TalkingApes

Eastbound and Down Episode 1

“You’re *@$% OUT!”

Instead of Kenny Powers’ post-strikeout taunt, that should be what HBO says to Danny McBride and company after their premiere on Sunday night.

Danny, I want to like the show. I really do. Being from N.C., understanding the humor you are trying to convey … I get it. You just don’t execute it.

Bless your heart.

Kenny Powers is an egomaniac that is down on his luck. He’s living with his brother, working at the local high school as a gym teacher.

Too much gratuitous cussing for me. Did you ever think I’d say that? Me, the guy that cusses to his Catholic mother, had enough of the cussing.

The story is boring. There are a few spots here and there that are funny, I’ll grant you that, Danny, but it really came off as you playing a joke on HBO rather than trying to put together a funny show.

I’m not giving up yet. I’m holding out hope that the show will get better. Often, shows will improve after the pilot. Like in King of Queens, we never saw Carrie’s sister after the first couple episodes … not even a mention. I’m hoping Eastbound and Down picks it up, otherwise, I’m hitting the sack at 10:30 after Flight of the Conchords instead of sitting up watching a mullet wearing idiot try to impress me with his verbal debauchery.

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Eastbound and Down: Schaeffer Motors Commercial

The new comedy Eastbound and Down is the latest brainchild from Danny McBride, Ben Best, Jody Hill, Will Ferrell and Adam McKay.

Per HBO:

Relief Pitcher Kenny Powers was poised to rule the Big Leagues, but two things got in the way: his fading fastball and his insufferable personality. After a spectacular career flame-out, Kenny came home to Shelby County, NC and picked up a job as a substitute gym teacher (mostly so his brother Dustin would stop threatening to kick him out). He’s spent every moment since then cashing in the last of his dying fame while plotting his inevitable comeback… one beer at a time.

‘Eastbound & Down’ is the latest project to come out of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s comedic goldmine Gary Sanchez Productions, which also launched FunnyOrDie.com. Starring Danny McBride (’Pineapple Express’), Katy Mixon (’Four Christmases’), John Hawkes (’Deadwood’) and a host of other talented comedians, ‘Eastbound & Down’ was created by McBride along with two friends from film school: Jody Hill and Ben Best. The hilarious new series was shot on location in North Carolina and also includes a few guest appearances by Ferrell as a local car dealer with marvelous hair.

We’ll be on later tonight, or perhaps tomorrow, with a recap of the episode … but for now, check out this car dealership commercial that’s related to the show.

Ferrell reminds me of the local Courtesy Auto Sales guy (now Sampson Auto Sales — his dog Spot always sat on a car and the rumor was that it was the car that Spot sat on that contained drugs) whose had commercials here in the Charlotte area for decades mixed with wrestling legend Ric Flair, who also has made Charlotte his home.

Sampson Auto Sales (takes a good 30 seconds or so for the commercial to start)

One thing, and I’m not sure if this is in the show or not, but in the promo materials that were in this weeks’ Sporting News magazine, it lists Kenny Powers as being from “Shelby County, N.C.”. There is no Shelby County … but there is a city named Shelby that is just east of Charlotte.

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