Eastbound and Down Review

With shows like “The Sopranos,” “Entourage,” and “Six Feet Under,” HBO has always been successful with their television programming. On Sunday night, "Eastbound & Down," a new comedy, joined the ranks of the networks best.

The show stars Danny McBride (“Pineapple Express”) as Kenny Powers, a foulmouthed, mullet- wearing former Major League Baseball pitcher, who washed out of the league due to his massive ego, drugs, and politically incorrect comments. He is forced to return to his hometown, where he ends up living with his older brother (John Hawkes). To make matters even worse, the only job Powers can get is as a substitute physical education teacher at the local middle school. While there he flirts with an old flame April (Katy Mixon), an art teacher who is now engaged to the clueless principal (Andrew Daly).

McBride shows a great talent for playing a character who is has way too much arrogance than he should. He's a nonstop offender to every person he encounters, even ordering the services of a prostitute on the phone in front of his sister-in-law.

Throughout the episode Powers is out of shape, frequently drunk and prone to cocaine, possibly setting up the idea that he will have some type of redemption later on. McBride's pitch and delivery of his lines are hilarious, like when he insults his brother's wife and then confesses: "Instantly I regret saying that. That was a horrible thing to say."

Kenny is self-delusional to an almost heroic extent; his head looks like it might weigh 20 pounds and his beer belly hangs out over his jeans, yet he imagines himself to be a beautiful athletic specimen no woman could ever resist. One of the funniest scenes of the episode is when Kenny's in the shower, and his tan lines reveal that he wears a thong bikini when out lounging in the sun.

The show resembles the Will Ferrell film "Talladega Nights," with both main characters being washed up, egotistical athletes. The similarities are not accidental; the show, which was created by McBride, is executive produced by Ferrell's production company and the actor will have a cameo later on in the series.

Things weren't always so easy for McBride.

Not long ago, McBride and pals Ben Best and Jody Hill (now an “Eastbound” writer/director/producer) were all broke and dreaming. The combined the money in their pockets to buy a case of beer, which they consumed while sitting in a kiddie pool behind Best’s house in Charlotte.

In 2006 McBride caught Ferrell's eye when he starred in the movie "The Foot Fist Way," a very low-budget comedy. Ferrell purchased the distribution rights to the film and said it was one of his all time favorite movies. The film stars McBride as a pompous Tae Kwon Do instructor not much unlike Kenny Powers. Soon after, Ferrell called McBride, telling him he wanted to know if he had any other ideas in the works.

As it turns out, sipping beer in kiddie pools was good for the creative flow. One of the ideas thrown around that day eventually became “Eastbound & Down."

Throughout the episode the focus is primarily on Kenny, not really allowing for any characters to make much of an impression. This isn't a complaint, because it allows McBride to flash his comedic talent in almost every scene. While fighting with his brother and sister-in-law Powers hilariously says, "I'm not gonna stop yelling, because that would mean I lost the fight!"

The force of McBride's performance and his mullet are more than enough to carry the half hour television show. "Eastbound & Down" is not your typical comedy and after finishing the pilot I could not wait to watch it again.