Laremy Legel,
Oct 06, 2006
Uh-oh. Last night's My Name is Earl wasn't funny. Even worse it seems like the episode was planned that way, with far more feel-good than comedy on the docket. Earl has always tried to include a little message, but last season it was delivered with far more laughs than preaching. Thursday's episode was a screeching reversal of fortune with the motto of "freaks are people too" taking center stage (and not in a good way, either).
A few years ago Ed tried out the message-plus-laughs formula, and it worked for a bit before the show collapsed in a sea of gooey drama. With Earl the goal has always been straight-up comedy, and why not? Jason Lee is a master of timing, but he's a little out of his element in the dramatic world. He still looks goofy even when he's delivering heartfelt words, so it's the worst of both worlds. I do like plot points carrying over from show to show in the manner of a TV drama, keep that, but otherwise here's a request to the My Name is Earl team: Go back to being funny. It's what you do best.
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Laremy Legel (LaremyFilm@gmail.com)
