Eastbound & Down on HBO

[Shoeless Joe]

I just watched it last night. I liked the opening part about his baseball career. It kind of flat lined in the middle, but picked back up in the end when he entered the school and got on the PA. The final scene really worked for m. Any time you have a topless chick on a jet ski for about a minute and a half, it gets two thumbs up. I'll watch it again.

 

[Cosmo]

Just caught the replay of the first episode on HBO. A little farcical at times, but still pretty damn funny stuff.

I put it here because it's only tangentially about sports — the main character is a former pitcher who has washed out of the big leagues and returns to his North Carolina hometown to become a high school P.E. coach. But otherwise, it plays as a straightforward sitcom, at least in the first episode.

Kenny Powers is the stereotypical big-fish-in-a-small-pond jock who peaked at age 17, and who is still worshipped by a lot of people in his hometown. A lot of the characters, including Kenny Powers, remind me of people I grew up with.

Anybody else watch it? Thoughts?

Did they name the hometown in North Carolina? Much as I don't care to admit it, you have me quite curious ...

When I first read this, I didn't know if this was a "Smokey and the Bandit" reference or perhaps a "tribute" to Brien Taylor.

The town's name didn't ring out to me; pretty sure it was fictitious. He does teach at Jefferson Davis Middle School.

And Powers also looks quite a bit like Todd Jones, only with Darren Daulton's mullet, circa 1993.

Wonderful ... nothing like another Southern stereotype. Not everyone in North Carolina is hanging on to the Civil War. I mean, Jefferson Davis?

I'm not in North Carolina, but a neighboring state, and there are two high schools named after Stonewall Jackson and one named after Robert E. Lee within an hour of my office, so I don't know that it's all that much of a stretch.

But there's also one named after George Washington and another after Patrick Henry within an hour, too.

 

[BigRed]

SportsJournalists.com.... YOU ARE forkING OUT!
OK, just had to get that out.
Enjoyed the show, though it was a bit over-the-top for me.
I loved the part where Kenny was arguing with his brother and wife and said, "I'm not going to stop yelling, because that will mean I've lost the fight!"
I'll watch it again next week. His ex-girlfriend (the teacher) is pretty cute, so that's worth it right there.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

Just caught the replay of the first episode on HBO. A little farcical at times, but still pretty damn funny stuff.

I put it here because it's only tangentially about sports — the main character is a former pitcher who has washed out of the big leagues and returns to his North Carolina hometown to become a high school P.E. coach. But otherwise, it plays as a straightforward sitcom, at least in the first episode.

Kenny Powers is the stereotypical big-fish-in-a-small-pond jock who peaked at age 17, and who is still worshipped by a lot of people in his hometown. A lot of the characters, including Kenny Powers, remind me of people I grew up with.

Anybody else watch it? Thoughts?

Did they name the hometown in North Carolina? Much as I don't care to admit it, you have me quite curious ...

When I first read this, I didn't know if this was a "Smokey and the Bandit" reference or perhaps a "tribute" to Brien Taylor.

The town's name didn't ring out to me; pretty sure it was fictitious. He does teach at Jefferson Davis Middle School.

And Powers also looks quite a bit like Todd Jones, only with Darren Daulton's mullet, circa 1993.

Wonderful ... nothing like another Southern stereotype. Not everyone in North Carolina is hanging on to the Civil War. I mean, Jefferson Davis?

I'm not in North Carolina, but a neighboring state, and there are two high schools named after Stonewall Jackson and one named after Robert E. Lee within an hour of my office, so I don't know that it's all that much of a stretch.

But there's also one named after George Washington and another after Patrick Henry within an hour, too.

No, those are a little farther away. I'm right in the heart of Confederate country. I didn't see the show, but that's why I probably wouldn't react to strongly to Jefferson Davis Middle SChool. In Virginia, and to a lesser degree North Carolina, there's a strong tie to history. Doesn't matter if its the Civil War, the Revolution, Civil Rights, you're going to see plenty of stuff named after historical figures.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Just saw it... Over the top, but pretty funny. The beginning with him melting down as a ballplayer was hilarious.

Seems like a cross between John Rocker and Rod Beck.

 

[DirtyDeeds]

Just caught the "Making Of" special on HBO late last night and it looked pretty funny. I set the DVR and will be watching the first ep on OnDemand in the next couple of days.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

I watched it this morning and thought it was funny. I like Danny McBride quite a bit. They need to do something to make Powers more sympathetic though, or they will lose people in a hurry.

 

[DirtyDeeds]

Watched last night and thought it was pretty funny and has potential. It was a little too vulgar and over the top, but this episode was really just setting up the characters, and I expect it to get better. I'll keep watching.

 

[ArnoldBabar]

I'd never heard of this show, have never seen a commercial for it, nothing. But I keep hearing snippets of people just gushing about it. Looks like I need to hit up OnDemand.

 

[jimnorden]

funniest show on television.

 

[DirtyDeeds]

Oscar, I think (or hope) they just went so over the top to set up the character traits. If they continue along that line, I don't think I'll be watching much longer. And jim, THAT is a bit over the top. Let's get through a few episodes first. From what I've seen it's not close to the funniest show on TV. But it could be great.

 

[crusoes]

I must admit, the topless girl on the jetski was a nice touch. But all it proved was that the main character is an ass. To be truthful, nothing before that disproved that theory. I deal with asses all the time. Why should I spend another half-hour watching one on TV?