Eastbound & Down was written by Danny McBride as a semi-autobiographical show based on his experiences in the Major League baseball world. If you are like me, you have watched this show and found yourself asking Is this really what it’s like? Well, it turns out the answer to that question is actually yes, but in an even more extreme form. Here are five reasons why the show Eastbound & Down is actually a documentary of life in the minor leagues rather than just great comedy writing. Why the show Eastbound & Down is actually a documentary
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The talented actor who played Kenny Powers
Danny McBride is an American actor, comedian, writer and producer. He received critical acclaim for his role in HBO’s dark comedy series Eastbound & Down. The star of some of television’s most beloved comedies ever such as; It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Vice Principals to name a few also has some major box office hits to his name, such as; This Is The End, Alien: Covenant and more recently, Tag. Why the show Eastbound & Down is actually a documentary
The reality of professional athletes
Before we got our first glimpse of Kenny Powers in all his arrogant glory, I was inclined to believe that professional athletes were just that—athletes. But when Kenny Powers showed up on my television screen spouting off about how he’s more of an entertainer than a ball player, it became clear that he was right: Professional athletes are entertainers. More so than most actors or singers these days.
Athletes get paid shitloads of money
Just ask San Diego Padres first baseman (and current free agent) Adrian Gonzalez, who signed a seven-year, $154 million contract with his hometown team in 2011. That’s a lot of money. There’s one issue, though: Gonzalez never played for that much. Actually, he only earned roughly $18 million during his tenure as an active player with San Diego; after factoring in taxes and agent fees, his earnings were reduced to around $15 million over six years.
Realistically depicting what athletes are like off the field
I think much of the reason that people are so drawn to sports—particularly professional sports—is because it’s nice to have an escape from our everyday lives. Most people who don’t live in proximity of a major league team can only experience these athletes on TV and radio, where they’re always presented as good guys. Of course, we all know better than that: Athletes aren’t perfect, and many of them lead quite scandalous off-the-field lives.
Professional athletes are reckless
Anyone who thinks professional athletes are role models for kids, or any sort of morally upstanding individuals, hasn’t been paying attention. Many pro athletes have been involved in serious scandals ranging from rape and assault to drunk driving and animal abuse. It should be no surprise then that many professional athletes have gone bankrupt or are struggling financially just years after retiring from sports. Of course, there are exceptions, but they’re not as common as you might think. Topping them all off?
Watching Eastbound & Down is more fun than watching real sports
watching professional sports just doesn’t get any better than watching Kenny Powers do his thing. This man shows up at a baseball practice and proceeds to tell everyone that he can pitch better than they, was there simply because he felt like it, and then casually hits three home runs in one at bat! After all of that, ESPN declares him as The Chosen One—not sure if it means Jesus or someone else. Either way, this guy is awesome to watch.
Eastbound & Down: Season 2
The second season of Eastbound & Down premiered on March 9, 2010 and concluded on April 13, 2010, consisting of eight episodes and one special titled Eastbound & Down: The Ending on HBO. Production began in October 2009 and ended in December 2009. On April 6, 2009 HBO renewed the series for a second season, which consists of eight episodes, unlike the first season which contained six episodes.
Part 1: Episode Guide
Kenny Powers Gets Murdered on Golf Course and Has to Go to Hell (Season 1) 3. Training Day (September 26, 2009)
- The Trial (October 3, 2009)
- Kenny Pitches a Tent (October 10, 2009)
- The Boys of Poker (October 17, 2009)
- Two Balls, Two Strikes (October 24, 2009)
- Never Give a Inch (November 7, 2009)
Part 2: Plot Summary
In an instant, Kenny’s fantasy life is shattered and he finds himself alone with no companion but his imaginary friend Juan Pablo. But even he can’t help Kenny realize that there might be a better alternative to Miami than sleeping on his mother’s sofa with no job or career in sight. Can Kenny reinvent himself as something other than a washed-up professional athlete? And does he have what it takes to convince his father of that fact?
Part 3: Analysis of Main Characters
Kenny Powers, Stevie Janowski, and April Buchanon In Episode 6 (The Intellectual Property), John Albertson’s character, Stevie Janowski tells Kenny that he is a whacko with a gun. Ironically, throughout all three seasons of Eastbound & Down, we see Kenny using his .45 to terrorize other people in one way or another.
Part 4: Quotes From Each Episode
The following are quotes from each episode of season two. Listed at the end of each quote is which episode they were said in. 1) There’s no crying in baseball! (1) Kenny Powers, Trouble Deuce
2) You know how to do it, you’ve been doing it for years. If you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself. (1) Kenny Powers, Trouble Deuce
3) I’m a natural born leader! I was born to lead men into battle! You see that? That’s a birthmark on my neck.
