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Season 1 – My Name Is Earl

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – My Name Is Earl 2005 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Earl has taken one too many wrong turns on the highway of life as a bully and a low-rent crook, but he wins a lottery and has an epiphany: He will turn his good fortune into a life-changing event, as he sets out to right all the wrongs from his past. Despite his seemingly limited intelligence, he is oddly effective -- and has a voice and style all his own.
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My Name Is Earl — Season 1

My Name Is Earl — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Beyond the scruffy redneck façade of My Name is Earl exists a surprisingly heartfelt sitcom about a man's road to redemption.

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Critics Reviews

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Nancy Franklin The New Yorker The karma thing gets old pretty fast, as does Earl's insistently genial narration. Oct 2, 2018 Full Review Tom Shales Washington Post Where "Raising Arizona" was deliciously fresh and nutty in tone, the zany eccentricity in "My Name Is Earl" comes off as forced and wearying. Oct 2, 2018 Full Review John Leonard New York Magazine/Vulture We have to put up with characters whose brainpower compares unfavorably with a fire hydrant, but Lee is funny even in a gay bar. Oct 2, 2018 Full Review Betsy Bozdech DVDJournal.com Much of the show's success can be attributed to its uniformly strong cast. Rated: 3.5/5 Jan 7, 2022 Full Review Nikki Tranter PopMatters One thing, at least, is clear: Earl is not simple. Rated: 8/10 Oct 3, 2018 Full Review People Staff People Magazine Lee may lack the essential sweetness, or pathos, to make Earl ever seem like more than a cute variation on those lovable, loquacious losers who tumble, beer can spurting, through Coen brothers movies. Oct 2, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (10) audience reviews
Jay W "My Name is Earl" is kind of like those traveling nomad helpers, like "Kung Fu", "Quantum Leap" or "Highway to Heaven". The main difference is that instead of travelling from town to town, Earl stays in "Camden County". Earl is also fixing problems that he caused. He is motivated by karma and is thus propelled to undo his past mistakes. Earl, Randy, Joy, Catalina and Darnell are an excellent comedic group that work well off of each other. In addition, each of the members of Camden County make for a fun cast of characters and a unique setting. The location is both very creative, when at the same time feeling like the kind of backwater town, we are familiar with. The premise is a bit heartwarming. Earl is perfectly content living in a hotel, going around doing good as his 24/7 gig. The change that the characters go through, trying to be a better person, is motivational. But on top of everything, the show is very funny and very tightly written. Just about every joke comes back around two or three times to make a solid punchline each time. This show throughout the seasons manages to keep going and mixing up the formula in fresh and clever ways. The show progresses through scenarios where other comedy series would make it their finale. The show works for both episodic adventures and as a continuous overarching serial. That being said, you can still skip the final episode. Thanks to its episodic nature, it doesn't ruin the show, but it is a disappointing end. Watch good shows and good times happen to you, that's the way karma works. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/30/24 Full Review jesse d I loved this show. It was actually funny. Jaime Pressly is brilliant, she's just so talented it's ridiculous. Love Jason Lee too. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review john a This may be one of the most under-rated comedies around. I avoided this show for the longest time, thinking that it was going to just make fun of the stereotype of Southern Hicks. While it does play with a lot of tropes, it has so much heart. Jason Lee hits so many subtle notes as Earl Hickey, a horrible human being who's trying to be a better man, who's just won a lottery scratch off ticket. This is a great example of how to broach so many taboo topics in comedy, because although Earl says horrible things, its always with the understanding that its because he's been a horrible guy. Which allows us to watch his arch towards redemption as he's reminded of all of the stealing, cheating, and cringe-inducing moments of his life (like when he stole a woman's prosthetic leg). -And just when you think that Earl has said the worst thing you could possibly say, you meet his kinda-ex-wife, Joy Turner. Its impossible to sum up the comedic genius of Jaime Pressly as the Southern beauty queen who's fallen onto hard times, but I'll invite you to look up the YouTube video of her using hairspray too close to Earl while he's smoking a cigarette. Jamie won an Emmy for her performance, and I invite you to see why. Every member of the supporting cast is just damn brilliant. Ethan Suplee is his slow witted brother Randy Hickey, who is able to demonstrate every overt act of stupidity with everything he's told not to touch, or just with a blank stare. Nadine Velazquez plays the part of their friend Catalina, a stripper at the seediest strip joint; Club Chubby. This isn't high art. There is fruit hanging too low for My Name Is Earl. But it brings low brow comedy to a much, much, much higher level. Don't do what I did, and skip it because you presume its just stupid. Its so stupid... its smart. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member A different thing and a different way of thinking. It resulted in a good result. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Highly underrated comedy show, would recommend Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member This is one of the funnier shows I have ever seen. I missed it when it originally came out. I thought it was another show poking fun and white men, but it ended up being so much more. Specifically, a show about poking fun at white men and everyone else as well. However, I recommend watching this from DVD and not on a streaming service. It seems the PC clowns had this series cut up so it doesn't offend their clown sensibilities. If you try to watch it streaming you will be watching a watered down version. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
My Name Is Earl — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 20, 2005 Pilot An epiphany prompts a small-time crook to right the wrongs he has done in his life, beginning with a grade-schooler (Gregg Binkley) he teased. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 27, 2005 Quit Smoking Earl decides that one way he can balance the karmic scales is by quitting smoking, but this proves to be more difficult than he imagined. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 4, 2005 Randy's Touchdown Earl tries to amend for an unethical sports wager on a high-school game that deprived his brother Randy of a chance to score a touchdown. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 11, 2005 Faked My Own Death While atoning for stealing from a convenience store, Earl sees Natalie (Beth Riesgraf), a woman he broke up with by faking his death. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 18, 2005 Teacher Earl Earl's old friend, Ralph (Giovanni Ribisi), gets out of prison and kidnaps Randy, hoping he will reveal where to find Earl's money. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 1, 2005 Broke Joy's Fancy Figurine Earl tries to help Joy's former nemesis and her daughter win a beauty pageant to make up for breaking a special figurine only awarded to pageant winners. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 8, 2005 Stole Beer From a Golfer When Earl tries to atone for something simple from his list, things get complicated and he ends up neglecting Randy. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 15, 2005 Joy's Wedding When Joy schedules her wedding on Earl's birthday and does not invite him, Earl gets drunk and crashes the ceremony and accidentally breaks Joy's nose in the process. Details Episode 9 Aired Nov 22, 2005 Cost Dad the Election Earl sets out to mend his relationship with his father (Beau Bridges) by renominating him to run for mayor. Details Episode 10 Aired Dec 6, 2005 White Lie Christmas Earl, Randy and Catalina enter a radio contest to win a new car for Joy, so Earl can atone for all of the thoughtless presents he gave Joy when they were married. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 5, 2006 Barn Burner Earl builds a pen for the Right Choice Ranch's new ostrich in order to make amends for burning down a barn many years earlier. Details Episode 12 Aired Jan 12, 2006 O Karma, Where Art Thou? Earl helps a newlywed couple go on their honeymoon by filling in for the groom at his fast-food restaurant job, where he learns that the boss is a bully. Details Episode 13 Aired Jan 19, 2006 Stole P's HD Cart After Earl returns a hot-dog cart that he and Ralph (Giovanni Ribisi) stole, his efforts are undone when Ralph, working for the competition, sets fire to the cart. Details Episode 14 Aired Jan 26, 2006 Monkeys in Space When Earl's old friend Hank is arrested, Earl decides to make Hank's last free day a good one. Details Episode 15 Aired Feb 2, 2006 Something to Live For Earl takes his car troubles as a sign it is time that he redeem himself for stealing gas out of a complete stranger's (Adam Goldberg) car. Details Episode 16 Aired Feb 9, 2006 The Professor Earl accidentally knocks over a bus-stop sign and promises an elderly woman that he will return to fix it, but a beautiful college professor (Christine Taylor) sidetracks him. Details Episode 17 Aired Mar 2, 2006 Didn't Pay Taxes Earl decides to make up for failing to pay his taxes in the past, but he finds the government does not want his money. Details Episode 18 Aired Mar 16, 2006 Dad's Car When Earl tries to honor his mother with a long-overdue Mother's Day gift, she asks him to do something nice for his father (Beau Bridges). Details Episode 19 Aired Mar 23, 2006 Y2K In 1999, all confuse Y2K with the apocalypse and believe they are the last surviving people on Earth. Details Episode 20 Aired Mar 30, 2006 Boogeyman Earl makes a young boy afraid of the dark by hiding under his bed. Details Episode 21 Aired Apr 6, 2006 The Bounty Hunter Earl's ex-girlfriend returns to town, hellbent on seeking revenge against Joy for causing Earl to leave her. Details Episode 22 Aired Apr 27, 2006 Stole a Badge Earl tries to return a badge that he stole from a police officer several years earlier. Details Episode 23 Aired May 4, 2006 BB Earl sets out to reunite an old crush with her estranged father. Details Episode 24 Aired May 11, 2006 Number One Earl wants to cross off the first item on his list, but he finds that he owes the victim more than the $10 he stole from the man's wallet. Details
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Season Info

Director
Michael Fresco, Marc Buckland, Chris Koch, Craig Zisk, Tamra Davis
Executive Producer
Greg Garcia, Marc Buckland
Screenwriter
Greg Garcia, Kat Likkel, Victor Fresco, Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, Hilary Winston, J.B. Cook, Michael Pennie, Vali Chandrasekaran, Brad Copeland, John Hoberg, Barbie Feldman, Hunter Covington, George Sharperson
Network
NBC
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 20, 2005