HBO announced today that they will be renewing the revered comedy ‘East Bound and Down’ for a second season. Even though season one consisted of only six episodes, the folks at HBO have given a us enough one liners to last a lifetime.
If you haven’t seen it yet, I encourage you to track this down by any means necessary.
I was first introduced to Danny McBride in the low budget and almost un-noticed 'The Foot Fist Way'. In the movie, McBride plays the part of a less than politically correct Taekwondo instructor in a rural North Carolina town. The film caught the eye of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, who went on to distribute the film through their production company, Gary Sanchez Productions. After that, it didn’t take very long before Danny started stealing scenes in some of the most successful comedies of the past year, including Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express.
Now, the trio of Will Ferrell, Adam McCay, and Danny McBride have come together to bring us the HBO comedy 'East Bound and Down'. This time Danny plays the part of Kenny Powers, a star MLB pitcher whose bad behavior has lead him to the early end of his career. Now a washed up athlete, Kenny is forced back to his hometown of Shelby, North Carolina, where finds himself teaching P.E. at the local high school. All the while, Powers is planning his way back into the majors, as well as trying to win back the love his hometown sweetheart, April Buchanon. There are several similarities between East Bound’s Kenny Power’s and Foot Fist’s Fred Simmons, and looking back, ‘The Foot Fist Way’ seems more akin to pre-production on what would eventually become ‘East Bound’.
While ‘Foot Fist’ is a continuous gentle squeeze of laughter, ‘East Bound’ hits you with one comedic blow after another and never lets up. ‘East Bound and Down’ capitalizes on the those glimmering moments of comedic genius found in ‘Foot Fist’ and streamlines it into what is now perhaps the funniest thirty minutes on television.
If you’re a North Carolina native like me, then the comedy hits very close to home. You might recognize the ‘dick slappin’ game, the glorious mullet, and the very Ric Flair-esque BMW salesman Ashley Schaffer (played brilliantly by Will Ferrell).
If you’re easily offended, then this isn’t the show for you, otherwise trust me, one liners and laughter on the reg.
