Eastbound & Down

About Eastbound & Down

Eastbound & Down is an American sports comedy television series that aired on HBO from February 15, 2009, to November 17, 2013. The show starred Danny McBride as Kenny Powers, a former professional baseball pitcher who, after a downfall in his career, returns to his hometown to work as a substitute physical education teacher. Throughout the series' four seasons, Powers struggles with his fading fame, attempts to get back on his feet and tries to maintain relationships with his family and friends.

Making / Production

The show was created by Danny McBride and Jody Hill, who have a long-standing collaborative relationship, having worked together on the film 'Foot Fist Way' in 2006. Produced in North Carolina, the show's humorous and offbeat take on the post-fame life of a somewhat tragic former sports star was acclaimed for its originality and sharp wit.

Actors

• Danny McBride as Kenny Powers: Danny plays the character with a blend of boisterous arrogance, vulnerability and self-deprecating humor
• Steve Little as Stevie Janowski: Steve perfectly captures the naivety and misplaced admiration of his character towards Kenny.
• Katy Mixon as April Buchanon: Katy portrays April as the love interest of Kenny and also his counterpart, showing a range of emotions and depth throughout the series.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The show originally ended after the third season but was brought back due to popular demand.
• Danny McBride's character, Kenny Powers, was based on several actual baseball players.
• Despite playing a key role in the series, Steve Little knew virtually nothing about baseball before joining the cast.

Awards

The show was well-received by critics, although it wasn't a big winner at major awards ceremonies, it has gained a cult following and is frequently cited as one of the best comedy series of its time.

Quotes

• "I play real sports, not trying to be the best at exercising." - Kenny Powers
• "I'm not trying to be the best at exercising." - Kenny Powers
• "Sure, I've been called a xenophobe, but the truth is, I'm not. I honestly just feel that America is the best country and the other countries aren't as good. That used to be called patriotism." - Kenny Powers

Music, Soundtrack

• The Series featured a theme song written and performed by The Black Keys.
• The show's soundtrack features a mix of 80s rock, country tunes and original composed tracks by Joseph Stephens.
• Notable songs from the series include "Going Down" by Freddie King and "I'm the Man" by Aloe Blacc.