Welcome to the Hanspostcard TV Draft. I hope you will enjoy it! Today’s post was written by Lisa at https://tao-talk.com/
l.-l.-r. Catalina, Darnell, Joy, Randy, and Earl
My Name is Earl (2005-2009) 96 episodes, originally on NBC.
S1 24e
S2 23e
S3 22e
S4 27e
Starring:
Jason Lee is Earl Hickey, the star of the show and also acts as narrator. Earl has been a no-good boozer, junkie, thief, and all-around sleazebag; he has hurt a lot of people along the way. When Earl wins the lotto, against all odds, he thanks God and commits his life to steps 8 & 9 in the 12-step program, where you make a list of those you have wronged and make amends to them. The whole premise of the show is how he seeks out and finds those he has harmed and tries to make amends to them, if possible.
Ethan Suplee is Randy Hickey, Earl’s needy brother and faithful sidekick.
Jaime Pressly is Joy Turner, Earl’s ex-wife, who is now married to Darnell. Joy is a ditzy blonde, loud, and has a lot of unfulfilled dreams. She has some charm but it takes awhile to find her heart.
Nadine Velazquez is Catalina, a friend of Earl’s and a maid at the hotel Earl and Randy eventually live at.
Eddie Steeples is Darnell “Crab Man” Turner, Joy’s husband and a cook at the bar that they all like to hang out at. Darnell is a cool guy with a certain type of zen wisdom to him. I can’t remember why, but he is in a witness protection program.
Trey Carlisle is Earl, Jr. Funny thing is, he looks just like Darnell.
Well-known actors that put in appearances for mostly one or two episodes: Burt Reynolds, Beau Bridges, Michael Rapaport, Craig T. Nelson, Marlee Matlin, John Leguizamo, Norm MacDonald, Ben Foster, Erik Estrada, Geraldo Rivera, Montel Williams, Clint Howard, Dax Shepard, Jon Favreau, Juliette Lewis, Christian Slater, Amy Sedaris, Roseanne Barr, John Waters, Charles S. Dutton, David Arquette, Jerry VanDyke, Betty White, Danny Glover, Joan Van Ark, Bernie Kopell, Don Swayze (Patrick’s brother,) Howie Mandel, Paris Hilton, Scoot McNairy, Michael Pena, Tiffany Haddish, Trace Adkins, Timothy Olyphant, and Morgan Fairchild. There are dozens upon dozens of other actors that show up also.
Directors: directed by a long list of directors
Writers: Gregory Thomas Garcia wrote all 96 but there is also a long list of contributing writers for the show
Genres: comedy
Synopsis: As stated above, Earl wins the lotto, decides to get clean, then determines to find those he’s done wrong to during his druggie villain days and try to make amends to them. Earl has done a fearless inventory and has made a list. As he has hurt many along the way, it’s a long list. His sidekick brother, Randy, sometimes helps but often mucks it up. Joy and Darnell are always in the picture in some way to either help or hinder. The voice of reason in what is often chaos is Earl’s friend, Catalina.
Impressions: It’s been awhile since I saw the show, but I remember it fondly. I remember laughing often and also being genuinely touched in the serious moments when Earl and those he wronged have their small moments of truth, sincerity, and what some might call mutual spiritual redemption and/or peacemaking. I like the often-messy atmosphere of real life, where anything can and does happen. Jason Lee as Earl stole my heart from the beginning.
Grade: 9
Awards: Won 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 10 wins & 74 nominations.
From imdb trivia:
The items in Earl’s list shown during the opening sequence read as follows: – 56: Stole liquor from liquor store. – 57: Told Joy Dan Dodd messed himself on the (rest cut out of frame). – 58: Fixed a high school football game. – 59: Everything I did to Dad. – 60: Pulled fire alarm – 61: Stole Mom’s car (but I gave it back). – 62: Faked death to break-up with a girl. – 63: Wasted electricity. – 64: Spray painted the bridge. – 65: Cost Dad the election. – 66: Let mice out at school play. – 67: Stole beer from a golfer. – 68: Blew up mailboxes. 69: Cheated on school tests a lot.
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I love this show! The reason I started to watch it was because of Jason Lee when I saw him on Almost Famous. I love the plot and the cast is great. I also like Ethan Suplee who played in Blow with Johnny Depp. A well-made show…just wish it would have lasted longer.
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Max, glad you know it and like it. It’s got a sly humor that I appreciate. I should have included a clip of one of the more serious moments. I like the combination of mostly silly-funny that includes bits of real stuff.
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That is a show I want to re-watch. They chose a great cast in it also.
That is what I like about this TV draft…I commented yesterday to Paula that I will have a list this winter for Jen and I to check out more.
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I didn’t see this one that much, but it always gave me a few laughs when I did tune in, one I should probably make an effort to see more of. Jason Lee is still that comic book guy from ‘Chasing Amy’ but I guess if you view regularly, it would be the other way around.
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Dave, I didn’t watch it religiously but like you, it always gave me laughs when I watched it. I remember a kindly lady at work was the one who recommended it to me, and I’m glad she did.
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It was a funny show. Hell, even white trash comedy can be good. Not sure that series would make it today.
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Hey, Phil, some people find the term “white trash” insulting. Take a look around America’s small towns sometime, and you’ll find a whole lot of people like these ones — even today!
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Naw, that term is not insulting at all. I live in Granbury Texas and we have plenty. I know a lot of poor or not so blessed folks and they are nothing like that show. It’s a TV show for Chris-sake and it was meant to ridicule a certain segment of what the producers thought of small town America. Like I said, that show wouldn’t cut it today. I have some relatives that might be considered a bit trashy, but they know it and play it to the hilt.
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I never saw this show, but it looks like it is a lot funnier than Joe Dirt.
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Jim, you’re one of the few people I know who saw Joe Dirt. That was one of my ex-bf’s favorite movies. He was convinced that *he* inspired the screenplay and once he laid out all of the real-life similarities, I have to wonder if he was right. Joe Dirt is a hilarious movie and think it’s on the same funniness level as My Name is Earl.
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Joe Dirt is a classic, especially when she says ” you got a himi! want to have sex? A guy that lives down my street has a mullet just like Dirts. Classic.
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I also didn’t see every moment of every show, but it does have that ‘I’m trying to go down the right road now, so how the hell did wind up out here in left field?’ vibe that life throws at you. Earl has good intentions, but sometimes ‘folks is just crazy.’ (And call me prurient but Jaimie Pressly lights up the screen- she has superb comic timing too!) Dammit Lisa, another one I’ll have to re-check out!
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I like the way you describe the underlying philosophy of the show’s vibe. I agree with you (possibly pruriently) about Pressly. My favorite episode with her in it is, S1 E6, “Broke Joy’s Fancy Figurine.”
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Loved this show!
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Glad you know and love it, Keith. Hope you are feeling better.
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I really liked this show too!
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