HBO's Next Big Hit?

One of HBO’s latest series’, Eastbound & Down is set to air its second season later this year, sometime in September. This hilarious comedy stars Danny McBride (Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder,) and includes Will Ferrell (Old School), and Craig Robinson (Hot Tub Time Machine, The Office). McBride plays the role of Kenny Powers, who has gone from being a big league pitcher in the majors to a P.E. teacher at his old middle school. In short, Kenny went from having it all to having nothing, and frankly, he doesn’t have the easiest time adjusting to his new life.

Kenny can’t seem to get over the past and what he used to be -- key word: used. The only problem is, Kenny is not a professional athlete, he’s a middle school teacher -- much less, a P.E. teacher. Kenny lives in his own world, where he’s the man and as he might put it, everyone else can go fuck themselves. Kenny Powers’ biggest fan is without question Kenny Powers. Despite losing it all, Kenny still walks around like he owns the place and never lost the arrogance that he carried around being a professional athlete.

The show chronicles Kenny’s transition from the past to the present. It, more or less, shows his struggle in dealing with working a real job and living without all the glitz and glamour of his past occupation. As previously mentioned, this show is a comedy, actually a rather raunchy comedy with crude humor -- but that’s nothing new for HBO, a network that has gained a reputation for pushing the envelope, so to speak. Along with showing Kenny in his day-to-day routine, Eastbound & Down highlights Powers in his attempts to get back on top. They show him doing steroids, drugs and drinking. Think that might not be the best combination to get back to the majors? Kenny Powers couldn’t care less - he does what he wants.

This show is hysterical, and if the overall plot wasn’t enough to spike interest, the dialogue found in this show will certainly keep you watching. Kenny can’t go more than a few words without cursing -- while it may seem like this could get old, it doesn’t. McBride plays the character of Powers to a tee. He leaves you smiling, scratching your head, wondering if people like this actually exist? One of my favorite Kenny Powers’ quotes: "I've been called a xenophobe. Truth is I just feel that America is the best country and all the others are just not that good. That used to be called patriotism."




Many may look at this show and think that it’s just another show and something to laugh at for 30 minutes a week. Listen, I’m not going to sit here and lie to you, yes that is the main gist of this show. But there is something more to it than might catch the eye at first glance. We live in a world where celebrities are honored, where money is valued and where most everyone seeks fame. This show touches on the fact that people seem to be missing -- that at the end of the day, these celebrities are people. They are real, they have problems and as much as it might seem like they have it all figured it out - they probably don’t. Although they live in mansions and drive luxury cars, they are probably a lot like you and me.

That is exactly what Kenny Powers embodies: this idea of once you have everything, you have everything to lose. While fame and fortune builds these people up, sometimes it takes losing it all to see the big picture. They too, are just regular people. That is something that we all need to remember. While society may teach us that athletes and celebrities are heroes, ultimately they are far from it -- the real heroes won’t be found on the cover of Sports Illustrated or US Weekly.