Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #490 in DVD
• Brand: HBO HOME VIDEO
• Released on: 2009-06-30
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, Closed-captioned, NTSC
• Original language: English, French, Spanish
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 180 minutes

Amazon.com
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)

Customer Reviews

HBO, Please Keep This Series Going!!
This is the funniest series I've seen in along time. With only 6 episodes in season 1 you'll be left wanting more. Sarcastic, fun loving assh*le genius Danny McBride with guest appearance Will Ferrell, tie this show into a comedy that leaves you covering your face in embarrassment, wondering how they got the balls create such a gem.

Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Underrated as hell, spread the word. Kudos, Danny McBride.

Also see the "Foot Fist Way" if you like this DVD.

Absolutely Hilarious
One of the funniest shows with one of the funniest actors I've seen in a long, long time. He made Pineapple Express. He made Tropic Thunder. Killed it in The Heartbreak Kid and absolutely owns it on this show. Nothing is held back, the season hasn't even completely aired yet and I already want the DVD. Do yourself a favor and watch this show, you'll thank me later.

BURN OUT or FADE AWAY
Danny McBride has found something special in KENNY POWERS. Though Kenny's life states to be ruled by talent and the grace of god. In fact his life is almost complete anarchy riddled with drugs, loose women, and a wall of denial. However even within only 6 episodes you see something change. This man starts to find his way out of the darkness. Danny McBride delivers some of the best SELF ABUSE humor ever. THIS BY FAR IS THE BEST SHOW ON TV. Is it better to burn out or fade away? Do we need a 2nd season, have we burned all the bridges, uncovered all of Kenny's stones? Even if the idiots at network don't renew the series,with only 6 episodes deep it will stand on it's own to become an instant cult classic.