Readers, I wanted to take the opportunity this week to tell you in this column about a true, red-blooded American hero. A man who is not afraid to speak his mind, no matter how offensive the comment. I'm talking about Shelby, N.C.'s favorite son, Kenny Powers.
Now, Kenny Powers is, of course, a fictional character on the hit HBO series, "Eastbound and Down." Created and played by Danny McBride, the character of Powers has exploded onto the pop culture landscape, complete with his own fictional websites and YouTube compilations. There have been two seasons of the show so far, and a third and final season is currently in the works. Kenny has seen it all. He was a major league pitcher with an arm like a cannon. I'm talking 100mph fastballs. In one of the very first episodes, Kenny claims that he can throw the ball faster than (insert four letter word here). However, after his rise to stardom in the big leagues, Kenny becomes more self-absorbed and more profane. He is eventually kicked out of baseball and winds up teaching gym class at a school in Shelby.
That's where the series takes off from. Kenny spends most of the first season trying to get back into baseball, while living with his brother and sister-in-law. His time at Jeff Davis Middle School is turbulent to say the least. Kenny finally gets an offer from an agent to play for Tampa in the majors. However, that deal falls through and Kenny abandons everyone, including his on-again off-again girlfriend, April, and heads for Mexico. Kenny's exploits in Mexico during season two of "Eastbound and Down" are too many and too vulgar to write here. You quite simply have to see it for yourself. In a shameless plug for the series, season two comes out this August on DVD. Season one is available now. I hope I get some royalties from HBO for mentioning that.
I quite simply laugh hysterically every time I watch "Eastbound and Down." I can't help it. Danny McBride becomes Kenny whenever the cameras roll. He plays it so well that sometimes I think it's hard for McBride to break character off the set. He becomes a different person in front of the camera. It's a lot of fun to listen to the racist, homophobic and arrogant rants that he sometimes goes on. I don't say this to offend anyone. In the end, the stuff that comes out of Powers' mouth is all in effort to make the audiences laugh.
I don't think I have ever seen this number of one-liners from one show before. Here's a few of my favorite KP quotes (patently offensive ones not included):1. "Fundamentals are a crutch for the talentless."
2. "Sure, I've been called a xenophobe, but the truth is I'm not. I honestly just feel that America is the best country and all the other countries aren't as good. That used to be called 'patriotism'."
3. "I'm going to Shaboom's!!" (Shaboom's is the local bar in Shelby, N.C.)
4. "I play real sports. I'm not trying to be the best at exercising."
5. "Besides getting shot in the back of the head, do you know what else Abraham Lincoln did? He was a champion wrestler in high school. And I'm not making that up."
6. "Yeah, I'm famous."
7. "Kenny Powers is the Christ figure that people perceive him to be."
8. "If there's one thing I've learned through all my adventures and conquests, it's that some people are just wired for success. I had no choice when it came to being great."
9. "If there's one thing I hate in this life, it's losing. If there's two things I hate, it's losing and getting cancer."
10. "I'm just an average American with extraordinary hair."
There are so many more that I can't list here. That's the beauty of "Eastbound and Down." It's a satirical look at an "American hero" who has fallen from grace and is trying to make his way back to the top. Oddly enough, I find myself rooting for Kenny to find his way, even though he offends a lot of people on the journey.
