Eastbound & Down (2009 — 2013)

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 Will Ferrell’s production company, Gary Sanchez Productions.

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.”