| Eastbound & Down | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Dark comedy |
| Created by | Ben Best Jody Hill Danny McBride |
| Written by | Jody Hill Shawn D. Harwell Danny McBride Ben Best |
| Directed by | Jody Hill David Gordon Green |
| Starring | Danny McBride Steve Little Season 1: Katy Mixon John Hawkes Andrew Daly Jennifer Irwin Season 2: Ana de la Reguera Michael Peña Marco Rodriguez Efren Ramirez |
| Opening theme | "Going Down" by Freddie King |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Will Ferrell Adam McKay Chris Henchy Ben Best Jody Hill |
| Producer(s) | Stephanie Cone Laing |
| Running time | approx. 28 mins/episode |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | HBO |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Original run | February 15, 2009 – April 8, 2012[1] |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Eastbound & Down[2] is an American comedy television series broadcast on HBO, starring Danny McBride as Kenny Powers, a former professional baseball pitcher, who after an up and down career in the major leagues is forced to return to his hometown middle-school in Shelby, North Carolina, as a substitute physical education teacher.[3]
Producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay received an order for six episodes for the first season from HBO.[4] The series was produced by Will Ferrell's production company, Gary Sanchez Productions. The show premiered February 15, 2009, at 10:30 p.m.[5] Its second season, consisting of seven episodes, began on September 26, 2010. On October 27, HBO announced they were renewing the show for a third season.[6] At PaleyFest 2011, it was announced that the upcoming third season will be its last, thus ending its run on HBO.[7] The third season will premiere on February 19, 2012.
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Years after he turned his back on his hometown, a burned-out major league ballplayer returns to teach physical education at his old middle school. While not based on the life of former Major League Baseball relief pitcher John Rocker, the show's creators do cite him as an inspiration. Comparisons can also be made to the life of former Major League Baseball pitcher Denny McLain although the show's creators have not commented regarding this.[8]
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | DVD Release | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere | Season finale | Region 1 | Discs | |||
| 1 | 6 | February 15, 2009 | March 22, 2009 | June 30, 2009 | 2 | |
| 2 | 7 | September 26, 2010 | November 7, 2010 | August 2, 2011 | 2 | |
| # | Title | Writers | Director | Original airdate | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Chapter 1" | Jody Hill and Ben Best and Danny McBride | Jody Hill | February 15, 2009 | #1.1 |
| Kenny Powers, a former star baseball player, returns to his hometown but immediately finds that he is not as respected as he once was. He becomes a full time gym teacher while training to return to the pros. The montage in the intro features the song "Death is the Answer" by Early Man. | |||||
| 2 | "Chapter 2" | Jody Hill and Ben Best and Danny McBride | David Gordon Green | February 22, 2009 | #1.2 |
| Kenny tries to become the spokesman for a luxury car dealer. After an embarrassing scene at the car dealership, Kenny appears with his driver at a school dance and declares his love for April while high on ecstasy. Will Ferrell guest stars. Features the song "Vamp" by Trentemoller. | |||||
| 3 | "Chapter 3" | Jody Hill and Ben Best and Danny McBride | David Gordon Green | March 1, 2009 | #1.3 |
| After Kenny sets Stevie up to take the rap for his own alcohol-fueled car crash, Kenny hires Stevie as his assistant. Kenny has Cassie sell his memorabilia on eBay, and begins training and using steroids again. Features the song "For The Rest of Your Life" by Drug Rug. | |||||
| 4 | "Chapter 4" | Jody Hill and Shawn D. Harwell and Danny R. McBride | David Gordon Green | March 8, 2009 | #1.4 |
| Stevie puts together a DVD of Kenny's greatest moments in the hopes that the major leagues will notice. Later, Kenny attends a barbecue with his "fuck buddy" Tracy at April and Terrence's house where his romantic feelings for April intensify, and she shows the first signs of reciprocation, but an awkward moment gives them pause. Tracy gets Terrence, April's fiance and Kenny's boss, drunk, and he calls Kenny out for being a has-been in front of Stevie, April, Tracy, and all of their friends. Features the song "Fuck'd up" by Memphis rapper Lil Wyte. | |||||
| 5 | "Chapter 5" | Jody Hill and Shawn D. Harwell and Danny R. McBride | Adam McKay | March 15, 2009 | #1.5 |
| Thanks largely to Terrence's words, Kenny decides to give up on his dream of returning to professional baseball. Meanwhile, arrogant car dealer Ashley comes back into the picture, along with the man who ended Kenny's career, Reg Mackworthy, who has had his career sidelined thanks to gambling charges. Will Ferrell, Craig Robinson, and Gina Gershon guest star. Features the song "Love Will Turn You Around" by Kenny Rogers. | |||||
| 6 | "Chapter 6" | Jody Hill and Shawn D. Harwell and Danny R. McBride | Jody Hill | March 22, 2009 | #1.6 |
| Kenny gets an offer from Tampa and is forced to say goodbye to his family and teaching job. The Tampa Bay Rays become the first MLB team to lend their official logo to the show; it appears on the 'black' credit card that the Tampa agent presents as his credentials. Right before he leaves, he gets a phone call from the agent saying that the deal was off, and he hides this from his family and April, and leaves with April, leaving all of them with the assumption that his baseball career is back on track. He dumps April at a gas stop and is last seen driving away with a worried look on his face. Features the song "Sky Pilot" by The Animals, "I Remember" by Chris Brokaw along with the instrumental to Johnny Greaseball's, Amazing (2009) featuring a sample from Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra. | |||||
Production on the second season of the show began in May 2010. The setting moved to Mexico, with shooting occurring in Puerto Rico. The new season brought changes to the cast, including new faces Michael Peña and Ana de la Reguera, who play the owner of a Mexican baseball team and Kenny's new love interest, respectively. Don Johnson has been cast in the role of Kenny's father. All of the supporting cast from the first season are absent or only make cameo appearances. The only exception is Steve Little as Stevie Janowski, who tracks Kenny down in Mexico. Ben Best is not a writer on the new season but returns in a small part as Clegg.[10]
Actor Deep Roy joined the cast as "Aaron," one of Kenny's new sidekicks.[11] The Mexican baseball team owned by Pena's character Sebastian Cisneros, the Charros, is coached by a man named Roger played by actor Marco Rodriguez. Co-director Jody Hill described the season as "a cross between the films Amores perros and The Bad News Bears". Hill directed four episodes in season two, while David Gordon Green directed three.[12]
Season Two premiere aired on September 26, 2010.[13] Vice magazine reported on August 31, 2010 that "it's worthy of the original and is its own different, more somber beast."[12] The series makers had considered setting the second season in America. According to McBride, "at one point, we considered opening on a shot of the big sombrero at South of the Border, so you think Kenny’s in Mexico. And then he would have said [voice-over tone], ‘I went down to the bu-tthole of the Carolinas.’ [laughs] We actually thought about setting the entire season in Myrtle Beach instead of in Mexico. I gotta say, the Myrtle Beach idea was pretty brilliant. It would have really been something. Maybe he ends up there next season. [beat] Who knows?"[14]
It was later revealed at the end of the season that Kenny would be heading to Myrtle Beach to play in the minors for a second chance playing American baseball and an attempt to get back into the Majors.
| # | Title | Writers | Director | Original airdate | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Chapter 7" | Shawn D. Harwell & Jody Hill & Danny R. McBride | Jody Hill | September 26, 2010 | #2.1 |
| Kenny resurfaces in Mexico under an alias and with a passion for cockfighting, but draws the attention of a baseball manager who wonders if Kenny Powers can still pitch. | |||||
| 2 | "Chapter 8" | Shawn D. Harwell & Jody Hill & Danny R. McBride | Jody Hill | October 3, 2010 | #2.2 |
| Charros owner Sebastian Cisneros agrees to pull out all the stops in promoting Kenny Powersʼ return to organized baseball, but Kenny loses motivation after learning a secret about April from an old friend. | |||||
| 3 | "Chapter 9" | Shawn D. Harwell & Jody Hill & Danny R. McBride | David Gordon Green | October 10, 2010 | #2.3 |
| Puzzled by the Mexican fansʼ lukewarm reception, Kenny starts a grassroots PR campaign to burnish his image, but it takes a vintage Powers flare-up to bring the crowd to its feet. Kenny makes inroads with Vida by inviting her to Sebastianʼs yacht party. Features the song "Hubbards Hill" by Tindersticks. | |||||
| 4 | "Chapter 10" | Shawn D. Harwell & Jody Hill & Danny R. McBride | Jody Hill | October 17, 2010 | #2.4 |
| Though Charros fans respond to Kenny, he is warned by Roger about the perils of showboating. Kenny learns he has serious competition in his courtship of Vida. | |||||
| 5 | "Chapter 11" | Shawn D. Harwell & Jody Hill & Danny R. McBride | David Gordon Green | October 24, 2010 | #2.5 |
| Kenny considers a new full-time life working in Mexico. Features the song "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by The Slits. | |||||
| 6 | "Chapter 12" | Shawn D. Harwell & Jody Hill & Danny R. McBride | David Gordon Green | October 31, 2010 | #2.6 |
| Kenny settles some old scores and shows Mexico what heʼs really made of. Features the song "Comforting Sounds"[15] by Mew. | |||||
| 7 | "Chapter 13" | Shawn D. Harwell & Jody Hill & Danny R. McBride | Jody Hill | November 7, 2010 | #2.7 |
| Kenny and Stevie make their way back to Shelby, NC, their home town. Features the song "He's Alright" by Kurt Vile. | |||||
Filming of season 3 has been confirmed and it is to be the show's last.[16] It was announced that Jason Sudeikis will join the cast as Kenny's friend, Shane,[17] as well as Will Ferrell and Matthew McConaughey appearing in the show once again.[18] Ike Barinholtz is set to join the cast as Ivan, a Russian pitcher Kenny takes under his wing.[19] The show was filmed recently in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at BB&T Coastal Field. Kenny will be joining a team called Myrtle Beach Mermen. The third season will premiere on February 19, 2012 at 10:00 pm.[20]
| Country | Broadcasters | Time Slot | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | HBO | 10:30pm | Premiered February 15, 2009. |
| Canada | HBO Canada/The Score | 10:30pm | Premiered February 15, 2009. |
| Portugal | MTV Portugal | 11:00pm | Premiered July 9, 2009. |
| United Kingdom | FX | 10:00pm | Premiered October 1, 2009. |
| New Zealand | Comedy Central | 9:30pm | Premiered October 27, 2009. |
| Sweden | CANAL+ Scandinavia | 8:00pm | Premiered August 11, 2009. |
| Mexico | MaxPrime | 10:30pm | Premiered November 17, 2009. |
| Netherlands | Comedy Central | 10:30pm | Premiered April 30, 2010. |
| Romania | HBO Romania | 11:00pm | Premiered May 29, 2010. |
| Norway | NRK | 10:25pm | Premiered September 15, 2010. |
| Australia | showcase/7mate | 7:30pm | Premiered October 27, 2009. |
| Finland | YLE | 00:20am | Premiered June 5, 2011. |
| Turkey | e2 | 11:00pm | Premiered June 20, 2011. |