EJ’s Top 10 Series of 2010

9.  Eastbound and Down – I’ll be honest with you.  I’ve been agonizing over the placement of these next four or five shows.  It’s like choosing between my children!  That said, Eastbound and Down took a huge risk this season.  The first season ended with disgraced major leaguer Kenny Powers faking a comeback and skipping town.  The new season found him in Mexico, making a living in cockfighting.  They jettisoned the entire setting and supporting cast, and since so much of the humor came from Kenny’s new job as an elementary school gym teacher and the way he inflicted his truly repellent behavior on his brother’s perfectly nice family.  The risk paid off, as it was both hilarious and heartbreaking to watch Kenny hit bottom, mount a comeback, and then hit a whole new bottom.  (Possibly his darkest moment – stumbling onto the baseball diamond drunk and “pregnant” with a soccer ball.  He then tosses the ball into the air, and shoots it, finally tossing his loaded handgun into the stands.)  He found his long-lost father (Don Johnson!) only to be rejected again.  But through it all, he remained Kenny Powers, convinced of nothing but his own greatness.  No matter how dark this season could get, Danny McBride could always turn things around with a self-serving motivational speech.  And then, after his Mexican adventure ended with several fights (one of which involved a sword), and a chance to return to the minor leagues, the season finale brought Kenny and Stevie back to Shelby.  An amazing finale caught us up with the Season One cast and set the table for next season.  An awesome season.