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List Price: $29.98 | | Label: HBO
Salesrank: 112
Released: June 30, 2009 |
| Our Price: $13.49 |
| Used Price: $19.85 |
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MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
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.
Description of Eastbound & Down: The Complete First Season:
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)
Eastbound & Down: The Complete First Season Reviews:
HILARIOUS 
2009-12-23 - I got the first season on Amazon for $10. Can't beat it. Danny McBride is great and the show is very well-produced. It's not the kind of humor that will appeal to everyone. I think it might certainly help to be a 18-34 American male with some awareness of sports, John Rocker, and the South... but if you don't mind some crass humor, this is one of the best comedies on television.
Dumbest TV Show 
2009-12-17 - I believe that this is the dumbest and most obnoxious TV show I've ever tried to watch. I plowed through a few episodes but soon gave up. \
Don't waste your time on this loser.
hilarious
2009-12-17 - One of the funniest shows and characters ever created. Saw this on DVD and blew through the season. Only complaint would be that it's too short, but don't let that keep you from watching. Will Ferrell's character was a bit over the top, but Danny McBride is hysterical.
So wrong, and so funny
2009-12-01 - 4.7 stars
Far beyond un-PC, Eastbound And Down carves a new niche for itself. Producers Ferrell and McKay seem to relish this chance to really let it all go, no holds barred, and McBride hits it out of the park for them.
The cast and script are very solid, but McBride makes this work. He's shed some of his Ricky Gervais worship and brought more of himself to this one, and it pays off in spades. The vulgarity is almost all funny, as it shies away from toilet humor and the easier, dumber laughs, and somehow works all the way through.
I laughed my ass off again and again, and my girlfriend was right there with me. It's crude, but it is indeed funny, and there are many truly classic lines. Time and again we'd look at each other in disbelief: can they say that? And then crack up.
If you love sports and/or a good drunken laugh, this baby is for you. Looking forward to seeing season two.
And HBO: you guys rock. If only more media outlets just let the artists do what they wanted with no interference, maybe we'd see more work as hilarious and enjoyable as this.
Funniest Show Ever!!!
2009-11-30 - Have never done a review on Amazon before...but this series is so damn good - I had to put a comment in. This is one of the funniest series I have seen in a long time - I cant help but watch clips over and over again on youtube. Amazon is doing a $9.99 special right now with super saver free shipping. What a steal! Cant wait for season 2
