Eastdown and Bound


"Eastbound and Down" is not yet the greatest show in the world, but it’s worth checking out. It’s got a weird tone – partly wacky redneck stuff; partly absurdest stuff that you’d expect from the FunnyOrDie and "Foot Fist Way" guys; partly dark, depressing Tennessee Williams Southern-Gothic drama; and "George Washington" realism mixed in with  drug humor and social satire. All packed into under 30 minutes.

It’s weird when someone like Will Ferrell shows up as a guest star on the show, because the character he plays is a totally hammy FunnyOrDie type (e.g., SNL-style Comedy Acting + Over-the-Top Vulgarity) that is at once both awesome and entirely not fitting within the context of half the other plotlines, which involve the main character having problems with drugs, alcohol, steroids, and an inability to emotionally connect to people, a flat-lined career, etc. One moment you see the lead guy getting crushed by life; and the next moment you see him doing wacky cracker shtick opposite other purposely over-the-top actor-comedians. The show bounces around like this constantly.

The one-sentence pitch: It's like “Rosanne” meets “The Glass Menagerie” meets FunnyOrDie’s “The Landlord” meets "North Dallas Forty" meets “My Name is Earl,” if “My Name is Earl” was an R-rated movie by Kevin Smith instead of a Scientology-karma network sitcom.

It makes it hard to judge whether or not the show is good or bad. After four or five episodes I’m still not even sure if I like, love, or hate it. But I’ve gotta admit: It’s different, and it sometimes zigs in a different direction when you expect it zag somewhere else; not just plot-wise, but on an emotional and thematic level. And that makes it exciting for a sitcom.

I’m curious to see whether or not the show gets better or worse. Seems like it could be improved upon (balancing the comedy/drama and reality/absurdity better, working on the pacing, expanding the cast), but the current Redneck Man-Child Learns to Become a Real Man and Regains His High School Sweetheart routines will wear thin pretty quick if the show doesn’t figure out what arc to take the characters on next.

That said, after “Lost,” “Fringe,” “Flight of the Conchords,” “30 Rock,” “Underbelly,” “Damages,” and “The Office,” I’d have to say that “Eastbound and Down" is one of the best shows currently on TV, at least until "Ashes to Ashes" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" bring forth their new seasons.

12 comments:

Movies to Watch said...

The show is brilliant with its use of low brow humor to deceptively send a message about how we love to hate narcissists, but secretly want to act out like them. I hope the second season doesn't disappoint.

Anonymous said...

这是像powerpoint presentation templates画,画面没有她 powerpoint presentation templates, 随时随地 powerpoint presentation templates却等到不到她 powerpoint presentation templates,们心里的 powerpoint presentation templates,确良楝powerpoint presentation templates也冷却powerpoint presentation templates手中的 powerpoint presentation templates牵挂是powerpoint presentation templates和一落千丈.

Movie reel said...

Fantastic blog.It was later revealed at the end of the season that Kenny would be heading to Myrtle Beach to play in the minors for a second chance.

Free TV Online said...

Nice, it has 8.8 rating on imdb, think I'll start watching it asap!

wmv player free download said...

Hello!
Just wanted to say hi and also to say that your article was so interesting to read, I really enjoyed it! Keep on posting things like this and good luck!

YouTube MP4 said...

As far as I'm concerned this show has a very high rating on the international movie database so that it's definitely worth watching. Thank you for this post, it was great to read it!

How to convert avi to mp4 said...

Nice piece:)
Thanks for posting!

Anonymous said...

You're so mean when you talk about yourself you were wrong. Just play vob files and everything is gonna be ok.
http://vobplayer.org/

Anonymous said...

Hi there.
Please, play mkv files!
http://freemkvplayer.net/

How to play avi files said...

Thanks for posting this one:) Interesting stuff!

mp3 to m4r said...

Really? Is that I want to go to the cinema to see the film. thanks

dvd to .mov mac said...

As far as I'm concerned this show has a very high rating on the international movie database so that it's definitely worth watching. Thank you for this post, it was great to read it!