Fortunately, Vida Ana de la Reguera, a shapely nightclub singer, helps Kenny to forget his past, though she finds the team owner Michael Peña equally enticing. Unfortunately, Kenny's bad attitude threatens his relationship, his job, and even his friendship with the puppy dog-like Stevie. Just when his antics can't get more tiresome, Kenny reconnects with a long-lost relative Don Johnson with scraggly extensions, who inspires him to stop running from his problems and face them head on. Then, when he makes peace with a former enemy Adam Scott and a major-league scout Matthew McConaughey, it appears as if his fortunes are about to turn.

As with the first season, producers Jody Hill and David Gordon Green handle directorial duties and play to writer-creator McBride's strengths, but the coke-snorting egotist won't be to all tastes. Like the fictional Larry David of Curb Your Enthusiasm--or real-life pitcher John Rocker--he's an equal-opportunity offender, but in a cruder context. And set to a hipper soundtrack, something that also distinguishes the feature-film work of Hill and Green. Oscar nominee John Hawkes Winter's Bone, who plays Kenny's level-headed brother, makes a repeat appearance for the surprisingly sentimental finale. --Kathleen C. Fennessy