Jody Hill, who I created 'Eastbound And Down' and 'Fist Foot

In these words of Danny McBride, the heart speaks of friendship, of creation, and of the sacred bond between comrades who have labored together in the fire of artistic struggle. To say that Jody Hill, his partner in bringing forth “Eastbound and Down” and “Fist Foot Way,” was chosen as best man is no small utterance. It is the declaration that true companionship is forged not only in the laughter of success, but in the trials of collaboration, in the shared sweat of long nights and uncertain beginnings.

The ancients knew this truth well: that men who build together also stand together at life’s most intimate altars. Alexander the Great, though crowned by glory, carried in his heart the loyalty of Hephaestion, the companion who shared his campaigns and stood beside him in council and battle. To honor such a friend was not weakness, but the strength of a king who knew that no destiny is fulfilled alone. So too McBride shows that the brotherhood of art can transcend the stage and enter the halls of family.

The wedding, that most solemn and joyful covenant, becomes here the stage where art and life entwine. Just as their creations brought forth stories for the world to see, so too does their bond weave a story of loyalty that is unseen yet eternal. A man’s best man is a mirror of his soul: it is he who stands as witness not only to vows, but to the life that preceded them. In this way, Hill’s presence is not ornamental—it is a recognition of years spent walking a common path, of battles fought not with swords, but with vision and perseverance.

We too must learn from this: seek not only companions of leisure, but comrades of endeavor. For those who strive with you in hardship will stand with you in triumph. Think of the Wright brothers, who together wrestled with the sky, and whose shared dream of flight lifted mankind into a new age. Their bond, like McBride and Hill’s, was written not in words but in the works they wrought together.

Thus, let these words remind us: a true friend is not merely one who shares in your laughter, but one who labors with you in the creation of your destiny. To honor such a soul at the turning points of life is to proclaim before heaven and earth that greatness is not solitary. It is woven, like tapestry, by the hands of many who dare to dream and endure as one.