Eastbound & Down is an American sports comedy television series that was broadcast on HBO, and created by Ben Best, Jody Hill, and Danny McBride. It stars McBride as Kenny Powers, a former professional baseball pitcher who, after a career downturn 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 Ferrell s production company, Gary Sanchez Productions. The show premiered February 15, 2009. Its second season, consisting of seven episodes, began on September 26, 2010. On October 27, HBO announced it was 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. In July 2012, HBO picked up the comedy series for a fourth season 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, though Williams himself has disavowed any connection. Explaining the tone of the show, McBride has stated that he and his fellow co-creators had intended to make fun of a South where you could learn an ancient martial art like Tae Kwon Do in a shopping center next to a tanning salon.”

Cast

Main cast

• Danny McBride as Kenny Powers
• Steve Little as Steven Bernard Stevie Janowski
• Katy Mixon as April Buchanon (seasons 1 & 4, recurring seasons 2–3)
• John Hawkes as Dustin Powers (season 1, recurring seasons 2–4)
• Jennifer Irwin as Cassie Powers (season 1, recurring seasons 2–4)
• Andy Daly as Terrence Cutler (season 1, recurring seasons 2–3)
• Ben Best as Clegg (season 1, recurring season 2)
• Elizabeth De Razzo as Maria Janowski (seasons 2–4)
• Ana de la Reguera as Vida (season 2)
• Michael Peña as Sebastian Cisneros (season 2)
• Marco Rodríguez as Roger Hernandez (season 2)
• Efren Ramirez as Catuey (season 2)
• Ken Marino as Guy Young (season 4)
• Tim Heidecker as Gene (season 4)
• Jillian Bell as Dixie (season 4)

Recurring cast

• Adam Scott as Pat Anderson (seasons 1–2)
• Will Ferrell as Ashley Schaeffer (season 1, season 3)
• Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy (season 1, season 3)
• Sylvia Jefferies as Tracy (seasons 1–2)
• Bo Mitchell as Wayne Powers (seasons 1–4)
• Ethan Alexander McGee as Dustin Powers Jr. (seasons 1-4)
• Don Johnson as Eduardo Sanchez Powers (seasons 2–3)
• Marlene Forte as Soledad Sanchez (season 2)
• Erick Chavarria as Casper (seasons 2–3)
• Matthew McConaughey as Roy McDaniel (seasons 2–3)
• Jerry Minor as Jamie Laing (seasons 2–4)
• Deep Roy as Aaron (season 2)
• Joaquin Cosío as Hector (season 2)
• Eduardo Piolín Sotelo as Announcer (season 2)
• Alex ter Avest as Andrea (season 3)
• Jason Sudeikis as Shane Gerald/Cole Gerald (season 3)
• Jon Michael Hill as Darnell (season 3)
• Ike Barinholtz as Ivan Dochenko (season 3)
• Lily Tomlin as Tammy Powers (season 3)
• Jon Reep as Jed Forney (season 4)
• Omar Dorsey as Dontel Benjamin (season 4)

Episodes

Season		Episodes	Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
	1	6	February 15, 2009	March 22, 2009
	2	7	September 26, 2010	November 7, 2010
	3	8	February 19, 2012	April 15, 2012
	4	8	September 29, 2013	November 17, 2013

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, whom 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 Peña s character Sebastian Cisneros, the Charros, is coached by Roger Hernandez, 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, ‘I went down to the butthole of the Carolinas.’ 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. 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 who serves as Kenny s competition. 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.

Reception

Eastbound & Down was met with positive reviews during its run. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season of the show has a rating of 60%, based on 15 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The site s consensus reads, Eastbound & Down might be too profane and obnoxious for some, but its broad humor and irreverent vibe make for some great comic moments. Metacritic gave season 1 a generally favorable average score of 62 out of 100, based 16 critics, and seasons 2 and 3 scores of 89 and 83 out of 100, respectively, both indicating universal acclaim . The fourth and final season of the show holds a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 11 critics.

International syndication

HBO has syndicated Eastbound & Down to many international markets.

Country	Broadcasters	Time slot	Premiere date
Australia	showcase/7mate	19:30	2009-10-27
Brazil	HBO 2	20:05	2012-03-13
Canada	HBO Canada/The Score/FXX	22:30 (HBO)	2009-02-15
Finland	YLE	00:20	2011-06-05
Germany	Sky Atlantic HD	21:30	2013 August
Mexico	MaxPrime	22:30	2009-11-17
Netherlands	Comedy Central	22:30	2010-04-30
New Zealand	Comedy Central	21:30	2009-10-27
Norway	NRK	22:25	2010-09-15
Portugal	MTV Portugal	23:00	2009-07-09
Romania	HBO Romania	23:00	2010-05-29
Sweden	C More	20:00	2009-08-11
Turkey	CNBC-e	23:00	2011-06-20
United Kingdom & Ireland	Fox	22:00	2009-10-01

Year	2009
ReleaseDate	2009-02-15
Plot	Many years after he turned his back on his hometown, a burned-out major league ballplayer returns to teach Physical Education at his old middle school.
Awards	Awards, 7 nominations
Stars	Danny McBride, Steve Little, Katy Mixon
Series Produced by	Stephanie Laing, Jody Hill, Danny McBride, Will Ferrell, Chris Henchy, Adam McKay, David Gordon Green, Peter Phillips, Ben Best, Blaine Williams, Kris Baucom, John Carcieri, Bill Hill, Brandon James, Scott Collins, Harris Wittels, Peter Barnett, David Blake Hartley, Maureen Milligan
Series Music by	Wayne Kramer, Joseph Stephens
Series Cinematography by	Mark Williams, Eric Steelberg, Tim Orr, Amy Vincent, Jimmy Lindsey
Series Editing by	Travis Sittard, Jeff Seibenick, Evan Henke, Stacey Schroeder, Tom Costain
Series Casting By	Juel Bestrop, Seth Yanklewitz, Carla Hool, Allison Jones, Nancy Bishop
Series Production Design by	Clayton Hartley, Jim Gloster, Richard A. Wright
Series Art Direction by	Kevin Hardison, Elliott Glick, Jim Gloster
Series Set Decoration by	Missy Berent Ricker, Monica Monserrate, Casey Hallenbeck, James Edward Ferrell Jr., Jungle Jim Shaughnessy, Matthew Sullivan, Thurston Edwards
Series Costume Design by	Jill Newell, Leigh Leverett
Series Makeup Department	Sandra S. Orsolyak, Coni Andress, Jennifer Chavez, Holly Sago, Kari Delaney, Nanci Cascio, Tonya Johnson, Bryan David Moss, Kristin Ryals, Dominique Borrel, John E. Jackson, Loida E. Jeannot, Joan Shay, David Halsey, Susan Buffington, Koji Ohmura, Bonita DeHaven, Samantha Ward, Marlene D. Williams, Rachel Kick, Jo Jo Stephens, Cristy Vespie, Cecilia Verardi, Audrey Futterman-Stern, James Jenkins, Randa Squillacote, Clinton Wayne, Toby Sells
Series Production Management	Bill Hill, Charles de Bernier, Devoe Yates, Stephanie Laing, Carlos Aníbal Vázquez, Dale Williams, David Blake Hartley, Maureen Milligan
Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director	Ryan Craig, Jonathan Watson, Patrick Priest, Brian Avery Galligan, Thomas Parris, Valerie Johnson, Casey Mako, Katarzyna Kait Malec, Jose Gilberto Molinari-Rosaly, Bill Hill, Scott Robertson, Jonas Spaccarotelli, Jeff Seibenick, J. David Brightbill, Rick Clark, Ian Prange, Richard E. White, Jana Camacho
Series Art Department	George W. Harding III, Scott Maginnis, Larry C. Shepard, Tom Jones Jr., Gia Ruiz, Michael Williamson, Michael J. Hall, Lindsey Suggs, Dylan Boyd, Chester Lee Henderson Jr., Andy Krish, John Philip Andrews, Brooke Brunson, Gloria Hardison Clark, Mick Flowers, Karman Graham, Beejay Grob, Matt Halladay, Russell H. Holt, Isom Ison III, Jay Jones, Julian Jones, Jeremy Lee, Gary Naylor, Stephen C. Peterman, Freddy Phelps, Nicholas Ragazzo, Cara Rhodes, Emily Weston, Jungle Jim Shaughnessy, Oscar A. Colom Cruz, Josie Minguela, Flynn Thomas Smith, Joyce Carter, Victor Zaldivar, Charlie Bonilla, Gladys Bustos, Gilberto Cruz, David J. Gonzalez, Luis E. Maldonado, Jean P. Rubio Rivera, Larry Gooch, Jeffrey A. Hughes, Beth Giles, Barbara Seinfeld, Jessica Toy, Joaquin N. Negron, Kip Bartlett, John France, John Bromell, Randy Gambill, Kevin Hardison, Margie McLamb Holowaty, Vincent E. Immordino, Greg Spencer, Adam Cameron, Danielle Couture, Walter Kiesling, John Sanders, Peter Battistelli, William Lindsey, Richard Waldrop, Erica Fester, Terry Collins, Bill King, Jessica D. Mazzell, Adam Willis, Kevin Stone, Jesse Williams, Jimmy Santos, Cliff Zimowski, James F. Oñate, Michael Shapiro, Carlos Carly Antunez, Eddie Antunez, Darien Delgado, Carmen Marie Colon Mejia, Jorge Fish Rodriguez, Paul Alfaro, Chris Holcombe, Luis E. Colon Santiago, Juan Guallini Indij, Gregory Pelcher, Wilhem Perez, Mariana Roca Iguina, Joshua L. Ellsworth, Rebecca Lee, Emma Segasture, Mary Jane Schepers
Series Sound Department	Stuart Martin, Christof Gebert, Pete Elia, Jane Boegel, Nathan Hankins, Scott Curtis, Rod O Brien, Michael Sana, Kevin Roache, John Benson, Jeremy Balko, C. Douglas Cameron, Zane D. Bruce, Mason Donnahoe, Jared Orlando, Waldo Valenzuela, Ryan Maguire, Jeff Gunn, Luis Landrau, Jordan Wilby, Elmo Ponsdomenech, Walter Kiesling, Matthew T. Duncan, Michael Colomby, Joe Earle, Dale W. Perry, Dawn Fintor, Alicia Stevenson, Tyler Blythe, Thadd Day, Kenneth R. Burton, Andre Perreault, Doug Andham, Dan Giannattasio, Michael Rayle, Carl Rudisill, Chris Navarro, Danny Reeves, Christian Buenaventura, Karl Dondlinger, James J. Mase, Daniel Salas, Judah Getz, James T. Jones, Sal Ojeda, Evan Daum, Joseph Stephens
Series Special Effects by	Ray Bivins, David Hill, William Purcell, Stephen Lanier, Morgan McMath Rogers
Series Visual Effects by	Jason Wilson, Eli Jarra, Caprice Ann Ridgeway, Carrie Stula, Rebecca West, Alex Knudsen, John F. Gross, Fred Pienkos, Derek Herr, Derek Serra, Paul Hill, Michael S. Pryor, Tricia Barrett, Stefan Bredereck, Gregory Lemkin, Dan Lopez, Christian Quickle, Nick Sinnott, Andranik Taranyan, Jason Gottlieb, Devon Read, Craig Edwards, Jason Hearne
Series Stunts	John Copeman, Dino Muccio, Cal Johnson, John Gilbert, G. Grant Jewett, Brooks Robinson, Preston Corbell, Dale Frye, Patty Ann Dillon, Nic Prange, Ben Jensen, Robin Lee Maggy, Garth Price, Randy W. Stone, Erica Jones, Tim Bell, Grady Allen Bishop, Nikki Brower, Max Calder, Robert Herrick, Reggie Jackson, Mandy James Morgan, Aby Martin, David Andrew Nash, Jimmie Lee Sessoms, Todd Warren, Jennifer Badger, Chick Bernhard, Jef Groff, David Brian Martin, Jeff Medeiros, Mariano Big Dawg Mendoza, Dean Mumford, Andy Rusk, R. Marcus Taylor, Jeremy Conner, Owen Holland, Kiana Politis, Jared Losano, Anderson Martin
Series Camera and Electrical Department	Charles Laughon, Bo Webb, Cristiano Palermi, Simon Carey, Scott Frye, Andy Bader, Fred Norris, Chris Jadick, Logan R. Berkshire, Henry E. Ezzell III, Louis Smith, T. Ryan Dodson, Ritchie Nannini, Dan Turek, Jose M. Morales, Darryl Polk, Kevin Martinek, Sebastian Vega, Matthew A. Petrosky, Troy Carlton, John McIntyre, Dave Spencer, Jack Vollers, Marcus Mizelle, Spencer Combs, Jay Feather, Adam Horne, Eric Townsend, Wesley R. Hardee, Matthew King, Dean Labossiere, Tommy Lohmann, Grg Magidow, Joseph Mason, Robert Oliva, Giorgio Palermi, R. Michael Sasser, Dascious Thomas, Cale Finot, Jimmy Lindsey, Abner Medina, Matthew Moriarty, Jackson Lee, Thomas H. Dean, Angel Pastrana, James Selph, Emanuel Carrión, Zoraida Luna, Raul J. Marin, Willie Montañez, Mike Moyer, Gilberto Rosario, Buddy Knotts, Eric Bartsch, James B. Mahorney, Matt Malloy, William Parks, Brian Powell, Jeffrey Sterner, Tommy Ray Sullivan, John Verardi, Eliza Wimberly, Les Franck, Michael Frediani, Jose de Jesus, Jeff Wallace, Stacy Barnhill, Matthew C. Brookman, Jay Coyle, Gerald D. Hatchell, Nicholas Irrera, Carlos García, Robert Junior Olivia, Alex Ramirez, Zach Smart, Steven Alan, Mark Graves, Jeffrey Greeley, Matt Heath, Susan Heller, Geoff Herbert, Ken Hudson, Peter B. Kowalski, Jonathan Little, Harrison Palmer, Dale Robinson, Derek Smith, Stephen Thompson, Dick Van Newkirk, Mark Scott Vogel, Peter Wagner, Albert Daniel Waller, Blake Clifton, Lynn Dodson, Brian Johnson, R. Derek Keener, Orlando Suárez, Jason Batey, Craig Clarke, Michael Nelson, Todd Smiley, Paul Jacob Bashour, Daniel Williams, Joe D Alessandro, Jason C. Endres, Joaquin Padilla, Roy Knauf, Marayda Cabrera, Alfredo Melendez, Gabriel Padilla, Daniel Rivera, Troy Blischok, Ian Hayes Brett
Series Casting Department	Vanessa Neimeyer, Joyce Kurtz, Alexis Winter, Craig Fincannon, Lisa Mae Fincannon, Seth Yanklewitz, Hannah Cooper, Kimberly Helms Stewart, Lorin Semone Leifer, Patricia Alonso, Camille Collazo, Tere Lopez, Melissa Kostenbauder, Peter John Kousakis, Ben Harris, Tara Feldstein, Shannon DeAntonio, Anthony J. Kraus, Jacquelyn Palmquist, Nancy Bishop
Series Costume and Wardrobe Department	Shea Masterson, Ernesto Martinez, Victor M. Giarrusso, Lauren Mallard, Casey Crespo, Brie Harris, Dawn M. Williams, Ali Lammari, Gladyris Silva, Loida Viera, Stephanie Hagens, Julian J. Filiberti, Jessica Williamson, Catherine Bayley, Jennifer Day Young, Robin Dean, Pamela Miller, Melissa Houle, Erin Lambert, Maggie Gottsacker, Pauline White-Kassulke, Cameron Doyle, Kelly Errigo Mason, Hayley Swinson, Michaell Keith Taylor Jr.
Series Editorial Department	Kris Baucom, Ara Thomassian, Phil Davis, Stacey Schroeder, Roy Vasich, Joe Cook, Jeff Seibenick, Travis Sittard, Scott Turner, Jesús Borrego, Joe Price, Andrey Ragozin, Todd Zelin, Laura Bushell, Ben Chan, Scott Cross, Ross Danielson, Ryan Neatha Johnson, D.J. Pangburn, Eric A. Reid, Tim Vincent, Grant DeKernion, Scott Fletcher, Kevin Hickman, Jason Scott Kavner, Elicia Bessette, Sophia Bonhomme, Liza Cardinale, Tyler L. Cook, Erin Peters
Series Location Management	Scott Clackum, Ryan Daeche, Abey Charrón, J.C. Salter, London Stewart, James C. Sossamon, Ryan Konchalski, María de Orduña, Giancarlo Rebella, Vivian Rebella, Thomas Parris, Andy Sleet, Rachael Tartell, Michael L. Kuhn, Geoff Gregg, John Birchall, Tony Morin, Jason Allen King, Brooke Barnhill, Patrick King, Steve Swisher, Kristin Dombroski, Ben Stolte, Kasey Kiser, Alexandra Cruz Lebrón, Jose R. Hilera, Marco Urrabazo
Series Music Department	Margaret Saadi Kramer, Michael Brake, Devoe Yates, Juan Ponciano, Joseph Stephens, Gabe Hilfer, Erica Weis, Wayne Kramer, Louie Schultz, Orr Rebhun, Maarten Hofmeijer, Jeff Garber, Jeffrey Hepker, Taylor Long
Series Script and Continuity Department	Jennifer Opresnick, John Carcieri, Coraly Santaliz, Michael J. Leone, LeAnne Mims, Rebecca Thornell
Series Transportation Department	Scott Siler, Tim J. Walters, Justin Masters, Kim Smallwood, Linda Pickett, Donald Binder, Mark McNeill, Greg Stancil, Omar Colon, Wilfredo González, Luis A. Jurado, Rita Medina, Josiuan Rojas, Randall Pickett, Stacy Barnhill, Randall Milazzo, David Neil Enfinger, Reggie Hayes, E. Michael Hewett, Russell l Byrd
Series Additional Crew	Scott Corbett, Jessica Elbaum, Lauryn Kahn, Joyce Kurtz, Christina Maher Holland, Brandon James, Dana Brancato, Ashton J. Blessing, Andres Rivera, Deborah Ricketts, Heath Howard, Thane Watkins, Clay Broaddus, Brendan Kirsch, Heath Altman, Allison Furgal, Reva Grantham, Charles de Bernier, Jessie Hain, Callie Hersheway, Courtney LaBree, Twig Leveque, Sean M. Love, Melissa Mahoney, Valerie N. Robinson, Alexander Uhlmann, Jasmine Alston, Alix Bannon, Adam Crosswhite, Jeremiah Cullen, Randy Gambill, Paul Hammond, Caitlynn Leary, Courtney Schade, Alan Searcy, Jennifer Shaw, Betsy Zelen, Robbie Hill, Tom McMillan, Alex Puccinelli, Johanna Rios-Moral, Robyn Wholey, Matthew K. Hacker, Joel R. Wells, LeAnne Mims, Katarzyna Kait Malec, Julia Margagliotta, Jennifer M. Byrne, Amber Chambers-Ortiz, Johanna Klingenberger, Elisabeth Stone, Robert Brana, Jana Camacho, Michelle Malley Campos, Christopher Ciketic, Marilyn DeJesus, Mariant Medina, Esther Mejias, Neyda Johana Mercado, Leopoldo Riera, Jesus Romero, Ericka Naegle, Eric Lee Davis, Nicholas Hoisington, Jacob Bartel, Ryan Bennett, John Carcieri, Blair Glorious, Will Griffin, Shaun O Rourke, Jeff Reynolds, Sally L. Robison, Oscar Miranda, Sadie DeRosa, Ryan James Hill, Michael Ray, Jason Suhrke, Mary Katherine White, Adrian West, Courtney Bridgers, Jodie Hall, James L. Heyward, Andrew T. Horng, Stacy Layne Kramer, Spurgeon Smith, Matthew Wright, Anika Chiaventone, Andrew Segovia, Thomas C. Dolan, Eric Colón, Cindy Anderson, Maggie Crumps, Larry D. Katz, Brandy Beckdahl, James William Burton, Preston Corbell, Scott Hardwick, Monty Hobbs, Heather Neeld, Alex Ostapiej, Janet Place, David Ryder, Lassiter Stone, Georgia Vaughn, Vikki Lewis, Nancy A. Terriberry, Jamie Bibo, Josh Cohen, Rebecca Gold, Angel Hernandez, Cerina E. Johnson, Samantha Katelyn, Kurt J. Miner, Kevin J. O Connor, Austin James, Meg Lansaw, Nick Shaheen, Kelly Stultz, Sean Balogh, Brenda Chae, Christopher C. Courter, Ross Burchfield, Sonia González Riera, Corey L. Howard, Leila Lottering, Ben Yemba
Genres	Comedy, Drama, Sport
Companies	Enemy MIGs Productions, Gary Sanchez Productions, Home Box Office (HBO)
Countries	USA
Languages	English
ContentRating	TV-MA
ImDbRating	8.2
ImDbRatingVotes	60650
MetacriticRating	70
Keywords	former baseball player,baseball sport,bare chested male,talking about sex,f word