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One of the oldest and common themes among mankind that remains universal in our personal lives as well as the media is redemption. Regardless of religion, race, nationality, class, and sexual orientation, everyone has mistakes they have made, sins they have committed. We've learned of their lessons in our literature, listened to sermons preached of them in our churches, and idolized our icons in music and film who embodied them. This fall television is delivering a new icon of remorse and redemption on the sitcom My Name Is Earl, where "karma is a funny thing."

NBC's My Name Is Earl (airing Tuesday nights at 9 p.m.) tells the story of Earl's (Jason Lee) quest to cross off over 250 wrongs he has accumulated over his lifetime, which he keeps on a list that goes with him wherever he goes, using karma as his primary motivation. After getting hit by a car, which causes him to lose the scratch-off lottery ticket for 100,000 dollars he won, Earl is hit with a spiritual awakening that gives his life a makeover, which was previously spent committing petty crimes such as car theft, robberies, and second hand smoke, just to name a few. His theory is that if he can go back and seek forgiveness from the ones he has done wrong to in the past, as well as help them out somehow at the same time, the lottery ticket will find it's way back to him.

Tonight's Earl (the second episode since its premiere last week September 20, 2005) dealt with particular wrongs that Earl was inflicting upon himself as well as others. As an excuse to avoid a particular individual on his list that he is afraid of (a man he once allowed to go to prison for something he was innocent of that Earl actually did himself), he concerns himself with another demon on his list: smoking. Since he is considers the potential damage of second hand smoke to others around him as a wrong, he half-heartedly attempts to quit with little success. But when his faithful sidekick friends trick him onto the doorstep of the feared man on his list he has been avoiding, Earl discovers that the only way to receive forgiveness 100% is not only from the ex-convict (who managed to forgive Earl thanks to the Jesus tattoo on his chest as a result of him being "saved" while serving time) but also from his mother who demands the two years back that she lost while her son was serving time in prison. He realizes the only possible way he can make this happen is to make her quit smoking too somehow. Therefore, within three days, both Earl and the mother kick the habit thanks to numerous nicotine patches, mantra tapes, and carrot sticks that can't seem to light up, and Earl can call the mission a success knowing that she may have gotten two years added on her to her life, "and maybe a few years added to [his] life too."

Audiences should fall in love with Earl because Earl is doing what most decent human beings hope they are doing every day, which is trying to do the right thing, and for those who aren't, the sitcom proves that it is never too late to start. It also should click with a variety of spiritual affiliated communities with a sense of humor, as it is promoting a common belief among most religions: be good unto others, and good will be done unto you. Treat your neighbor as you would treat yourself. Don't be afraid to ask for forgiveness.

Learn more about this author, Cara Mcmeans.
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