(S03E05) "Get mama's thong off your head, You had pink eye last week." - Joy Turner
You know, it's funny. When most people go to prison it tends to inhibit or limit their options. However in Earl's case, it seems a whole new world has opened up. I mean Earl the show, not the guy.
By sending Earl to prison, the writers have found an entirely new world for him to play in. They can introduce new characters (Frank, Glen, Sonny) new guest stars (Craig T. Nelson, Michael Rappaport) and it forces them to explore new relationships between the characters. For example, the new dynamic between Randy and Joy is fascinating to watch.
The other great part of Earl going to prison is that, while there, he can pretty much do whatever he wants behind those walls. He can play cupid for two gay convicts, he can mentor an adult scout and he can even take a class in creative writing.
I've always had concerns about Randy but tonight's episode made me see him in another light. Even though his doctor called him "borderline artistic," it takes a true genius to construct a superhero tale that combines H.R. Pufnstuf, Dr. Shrinker and an orangutan who can drive an El Camino. I can just hear the conversation in the writers room..."Aren't there some people who won't get this?" "Probably, but screw them."
Watching Joy's story made me think of my kids. Not just because I briefly considered her parenting style but mainly because it had the same sort of stream of consciousness style that my 6-year-old uses in her stories. Also, they think their Mad Libs are the funniest thing they've ever read.
I am truly at a loss for words about Darnell's music video. the only thing I can say is that it takes a musical Einstein to write a funky ballad about cooking crabs. I think I smell Emmy or is that just melted butter?
Catalina's story was cute and all but I really felt it had been done before. I mean the "tears for fears" joke was brilliant but I've seen the telenovela bit before. Conan O'Brien does it quite often. Also, it seemed a little too easy with her being Mexican and all.
I thought Earl's story was very true to form. He's a simple guy with simple needs. Sometimes a nice short story about a great plate of buffalo wings can be a delightful diversion, especially when you haven't had wings in a long time. Damn, now I really want some wings.
In conclusion, this is the kind of episode that makes My Name is Earl one of the best comedies on television. By breaking the rules and taking the viewers on a journey where everyone can find something to laugh at, Earl continues to be one of my favorite shows.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-19-2007 @ 9:40AM
Digitally Insane said...
Darnell's video was classic!! Someone get that up on YouTube!!!!!
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10-19-2007 @ 10:31AM
A Viewer said...
I'm a huge fan of "My Name Is Earl" and even with great comedies like "The Office," "30 Rock," "Everybody Hates Chris," and others on in the last couple of years, "Earl" has always been my favorite. Every week I'm eager to watch the next new episode, which is almost always great.
So I'm sorry, but I couldn't disagree with you more...I thought that this episode was the worst episode of "Earl" ever. Period.
It had a couple of funny parts, but they were few and far between. It was almost painful to, for the first time ever, sit there and watch an episode of "Earl" without laughing at all. At first I thought it was just a stupid concept and I thought that Randy's story was pretty amusing, but then they went on to have Joy, Crabman, and Catalina also write their own stories. After that point, it became extremely unfunny, and I kept waiting for them to stop doing it and get on with the story.
But that never happened. Altogether, I thought that it was incredibly self-indulgent at the expense of being funny.
I don't mind the show getting away from the "crossing something else off the list" formula for a few episodes, but that is what the show is all about, and even if you could call this episode character development, that would be a stretch. I could call it just plain old bad.
I'm looking forward to a hopefully better, funnier, and less self-indulgent episode next time.
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10-19-2007 @ 10:38AM
Guffin GacGuffin said...
Catalina's not Mexican. Not all Latina people are Mexican.
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10-19-2007 @ 11:05AM
Doug Nelson said...
Probably one of the best Earl episodes ever. The Crabman music video was brilliant.
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10-19-2007 @ 11:10AM
Cincinnati Mike said...
I give Earl a lot of credit for the constant reinvention. At about the time I started to get sick of "But I have to, Randy--it's on my list!" The show took a welcome turn to the deep-flashback episodes like "COPS" and "Y2K." Then, the prison arc opened up whole new avenues. But DAG! This episode blew. Maybe the prison arc is running out of gas?
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10-19-2007 @ 11:22AM
Tele-Toby said...
Whatever country Catalina is from, her father was shot in San Pasqual near the River of Blood.
I don't think Google Earth is going to be able to help on that one....
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10-19-2007 @ 11:24AM
Frank said...
ummm...Catalina IS Mexican. She talks about life in her MEXICAN village, Randy and Earl went to MEXICO to bring her back after she was deported.
It's true, not all latinas are Mexican, but you are an idiot...
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10-19-2007 @ 11:41AM
KMF said...
This episode was the best one yet! I loved Randy's story! That totally made it, that and Darnell's music video. All the stories were great, except I missed Joy's because of weather reports pre-empting it. Darn it. Well one for the repeats.
I thought the Earl in jail plot was going to bring the show down, but it's really taken it to a whole new higher level.
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10-19-2007 @ 11:51AM
Ian said...
The problem with the past 2 seasons has been the season-long (or so) story arcs. I want Earl to go back to his list. The recurring characters remind me of The Simpsons, and having an artificial mechanism in the story like the jail sentence is ruining the show!
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10-19-2007 @ 12:07PM
buzz said...
Agreed--the best so far--but as a 50+ survivor of the 60's I got all choked up at the conclusion when "Ripple" by the Grateful Dead played in the background. Far out!
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10-19-2007 @ 12:29PM
Janey said...
Darnell's video was undoubtedly the finest moment ever on "My Name Is Earl." Crabman is like a whole new, enlightened being! I physically stood up and applauded my TV when it was over. When is the last time you could sat that?
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10-19-2007 @ 12:52PM
Jason said...
It might have been just me, but I was assuming that Randy's "doctor" might have told them that Randy was borderline autistic, but that beings such a big word, Randy and Earl would have heard artistic. Being autistic would make sense from two angles, all the social ineptitudes that Randy posseses would have an explanation and it would explain his creative side. Also, it seems unusual to me that a doctor would also be an art critic, which would have to be true for a doctor to say an unsual phrase as "borderline artistic".
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10-19-2007 @ 1:05PM
Guffin GacGuffin said...
Frank is an idiot. Catalina has stated on the show that she is not Mexican.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalina_Aruca
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10-19-2007 @ 2:10PM
Give me my Earl back said...
I completely agree with Ian and A Viewer, this episode blew and Earl needs to get back to his list, though I don't mind the longer story arcs outright, but the focus should still be the list, not prison. I had to remind my husband that this is one of our favorite shows to get him to go ahead and continue watching the episode. Not funny, just totally over the top and completely distinct from everything the show has been up to this point, in a bad way. I will buy the episodes of Earl separately on iTunes this year to avoid owning this one. Seriously. Why are they messing with this show, it was perfect the way it was...
I appreciate that they did not have Earl get out of jail quickly in the first episode of the season as that sort of undoing of the cliffhanger is always irritating, but at least in episode one he was still on the list. Episodes 2 and 3 were off list but tolerable, mainly due to Randy trying to figure out how to live without Earl or how to get back into his everyday life. This episode - unwatchable. And I love this show... I really hope this is not a sign of things to come.
And to the point about Randy being "artistic" yes, the doctor said autistic, Jason. Definitely.
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10-19-2007 @ 2:12PM
Chuck said...
Well, that settle it, wikipedia being such a trusted source and all.
You're both idiots. Who gives a rat's ass?
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10-19-2007 @ 4:57PM
Cody said...
Awful
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10-19-2007 @ 10:49PM
Jaymez said...
I don't watch Earl that much, this episode was enough for me to swear off the show for good. Awful doesn't begin to describe my feelings for this episode. I want my half hour back.
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10-20-2007 @ 9:16AM
Galley said...
Worst episode ever.
Worst season ever.
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10-20-2007 @ 9:02PM
Jeff Herz said...
THe Crabman video felt like I had walked into a Flight of the Conchords episode. By far the best part of this weeks show.
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10-24-2007 @ 9:41AM
Pookster said...
Hated it! I was squirming, hoping it would end soon. The whole prison thing is so lame but this was the worst ever. Where's the list? Get rid of the new writers you hired and get back to the old ones. The new ones (and there have to be new writers for the show to have deteriorated this far) are destroying the show. If they want to make a show like the latest Earl, they should just make a new sitcom, not ruin a good one.
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