marketing, and a late renewal. (Also, it is her fiancee, not husband.)
Yes, I joined the cult based off of Ken Tucker’s review. This show is so hilarious; catch up on it you beautiful b*tches.
As I said before this is the best comedy on TV right now. I enjoy The Office, 30 Rock and 2 and 1/2 men but this one blows them all away. McBride’s character is so cringe worthy and horrible that you can’t help but root for him. I’m glad it will be back. Lets hope HBO realizes it has a hit on it’s hands.
I discovered it because I read something about Danny McBride having a show on HBO. I didn’t know what it was going to be about but it turned out to be hilarious. I think sports Illustrated wrote about the show as well. It’s good to see that it’s coming back.
This show is HIGHlarious. I’m f*cking Kenny Powers. It’s one of those shows that kicks you in the mouth, you start bleeding and you realize you like the taste of your own blood in a really bizarre way. It’s that good!
I love the show! I heard about it from a sports writer here in Canada who commented about it in a blog. Then immidiately after, I heard about it through EW, so I was bound to run into it. I’m happy with the 6 epsiode format, it worked perfectly.
Why isn’t HBO replaying theses NOW!
I heard about it while listening to Fresh Air right before it premiered. Watched the first show and was hooked. Good news about the renewal. I thought I was the only one in America watching it.
Outstanding show. Very funny and very underrated. I agree with Josh here. HBO really dropped the ball by not promoting this thing. Laugh out loud funny and hits the mark most of the time. They have obviously been deluged with interest despite their lack of support. How can you not promote something with Will Ferrell’s name on it? Lucky for them, I can’t wait for season #2.
My boyfriend actually saw this show and put it on the DVR. I had no idea what it was and just hit play when I came home early, it was hilarious. I became addicted and was sad how quickly the season finale came. Can’t wait until it’s back!
I can’t tell you how excited I am about this. It’s Kenny F’n Powers!!!!
Watched it from Day 1. Found itmyself, because it received ZERO PRESS!!! Even the Pardon the Interruption guys love it!! I’m F*CKING Kenny Powers B*TCH!!
I love this show. I joined the Kenny Powers fan club on facebook. Great writing and some of the best quotes ever.
I’ve been pimping this show to everyone I know. From beginning to end the show had me rolling on the floor. Danny Mcbride is a comic genius and the writing of this show is the best HBO comedy team since Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Both shows are unapologetically un-pc, and it’s nice to be faced with that kind of humor.
BTW, I had the last episode on the DVR and had to rewind the scene with April’s tatas a few times. I can totally see why they are all Kenny thinks about whenever he closes his eyes.
Big ups to “Grampa” Tucker for bringing this show to the world’s attention.
I was pumped from the beginning that Danny McBride was getting his own show. I thought he was the best part of pineapple express. The show, although very similar to his low budg film “the Foot Fist Way”, was a million times more funny.
Outstanding, Show I have watched the season ten times. Every weekend I am getting more people on this show.
“DO YOU WANT TO SEE ME SLAM DUNK THIS TRAY IN TO THE GARBAGE”
I am so psyched this show will be back. at first I was disgusted and horrified, at the end I was in love. I cannot wait for the second season. thank you HBO.