Eastbound & Down 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.
Producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay received an order for six episodes for the first season
from HBO.
The series was produced by Will Ferrell's production company, Gary Sanchez Productions.
The show premiered February 15, 2009, at 10:30 p.m.
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.
At PaleyFest 2011, it was announced that the third season, which premiered on February
19, 2012, would be the last.
However, on July 2, 2012, it was announced that HBO had picked up the comedy series for
a fourth season, which consisted of eight episodes.
On June 6, 2013, HBO announced that the fourth season would be the show's last.
The fourth season premiered on September 29, 2013, and ended its run on November 17, 2013.
Plot Years after he turned his back on his hometown,
a burned-out major league ballplayer who "forced himself into retirement by the depths of his
own jerkiness" returns to teach physical education at his old middle school.
Still trying to reclaim his fame he starts on a comeback -- righting his previous wrongs
along the way -- only to unwittingly sabotage his own efforts.
While not based on the life of former Major League Baseball relief pitcher John Rocker,
the show's creators do cite Rocker's attitude as an inspiration.
Former major league pitcher Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams has often been cited as the inspiration
for the Powers character.
Cast Main cast
Danny McBride as Kenny Powers Steve Little as Steven Bernard "Stevie" Janowski
Katy Mixon as April Buchanon John Hawkes as Dustin Powers
Jennifer Irwin as Cassie Powers Andrew Daly as Terrence Cutler
Elizabeth De Razzo as Maria Janowski Ana de la Reguera as Vida
Michael Peña as Sebastian Cisneros Marco Rodríguez as Roger Hernandez
Efren Ramirez as Catuey Recurring cast
Adam Scott as Pat Anderson Ben Best as Clegg
Will Ferrell as Ashley Schaeffer Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy
Bo Mitchell as Wayne Powers Don Johnson as Eduardo Sanchez Powers
Erick Chavarria as Casper Matthew McConaughey as Roy McDaniel
Jerry Minor as Jamie Laing Sylvia Jefferies as Tracy
Deep Roy as Aaron Joaquin Cosío as Hector
Eduardo "Piolín" Sotelo as Announcer Jason Sudeikis as Shane Gerald/Cole Gerald
Ike Barinholtz as Ivan Dochenko Lily Tomlin as Tammy Powers
Alexander Ethan McGee as Dustin Powers Jr.
Ken Marino as Guy Young Tim Heidecker as Gene
Jillian Bell as Dixie Jon Reep as Jed Forney
Omar Dorsey as Dontel Benjamin Episodes
Production Production on the second season of the show
began in May 2010.
The setting moved to Mexico, with shooting actually occurring in Gurabo, Puerto Rico.
The new season brought several 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 appeared in the role of Kenny's father, who Kenny and Stevie managed to track
down in Mexico.
All of the supporting cast from the first season are absent or only make cameo appearances,
with the only exception being Steve Little as Stevie Janowski, who follows Kenny to Mexico.
Ben Best is not a writer for Season 2 but returns in a small role as Clegg.
Adam Scott returns in two episodes as the now cocaine-free baseball executive Pat Anderson.
Actor Deep Roy joined the cast as Aaron, one of Kenny's new Mexican sidekicks.
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.
Season 2 premiered on September 26, 2010.
Vice magazine reported on August 31, 2010 that "it's worthy of the original and is its
own different, more somber beast."
The writers 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 butthole 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?"
Season 3 saw Jason Sudeikis join the cast, and the returns of Matthew McConaughey as
Texas scout Roy McDaniel, and Will Ferrell who reprised his role as car salesman Ashley
Schaeffer.
Ike Barinholtz also joined the cast as Ivan, a Russian pitcher Kenny tries to take under
his wing.
The show was filmed in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at TicketReturn.com Field and features
Kenny as a member of a minor league baseball team called Myrtle Beach Mermen.
In July 2012, Danny McBride and Jody Hill confirmed that Eastbound & Down would return
for a fourth season.
Reception Metacritic gave season 1 a "generally favorable"
average score of 62% based on reviews from 16 critics, and seasons 2 and 3 an 89% and
83%, respectively.
International syndication United States-based premium cable television
network HBO has syndicated Eastbound & Down to many international markets.
See also References
External links Official US Website
Official UK Website Eastbound & Down at the Internet Movie Database
Set Report and Interviews – /Film Season 2 details and photos – Vice Magazine