(S03E07/S03E08) Crazy ho! - Earl Hickey
Seeing how the first Cops episode was my personal favorite I was psyched to see another one. I love seeing all the gang back together again; one-legged girlfriend, now-deceased kidnapping victim, throat cancer survivor, gay Kenny and the addition of Billy Gardell as Officer Hoyne was a smart casting move.
The great thing about these kind of episodes is that they seem like a bunch of random jokes and scenes strung together documentary style but when it's over, you realize that an intricately woven plot has just unfolded.
Unfortunately, the reunion of Mike O'Malley and Billy Gardell brought on flashbacks of Yes Dear. I kept expecting Anthony Clark to show up playing another unconvincing straight guy.
Every once in a while, it's nice to be reminded how much of a scumbag Earl used to be, not to mention funny. At the same time, I enjoy seeing how his circumstances had a lot to do with his actions. I mean, being married to the craziest woman in Camden County can make even the best man go bad, unless, of course, he's trying to keep a low profile due to his witness relocation.
I'm sure there were some viewers who asked themselves, "Is it really funny to make jokes about 9-11?" In this case, the answer is yes. When the butt of the jokes are the flag-waving reactionary douchebags whose lives were unaffected by those events, it's completely appropriate. This episode reminded me of every piss-ant business in Los Angeles who increased their "security" to make their employees feel safer. I'm sure the Starbucks in Burbank was high on the list of terrorist targets.
In case any writers of Earl read this blog, I'd like to request more stripper cat fights. That was a really, um, funny scene. Yeah, funny.
When the heat-vision camera was introduced, I knew it would be used later but I didn't expect to laugh so hard and feel so guilty about it. It's one thing to laugh at a crotch joke but multiple crotch jokes with a visual payoff is disturbingly hilarious.
So, in the end, we learned that Catalina had to work two jobs to pay alimony to her immigrant ex-husband, Son of the Beach was canceled because Tim Stack contracted Lyme Disease and how Patty ended up with a really short daughter. Okay, none of that is true but I did have a craving for Chinese food and corn dogs when it was all said and done and if that doesn't say "God bless America," I don't know what does.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-02-2007 @ 12:13PM
Lizbeth said...
I'm a huge Earl fan, but have been disappointed lately, especially by last week's Joy pooping her pants episode, and now this week's Cops episode. I just thought this episode was a complete misfire. The jokes weren't funny. I didn't laugh once during the hour. In fact, I was bored (haven't we seen this episode already??)
It seems to me the writing on Earl is becoming raunchier, and more mean-spirited, but not necessarily funnier.
I really hope Earl gets back to his list soon. Or I may be tuning out for good.
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11-02-2007 @ 12:18PM
Cincinnati Mike said...
This is a prime example of an episode that would have made a classic, kickass 30 minutes instead of a creaking, repetitive, filler-rific full hour. I'm getting pissed that NBC keeps forcing us to have this half hour/full hour debate over and over!
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11-02-2007 @ 12:38PM
Galley said...
Best Earl ever? Yes!
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11-02-2007 @ 1:05PM
Peanut said...
I didn't really like last year's Cops show, but I thought this one was better. I liked all the shots at the idiotically-patriotic-and-scared people of 2002.
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11-02-2007 @ 1:19PM
kevjohn said...
As a Yankee living amongst large numbers of "flag-waving reactionary douchebags" here in a red Southern state, I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed this episode to the fullest. I hope my neighbors were watching.
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11-02-2007 @ 1:44PM
Cincinnati Mike said...
What a burden for you to have to explain it all to Eb, Ralph and Alf, Mister Haney, Sam Drucker, and all the other Hooterville residents who aren't as enlightened as you. Courage, Kevjohn!
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11-02-2007 @ 1:58PM
enigmanett said...
Who was the singing guy? If that was some weird pop culture reference, it was too obscure even for me.
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11-02-2007 @ 2:16PM
Danny Edwards said...
The singing guy was Dan Coscino (it said so on his shirt). He was a production assistant on "Yes, Dear".
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11-02-2007 @ 2:24PM
SJ said...
It was a good episode...Randy trying to read "Danger: Educated Black Man" was hilarious. "Dan-gur"...hahahaha. The crotch jokes were funny too.
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11-02-2007 @ 5:42PM
Mel said...
I loved this one. Lots of great lines, as Earl always provides.
"The terrorists have won again, the score is orange to none... I should've hosted Family Feud."
"It's okay, bumper cars are meant to crash into things."
"He appears to be walking some blankets."
"Wow, everything is a Fruit Roll-Up!"
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11-02-2007 @ 10:19PM
Cody said...
Yes, Dear! What a great show. I also was hoping to see some other cast members when we got Mike and Billy in the same episode!
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11-02-2007 @ 11:00PM
Juan Herrera said...
So far I have been disappointed for most of this season the jokes are tasteless in most cases totally stupid. Cops and Creative Writing I thought were a waste of my time. I have been a big fan of Earl but if the shows don't get any better, I might have to place it in the trash list much to my regret. I hope he ets out of jail and gets back to his list. I enjoy the whole gang Earl, Randy, Joy, Darnell & Catalina and some of the guests as well, so lets hope things get better.
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11-02-2007 @ 11:59PM
Stigmata said...
good episode, quite funny.
as for all the detractors dissing the show, even dumbasses are entitled to an opinion!
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11-04-2007 @ 9:53AM
Joe Siegler said...
I've been a huge Earl fan since the first episode. I love the show - I even think the new direction in prison has been a mostly good one.
But this episode? I hate to sound all comic book guy, but..
Worst. Episode. Ever.
This was by far and away the single worst episode of Earl there has been. The only part that made me laugh was the bit with Randy and the heat goggles. All the red crotches was quite funny. But that's the only thing that made me laugh. Darnell running around naked was a bit of a smirk generator, but it didn't make me laugh.
Sorry, really REALLY disliked this episode.
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11-04-2007 @ 4:35PM
A Viewer said...
Not a great episode, and nowhere near as good as "Frank's Girl," but far better than that stupid "Creative Writing" episode. This, at least, dealt with the characters, had a plot, and was pretty funny.
The crotch jokes with the heat vision goggles were hilarious. I loved the "Fruit Roll-Up" line. The various parts with Earl and Randy getting arrests for terrorism were also very funny. I loved the caricature of post-9/11 paranoia and simultaneous cluelessness.
I didn't get the Dan Coscino thing either. Why was he singing?
Gay Kenny is my favorite guest character of the ones you listed. However, if I could pick from any of the "Earl" recurring characters I would have to go with either Willie the One-Eyed Mailman or one of the people that Earl taught in his ESL class.
"Bumper cars are made to be crashed into, so..."
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11-04-2007 @ 4:48PM
James said...
This episode (and the one last year) reminds me of an early '80s Burt Reynolds movie. Cannonball Run, anyone? Easily the worst episodes in the series.
And please keep in mind that anyone who disagrees with my opinion in any way, no matter how slight, is a complete dumbass.
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11-06-2007 @ 11:14AM
Dadburns said...
I look forward to "Earl" every week. There is always one line in every episode that leaves me choking with laughter. In "Our other Cops is on" it was Joy and Earl in the backseat of the police cruiser, when Earl explained how the cops had got a confession out of him or as he put it "put a confession IN me!". As the realization of how this was done dawns on Joy; "Oh Snap! Now you know why I confessed all that stuff on our anniversary!"
Oh, my... It took almost two heartbeats for that to sink in and leave me dyin'! I had suddenly realized what Earls anniversary present must have been!
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11-15-2007 @ 7:38PM
rfkiii said...
The only douchebag I can see is the author ooff this article.
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