by Bart Raeke

Created on: February 26, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

What's that? A prime time comedy that's both scathingly funny and also morally upright? How can that possibly be?

Well, it can be because Greg Garcia came up with "My Name is Earl," which can be found on NBC at 8 pm EST, kicking off their Thursday night comedy block.

For starters, the very concept of the show is fairly genius. Smalltime redneck crook discovers the concept of karma after winning a lottery and subsequently losing the ticket as he's hit by a car celebrating. He doesn't quite get the concept of karma right, but that doesn't matter, because he understands it well enough to realize that he lives a crappy life. So his interpretation involves making a list of all the bad things he has done in his life, and rectifying them.

The cast is simply superb. Getting Jason Lee to portray Earl "I can't keep my eyes open in photos" Hickey was a coup. He's been pretty awesome in everything he's been in since trying acting way back in 1996 in Kevin Smith's "Mallrats." Hard to believe that his former claim to fame was professional skateboarder when you see his range as an actor over the years. Ethan Suplee is also a find as his even dumber brother Randy, and makes what could be a one note character vibrant and full of life. Jaime Pressley is a riot as Earl's ex-wife Joy, one of the most hysterically stereotypical trailer park trash spitfires ever to be captured on celluloid. Eddie Steeples, formerly known as the Rubber Band man guy in those commercials, is almost zen like as Darnell "Crabman" Turner, the reason why Joy is Earl's ex. That doesn't stop Earl and Randy from still being good friends with him.

The best part is that the entire premise allows them to tell morals with almost every show. The premise also allows them to satire a great many people. Look at Earl himself. His last name, Hickey, can't be a coincidence. He's a hick. A not very intelligent guy, who has managed to screw up at pretty much every important junction in his life, until now. His slightly askew interpretation of karma, the focal point of the show, is an excellent example of the balancing act between mocking a stupid person and telling a a moral tale.

And that doesn't even go in to the many and varied guest cameos the show pulls out week after week.

All in all, if you haven't checked out My Name is Earl yet, you should. You should probably check out NBC's entire Thursday night comedy line up.

Learn more about this author, Bart Raeke.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.