(S02E02) We got a good glimpse this week of how storylines won't necessarily be capped at one episode, plus we never really saw Earl cross anything off his list. It was funny, but in a smarmy sort of way, to see Randy get so overcome by the thought of Catalina dancing at Chubby's. We knew that he had a sort of fondness for her, but his feelings really overwhelmed him this time around.
I was kind of looking forward to seeing how Burt Reynolds would do in this episode, but I don't think he made an impact one way or the other. I'm not a huge fan of his, but he can be a good comedic actor when given the right part. I'm not sure if he's going to be a recurring character this season or not--if so, maybe we'll see his part "fleshed out", so to speak.
Probably the most interesting part of the episode, and something that will bear watching, was the bonding between Catalina and Earl. I've speculated that we may see a love interest for Earl this season, but I didn't think it would be Catalina. But when she told him, "I don't jump for Joy. I only jump for you," I couldn't help but notice that there was something going on between them. If this situation builds, I wonder how Randy will react?
IMHO the funniest parts of the show were the sweatshop scene, when Catalina was greeted as a conquering hero by the exploited workers who discovered that her dancing led to the demise of their abusive boss, and the argument between Catalina and Joy over the jail telephone. Joy is not exactly a model prisoner, is she?
I don't think the writers are going stretch every story out to more than one episode, but in this particular instance, it worked.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-29-2006 @ 11:38AM
Lia said...
This is the first episode in which Earl doesn't try to cross anything off the list.
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9-29-2006 @ 11:54AM
clinko said...
After this episode ended I turned to my girlfriend to say "I don't think I laughed once at that whole episode."
It was like they weren't trying. The jokes were predictable.
There's only 2 girls on the show, you knew the 1 girl he had to dance again was Catalina.
House of pain was playing, I knew the punch line before it happened.
The "brain loop" joke was just annoying.
Also, was it just me or did Catalina's accent seem REALLY fake/forced? At one point I thought she might be a different actress.
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9-29-2006 @ 11:52AM
Guk said...
And by the way indeed:)
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9-29-2006 @ 11:56AM
elf said...
I hope the next time NBC finds themselves with an open hour on their schedule, someone in the boardroom says, "You know, instead of just putting on another hour of Deal or No Deal, why don't we just show Catalina jumping for an hour?"
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9-29-2006 @ 12:10PM
MikeA said...
I believe it was the pilot episode in which Catalina tries putting "the moves" on an oblivious Earl. Whatever romantic storyline the producers have in mind for these two characters, it has apparently been on the backburner since the conception/inception of the show.
It might make for an interesting, even dramatic, dynamic between Earl and Randy, and I hope the show continues to explore this avenue of character/plot development.
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9-29-2006 @ 1:08PM
BoomFoxx said...
I agree with clinko about the Catalina's accent. It didn't used to be bad. She sounded kind of lispy... like she was wearing a retainer or something. Surely we weren't the only people here who thought she sounded really wierd.
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9-29-2006 @ 1:17PM
Steve said...
MikeA -
It's not that Earl was oblivious -- Randy called "dibs" when they first saw her.
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9-29-2006 @ 1:27PM
scott said...
i thought the woman playing catalina seemed like a different actress too...
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9-29-2006 @ 2:35PM
Victor said...
My wife and I also noticed something strange about Nadine Velasquez (Catalina). She didn't look at all like I remembered her. The nearest we can guess is that she had some collagen or something done to her lips, because it was her mouth more than anything that looked different. Also, that may be why she sounded lispy. It was very distracting.
Overall, I give the episode a C. Had a few funny jokes, but it seemed really forced compared to last week and last season.
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9-29-2006 @ 2:43PM
SamMalone said...
What timing! Just as the dancing was about to start, our local NBC affiliate cut in to the show with our local nerdy bow-tie wearing weatherman giving a tornado warning.
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10-01-2006 @ 2:18AM
Sophie said...
I'd never really given it much thought but after tonights episode I really want Earl and Catalina to get together!
For those who are interested, I have just made a trivia quiz for this episode. See if you really were paying attention or you just got distracted by Catalina's jumping? :D
http://www.tvtriviaquiz.com/mynameisearl.htm
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10-01-2006 @ 10:29AM
jimmyb said...
come on people....this isnt a heavy show...earl is anti-office.....yeah..i dont "get" the office...cause i never worked in one...
and i guess if you never lived around people like earl and company or listened to skynard, you dont get it.
i couldnt stop laughing the whole show..."sweatpants allowed" "thats not a c- section thats from getting stabbed by my prom date" the judge crackin randy's nut.
i wish i could be in the writers room when their thinking of this stuff.
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