Ahhh, the life of a substitute teacher.  I know it too well.  In fact, I can relate to this new HBO show’s story of a former baseball star who comes back to his home town to sub in a very personal way.  Sure, I was never a major celebrity (not even close), but I would work in White Plains every once in a while as a substitute teacher right after the Matisyahu album cut “WP” came out, and real talk I signed autographs in school.  It was weird, like why would you really want my autograph, I’m your sub and I see you around school like once a week.  But at the same time, it was kind of cool and gratifying to know that my talents were looked up to in the midst of my daily hustle subbing to support myself financially.  The same kids I was teaching were seeing me rap with Matisyahu at MSG and Hammerstein Ballroom.  I was proud to be a part of both of those worlds with them.  Check the clip of me performing at a spoken word show at lunchtime in the library of WPHS during my days as a sub, a moment where my worlds’ collide…

I’m not sure how proud washed up baseball superstar Kenny Powers, Danny McBride’s character on Eastbound and Down, is feeling though after returning home to work at a local middle school.  He’s cocky, obnoxious, and completely inappropriate, yet he’s still worshipped as a celebrity by many of the adults at school and in town, even the principal.  The kids, however, look at him like a total joke though (mostly because their parents do too).  And he is.  It’s a fun show.  McBride, who is on the rise right now after a funny performance as Red in Pineapple Express, provides a bunch of LOL moments on the show, which will be airing it’s third episode this Sunday.  Take a look at the Eastbound and Down Behind the Scenes HBO Special below (the series is produced by Will Ferrell by the way)…

And in case you missed it, Summer Heights High, another new HBO comedy series, is borderline brilliant.  Chris Lilley (very talented and funny) plays three different main characters on the show; a stuck up valley girl, a flaming drama teacher, and a badass schoolboy.  All three characters are outrageously hilarious in their own way.  

The show has the feel of The Office UK (you know, that uncomfortable humor), but it’s set at an Australian High School.  Check for reruns, watch it On Demand, or cop the DVD that just dropped today.  Here’s the trailer…

Give both shows a shot, they’re worth watching.  I wonder when the new Curb Your Enthusiasm season is starting?