FOT Forum

FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: wwwes on March 16, 2009, 03:03:26 AM

Title: Eastbound & Down
Post by: wwwes on March 16, 2009, 03:03:26 AM
This show, for better and for worse, is the American version of I'm Alan Partridge. Cruder and meaner, but every bit as cringeworthy and periodically fall-off-the-couch funny. Catching up on last week's episode where Kenny gets hit in the rear with a paddle, falls into some cake, then stands up and says, "I think I should go." That's some fantastic stuff right there. I'm sure it's a deliberate attempt to evoke that humor, but well done for taking a very British comedic sensibility and making it translate.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: orator on March 16, 2009, 04:43:53 AM
This show, for better and for worse, is the American version of I'm Alan Partridge.

 And Alan Partridge/David Brent is the less funny British version of Hank Kingsley.

 Anyways, great show for the most part.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: wwwes on March 16, 2009, 08:16:32 AM
Oh, I highly disagree with that part. Yes, Larry Sanders basically invented that style and revolutionized television comedy. BUT... both Partridge and Brent went places that they'd never have dared to take Hank Kingsley. Hank was a jerk, but he was completely harmless. The other two destroyed everyone around them. The fact that they aren't all that funny is their defining characteristic, just as with EB&D.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Tom Scharpling on March 16, 2009, 09:53:00 AM


Yes, I could not disagree with that more. NOTHING is better than Alan Partridge in my household. If I could write something half as good as that first series I would quit.

Tom.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: yesno on March 16, 2009, 10:38:28 AM
Man, I've never been able to get into Alan Partridge.  The laugh track just turned me off I think.  And Knowing Me, Knowing You was just not funny at all.  The character was pretty good in The Day Today, however.

Saxondale struck me as way funnier and better done. 

I agree with wwwes that Eastbound is great.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Chris L on March 16, 2009, 11:12:37 AM
Hank Kingsley to me is darker than AP and certainly David Brent.  A lot of that had to do with Tambor's epic portrayal, I think.   I don't get HBO anymore but the EB&D episodes I saw have been great.     
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: erika on March 16, 2009, 11:15:04 AM
I'm afraid of and annoyed by (and also thrilled about) Stevie Janowski's character. He brings me such a clusterfuck of extreme emotions.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: scratchbomb on March 16, 2009, 01:05:07 PM
Finally caught Eastbound and Down for the first time this weekend. Lovin' it, and it looks like one of those shows that's gonna get even better as it goes along.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Dan B on March 16, 2009, 01:28:45 PM
Finally caught Eastbound and Down for the first time this weekend. Lovin' it, and it looks like one of those shows that's gonna get even better as it goes along.
Well, there's only one more episode.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: scratchbomb on March 16, 2009, 01:48:37 PM
Finally caught Eastbound and Down for the first time this weekend. Lovin' it, and it looks like one of those shows that's gonna get even better as it goes along.
Well, there's only one more episode.

I was only able to watch the first two, so to me it's like...ah, forget it.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: erika on March 16, 2009, 01:53:09 PM
I think it's worth watching all of them. I'm sure you could squeeze in the time to watch the remaining 4...
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: MattJohnson on March 16, 2009, 04:43:34 PM
With 6 episodes it almost seems like it could have been a movie, but I'm glad it's serialized. I don't know if I could handle it all at once, and anyway, the (sort of) redemptive arc so far would probably not have felt as earned as it does week-to-week (as much as you can say the character earned anything).

In particular I was impressed with the way last night's episode confronted the audience's (presumed) pity and judgment of Kenny Powers.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: mrCoffea on March 16, 2009, 06:00:24 PM
Alan Partridge is the ultimate, it's going to be hard to ever top that show. I like all three series too, though I watched Knowing Me Knowing You last, which was a mistake

I'll give this show a try if it's somewhat similar, but I have a feeling I won't like it (I wasn't impressed by the previews when I caught them on tv so I disregarded the show).
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Come on, Jason on March 16, 2009, 09:05:27 PM
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbINzFjlZJo&fmt=22[/youtube]

This show has been top-notch, and the "Work, Drugs" scene is one for the ages.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: sushi cowboy on March 17, 2009, 12:40:39 AM
I haven't laughed as hard at a first episode than I did with this show. I thought it wouldn't be able to sustain itself but it just kept getting better. There's such a weird mixture of absurdity and darkness.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: orator on March 17, 2009, 04:13:08 AM
god, this latest episode was amazing
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Denim Gremlin on March 17, 2009, 11:29:15 AM
nothing was more glorious than when he knocked craig robinson's eye out

this is my favorite show right now but I'm happy its ending so soon. I remember thinking in the second episode that i'd hate to see this dragged out over a long time and the story is way better suited to a short series.

people have compared it to I'm Alan Partridge and i don't think thats a bad comparison, I think it would be cool to see a second series, if they do one, be like the second series of that show where it picks up a few years down the line, maybe kennys back on some minor league team or got another book deal or something and thinks hes getting his shit back together. 
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: erika on March 17, 2009, 11:41:42 AM
I'm going to give this show enough credit to say that it would have made an awesome series rather than a 6-episode blip on the radar. Give it a full 12 episodes. It would work.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Jouster on March 17, 2009, 05:26:42 PM
I don't disagree, but I know from interviews that the creative team wanted six episodes, so HBO (or anyone else) shouldn't be blamed for not taking the chance.  They've also said if they do get a second season pickup, they have a good idea for what that would be, so there's no need to write it off as dead or anything.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Bryan on March 18, 2009, 10:39:22 AM
Yeah, more does not equal better. The mainstream U.S. model of TV production seems kind of insane. I'll take 6 flawless episodes over 12 or even 22 so-so episodes.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: erika on March 18, 2009, 11:03:46 AM
I'm greedy and I want more and I hope I get it.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Jack from Arkansas on March 18, 2009, 10:56:42 PM
Oh man, I seriously have some Kenny Powers in my family tree. 
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Jouster on March 18, 2009, 11:17:22 PM
Fans of the show should really listen to the Jody Hill interview on The Treatment (http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/tt/tt090318jody_hill).  Really interesting stuff.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: buffcoat on March 19, 2009, 09:38:37 AM
I will watch this as soon as I finish Six Feet Under.

Does this show have the same kind of vibe?
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: orangewhip on March 19, 2009, 10:25:54 AM
I'm loving this show and I'm trying to spread the love to everyone I know. 


I broke that birdbath for you, because I knew you hated it, because we're the same. I hate that fuckin' thing, too. A stork wrapped around a tree branch. That's the stupidest thing I've ever seen before. You know that's how the plague started, back in the day. From a little disgusting birdbath in someone's backyard, that rats made sex to birds in it and made a whole new type of AIDS.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: erika on March 19, 2009, 10:41:46 AM
I will watch this as soon as I finish Six Feet Under.

Does this show have the same kind of vibe?

TOTALLY.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: dvdv on March 19, 2009, 08:22:18 PM
Fans of the show should really listen to the Jody Hill interview on The Treatment (http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/tt/tt090318jody_hill).  Really interesting stuff.

I second that.  You begin to see that Hill and co. view Eastbound.. as more than a comedy, which I think you begin to see in the second episode.  Not every scene is going to be played for laughs.  Some are just about showing how sad this character is.

Hill also directed Observe and Report which comes out soon and all the early reviews make it seem to be pretty great.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Denim Gremlin on April 08, 2009, 06:56:22 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090408/ap_en_tv/tv_eastbound___down

fuck yeah bitches
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Gregory on April 08, 2009, 06:57:27 PM
great news
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Come on, Jason on April 08, 2009, 07:29:41 PM
YES!
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Matt on April 08, 2009, 07:59:49 PM
It's bittersweet. The show gets a second season, but most of the awesome supporting cast probably won't be coming back.

A man can get used to Andy Daly on his TV every week.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: erika on April 08, 2009, 09:32:17 PM
Where did you hear that about the cast?

There's nothing bitter in my sweet. I am psyched!
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Matt on April 08, 2009, 09:43:45 PM
Where did you hear that about the cast?

I just assumed it. I don't think they could have Kenny Powers sticking around his hometown teaching gym for another season without there being at least some dropoff in quality. They did it in the first season, they nailed it, now they need a change of scenery.

Still, no matter what they do, I trust in McBride and Co. to make it entertaining and hilarious. The first season was pretty much flawless.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: wwwes on April 09, 2009, 10:10:23 AM
Could happen the same way that Alan Partridge flipped from the first to second season. You missed the hell out of Susan and Sophie, but you get the insanity of Sonja in return. Andy Daly's character probably SHOULD BE out, but when you consider who might actually be on board for a second season, it's pretty impressive. I know I would absolutely LOVE seeing Kenny Powers living in Tampa with an absolutely insane woman whom he loves dearly. And I'd love to see someone like Kevin Dorff hop on board in some form as some Floridian overtanned wannabe entrepreneur if he'd be up for it.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Regular Joe on April 09, 2009, 01:57:44 PM
Could happen the same way that Alan Partridge flipped from the first to second season. You missed the hell out of Susan and Sophie, but you get the insanity of Sonja in return. Andy Daly's character probably SHOULD BE out, but when you consider who might actually be on board for a second season, it's pretty impressive. I know I would absolutely LOVE seeing Kenny Powers living in Tampa with an absolutely insane woman whom he loves dearly. And I'd love to see someone like Kevin Dorff hop on board in some form as some Floridian overtanned wannabe entrepreneur if he'd be up for it.

I'm going to take a guess and say you missed either part or all of the last episode.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: wwwes on April 09, 2009, 02:29:56 PM
Assuming you mean the last episode of EB&D, I suppose I figured he went to Tampa anyway. I saw him as the type of guy that would show up just on the hope that they would realize they made a mistake and put him on the team.

Besides, having been to Tampa, he'd fit right in. There's this rare blend of really big South Georgia style rednecks and annoying/arrogant NY transplants that is just perfectly unbearable.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: erika on April 09, 2009, 02:40:13 PM
We have no idea what kind of crazy shit Kenny Powers is going to get himself into. Or what kind of psychotic break Andy's may have. We'll just have to wait and see and channel our faith into the glory that is Kenny "you're fucking out" Powers.

(But I know it'll be great. I'm JUST SO DAMN HAPPY.)
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Satchmo Mask on April 12, 2009, 09:04:14 PM
EASTERBOUND AND DOWN.

 8) 8) :o ;D
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: buffcoat on April 12, 2009, 11:34:20 PM
Could happen the same way that Alan Partridge flipped from the first to second season. You missed the hell out of Susan and Sophie,

I missed Sophie.
Title: Re: Eastbound & Down
Post by: Kormod on January 13, 2012, 01:03:14 PM
(http://www.cinemablend.com/images/sections/38499/_1326238331.jpg)