Eastbound & Down

[wwwes]

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.

[orator]

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.

[wwwes]

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.

[Tom Scharpling]

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.

[yesno]

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.

[Chris L]

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.     

[erika]

I'm afraid of and annoyed by (and also thrilled about) Stevie Janowski's character. He brings me such a clusterfuck of extreme emotions.

[scratchbomb]

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.

[Dan B]

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.

[scratchbomb]

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.

[erika]

I think it's worth watching all of them. I'm sure you could squeeze in the time to watch the remaining 4...

[MattJohnson]

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.

[mrCoffea]

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).

[Come on, Jason]

[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.

[sushi cowboy]

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.