The demented brainchild of longtime collaborators Danny McBride, Ben Best, and Jody Hill, Eastbound and Down revolves around the fictional Kenny Powers, a former Major League pitcher turned middle-school substitute gym coach. To call it comedic fool’s gold misses the unflinching drama that underpins the four-season HBO series. Powers is a bombastic delusional jackass with the charisma of a hungover General Patton. He also possesses a well of humanity. You’ll laugh at him and cry for him every episode. Credit to executive producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay who spotted the trio’s talent after their Sundance flick, The Foot Fist Way, made the rounds in 2006. —Bill Keenan

Bill Keenan is the Chief Operating Officer for AIR MAIL