NEW YORK (AP) - HBO has renewed the raunchy, dark comedy series "Eastbound & Down" for a second season.

The series stars Danny McBride as Kenny Powers, who becomes a substitute teacher in his North Carolina hometown after his big mouth and declining fastball knock him out of Major League Baseball.

Will Ferrell and Adam McKay were executive producers of the six-episode run. Ratings grew as the series went on, finishing with 950,000 viewers tuning in for the season finale.

HBO says production on new episodes will begin later this year. The new episodes will debut in 2010.

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