Danny McBride discusses his debut novel Thrilling Tales of Modern Men, the six-episode seasons of Eastbound & Down, and why older executives should step aside.
- October 3, 2026
AceShowbiz - Danny McBride appeared on The Adam Friedland Show to discuss his debut novel, Thrilling Tales of Modern Men, the lasting run of his HBO series Eastbound & Down, and his views on the film and TV industry.
McBride explained his motivation for writing fiction: "My life hasn't been exciting enough for me to write an autobiography just yet. So I figured I needed to invent some stories to tell."
Host Adam Friedland noted his favorite story in the book was titled "Danny McBride, the Man With the Biggest Penis," to which McBride replied that the publishing company fought hard to remove it but he kept it in.
McBride discussed how writing a novel differed from his two decades of TV writing, noting that TV writing is less exposed because actors, editors, and music can improve or cover weak material, whereas in prose "you're a little more exposed" and "you don't get a song."
He also explained why Eastbound & Down ran six episodes per season instead of the standard 13: he and his collaborators wanted each season to feel like its own movie and not run the concept into the ground, even resisting pressure from agents and HBO to produce more episodes.
Finally, McBride said the industry needs younger filmmakers, stating, "I think we're in this weird phase where you just need younger people to be able to start making movies. I think that's what's been missing, all the old guys need to get out of the way."