Just read the NY Post review and wasn?t surprised to see the series has lost half its viewership this season. Article wrote about why he didn?t know, but I think I do. New writers. NBC took a funny show and stuck in a bunch of no-talents to run it, arrogantly believing it was unsinkable. After the first few episodes this year, I noticed I was laughing less and less. Midway through the season, I tuned out. Reminded me of this old NBC comedy called Wings (starring Tim Daly). Crackup of a show. Then the last year nauseated me when it became an agenda show instead of a comedy. Several episodes on gay issues and recurrent theme of how great it is to be liberal. Frankly I don?t care what most of these actors do outside the series as long as it?s funny. And Earl is the 21st century version of Wings, and what a coincidence, both on NBC.

They should fire these lame writers and bring back the original writers if they want their audience share back.

I agree the show hasn't made me laugh as much this season, but I still think it is one of the funniest show on TV. There are also some things that have been happening lately that are inconsistant with some shows of last year. (Are those kids illegitimate or not?) I still record it every week (when it is on!!)

Are there different writers this season? We loved last year's Earl. There was a sort of innocence and redemption to balance things out. Now it's just crass and completely amoral. Each week we think maybe it'll get better but we're not going to watch anymore.

I only watch to pass time before The Office.

Oh, I thought this was the third season? It's not?

But yeah, as Receptionist said, MNIE is kind of an Office opener for me, but it is pretty funny

That`s sad for you. I?ll be looking all seasons that are going to come. There will ever be "bad" and super episodes in every show.

I wouldn't say that the second season stinks, maybe just a slightly different feel about it.
Still funny as ****

Innocent? When? I must have missed that episode. It's funny too that you complain that this season is amoral yet you consider yourself a Randy fan. He has done little but **** after Catalina from day one. But that would really be classified as immoral, not amoral, so I guess that doesn't bother you.



**** rhymes with "just"

crass and amoral? care to give some examples?

come on, give it some time.

Well, I know that Jason Lee said they were going for more of an serial type feel this year, where there was a definite connection from one show to the next, and that things would not always be cleanly resolved in one episode, but stretch over several. While the feel is definitely a little different, I think it is more because the writers are getting comfortable with the characters and are spending more time developing them.
All in all, I am enjoying this season about as much as the first!

I disagree - it just keeps getting better!

I enjoyed the second season. The best part of this season so far was when Randy was singing time after time. Pure classic. But the show itself is awesome just because of the concept of it. Do good things. Just plain and simple.

Hello, first topic on this board. Hopefully someone else can verify this problem I am having with this season's episodes of Earl...

What in the blazes happened to Karma? Last season, in nearly every episode, Earl made some mention to/about Karma. So far this season, it seems the writers are trying their darndest to remove the aspect of Karma and change it with "feeling good." Is this a case of reworking the series to remove a potentially contaversial subject? Or are they keeping Karma in a closet and only taking it out on "special occations" (which has yet to occur?) I thought that this aspect of the show is one that helped to maintain its charm; a couple yolkels trying to understand a highly philosophical concept. Instead, they've tried to switch it out merely for "The List" and Earl doing "The List" because he "Likes to feel good."

Hopefully someone else could comment on this, as I feel a core aspect of the show has gone missing.

Thanks for reading.

Personally I don`t think they are hiding karma at all I think they`ve been mentioning it a lot.

Ok... so now that the show has been glorified by the Hollywood elite, those who already liked the show or just watched it bc it came before the Office have higher expectations now. Just pretend the show is still that little secret of a show that nobody knew about but you. You guys are the ones that will like it the second time around a lot better. Now to explain the lack of support for the Earl show vs the Office... duh... most Earl fans wouldn't bother coming online to root for their team... but the Office obviously produces alot of nerdlings with lots of online time on their hands... oh by the way I like the Office too! 2 entirely different shows guys.

The episodes I've seen (quite a few this season) they haven't mentioned it by name once... Care to name some specific instances?

I agree... last year this was the best comedy on television. This year, it is seriously lacking.

Randy seems like like a totally different character this year. He is no longer the innocent he was last year. He seems to have gained about 20 IQ points and at times he seems kind of mean spirited.

It is sad to see such a great show going in a wrong direction. I hope it gets better

I agree, this show has taken a turn for the worse and is now inappropriate for its time slot. Too bad, the 2005 version was fantastic. It's now more gross than clever, more scatalogical than cerebral. Bad call by the writers.

I thought the series got off to a great start with the "jump for joy" episode.
I think the only episode thought could have been seen as amoral was the one where Earl was forced to marry his friend's mother--a little too weird for me, but this show does try to stretch the limits at times--whatever.
However, the show with Rosanne was absolutely spiritual--I am amazed that they are able to impart a "religious" type message without getting all "touched by an angel". Great job! Churches could support this show if it were a bit more mainstream.

Well not inparticually but it has been implied.

Implying still isn't mentioning it, and it seems they've used a million different phrases other than Karma. Truly a disappointing turn of events.

It's the same thing and it is all good.

This show is amazing. We should all make a list and live our life trying to make up for the things we have done wrong. We would all be better off... and so would everyone who knows us. hahaha

Although, it's still worth the laugh value of cutting to commercial on the line "And that's how I got married to Ralph's mom"

Hm. I actually don't agree with the "crass" comment in any way. The cat episode was hilarious if just for the cat's stare at the camera. All of Joy's moments, including her racist, anti-Catilina comments, have been perfect, even if occassionally risque... I also liked the way Earl didn't seem over-righteous in last week's episode, and the way Darnell's getting more important screen time.

Seems to be improving to me. Don't know what you're thinking, randyfan, but whatever, it's your opinion...

-CD-

While both seasons are good, I happen to think the first season was a litttle better

I didn't think it was funny last year, so you mean it's gotten worse? I only watched the first 3 episodes last season before I erased the rest from my tivo because I was so bored I wanted to stab myself in the eyes.

It has definitely taken a slightly different feel because every episode isn't merely 1)tell about something bad in the past 2)try to fix it 3)fix it in a slightly different way than orginally intended. I think that this has made the show more interesting, less formulaic, and has more potential to set up for bigger episodes in the future as mystery about continued character conflicts and pasts grows (one example being Darnell's past, how great is that!).

I admit it is different but I say it is neither better nor worse. Its still Earl.
-e

It may have been last season, but there was the episode with the college professor, in which he was trying to explain the list, and got attacked by bees because Karma wanted him to rebuild a bus-stop.

I still like this show. One thing I like about it is that it DOES change, and the characters have grown. Some, like Joy, have just been more fleshed out while others, like Earl, have matured. And I've even found one coincidental thing about Randy: would you say it's KARMA (which is, after all, the whole theme of this show) for the actor who plays Randy to be doing this to redeem himself from the character he played in the movie American History X? I know that's a bit of a stretch, but I just keep being amazed at how both Randy and Seth are sort of stupid, but Seth allowed his stupidity to be manipulated while Randy's stupidity is more innocent. I admire an actor who can illuminate such nuances.
I used to like this show far more than "The Office". At first I hated "The Office" and loved "Earl," but now I like them equally. Jason Lee and Steve Carrell are both very good at what they do.

This season seems hijacked by some different writers or something. The formula is not the same nor as enjoyable. Earl is constantly bad and out of character. I am tired of all the episodes regressing to bad Earl and Randy with out the list and the happy go lucky Earl and gang of season one. How is crab man living with his grandmother in the county if he was relocated there because of the witness protection program? Do the new writers actually read the old scripts? Earl was horrid and out of character in the quest to bring back Catalina.

Earl will jump the shark far earlier than it should. Come on NBC Earl is about feeling good with moments of absurdity. Not absurdity with moments of feeling good.

I think this season has been really good overall, but there have been a few times when it seemed a little like bad earl took too much attention. Todays was like that (the cops episode) just because you watched him do a lot of bad, but I kept expecting him to repay someone for something. The "bad karma" episode on the dvd kinda did the same thing to me cause it villified (sp?) earl (but that wasn't supposed to be part of the story).
As to the thing about Crabman and the writers, it acctually fits in well with the pilot, but not necesarily with the whole witness protection program thing. In the pilot, Joy says to earl (while he's in the hospital) that Crabman got kicked out by his grandma 'cause she found he was growing pot in the closet. So it fits with the original idea. How the witness protection thing fits with that isn't clear, but it's not necesarily his real grandmother...
Earls still my favorite show...

I am hoping they serve up more karma soon. Bad Earl is too much like real life idiots that live in Ohio.

The episode had a lot of good stuff in it too, Randy crying in the tree was classic, and the naked running thing was awsome. My main problem was that they didn't show anything about Randy and Catalina's marriage is working out...

And who say's Granny is still alive? Maybe Crabman turned in the wrong customer?

I like Bad Earl. If it means more half-naked Jason Lee I'm all for it! Plus that particular episode gave him a few more for the list so that means more episodes!

I think earl is great. We get to see alittle more of why earl has to do the things on his list and the fact that he's still adding to the list even now is great. Keeps things fresh i think. It's not just a check list type of show.

I like the episodes about Earl's past. It makes for solid character development. I'm sure they'll get back to the list. But I like how it's going now.

I agree. Not only that, I think the acting has been lackluster. Jason Lee almost seems bored or tired when he delivers his lines nowadays. Very different from the energy he had originally.

Bad chemistry on set? Too many video games?

I'm just curious if anyone has noticed that this show has severely gone downhill?
It's not funny anymore and they try too hard with all the special guests etc. Also it drives me nuts how they focus so much on the VERY ANNOYING mexican maid!
Anyway, I really enjoyed the first season but simply can't watch it anymore... I didn't know if any of you felt the same. Probably not since you frequent a message board dedicated to it but I just had to ask.

I agree tiny Tina. My Name is Earl is just not funny anymore. Instead of creating funny set-ups for the talented actors, the writers seem to be trying for a "feel good" much too hard now. Is it just me or does the show seem to be obsessed with off-putting freaks almost every episode. It's like they want Earl to really learn something about odd people every week instead of making us laugh. If they would stick to what made us laugh during last season which was trailer trash people looking for redemption and making us laugh with honest to goodness offbeat humor then this show would work again. If they don't return to that I don't believe the show will last another year. It's a shame because I really loved last season and I told all my friends to watch the show. Most of them have been disappointed like me.

I'm going to have to agree with both of you. The show is definitely trying a little too hard to be funny. I mean it has its moments now and then, but like you guys said they are putting too many freaks and guest stars on. I love the concept of the show, but they need to go back to their roots.

Something seems wrong with the chemistry of the actors.

Earl doesn't seem... as good minded and positive as he used to be. It's almost like Jason Lee is tired of the role. He almost seems angry, sometimes.

Randy seems... less supportive and cuddly than he used to be. It's like he's trying too hard to be the younger brother, but kind of is unhappy.

Catalina doesn't seem into it. She almost seems upset, or preoccupied, or something.

Joy seems depressed, or resigned, to the bad chemistry, though still willing to work at it.

Crabman is still doing well.

I dunno. I'm thinking there's some behind the camera problems.

Thank you so much for your replies!!! I agree with all of you!

Honestly I don't think they can save this show... I think it's new time is 10 so I think it's on it's way out and I am personally relieved because I hate to even see the ads for it now.

It's like they have new writers or something, it's just not the show it once was and I don't think it'll ever been anywhere near what it used to be.

Oh well, at least we still have The Office-the best show since Seinfeld!

I think it's possible for the show to return to greatness. It just requires effort and time.

We'll have to see if the cast and writers and technical staff are able, or willing, to do so.

I think the show is just encountering a crashing of the high wave it was on. It's great when things are riding high, but when the wave dies down it takes some work to get to a new one. The new one doesn't have to be a new show. It can be the same one.

The characters and story still interest me. I still look forward to watching the show. I just find myself analyzing the changes more closely, and wondering why it's changed to how it is.

ITS REMINDING ME OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO.

I loved that show when it started, but it just kind of went away.....................

jOY IS BEYOND HOT

you guys are all wrong. I think it has grown into a great show. It no longer uses the obvious jokes but has came up with unique plot lines.

I totally agree with the Catalina statement--if I only knew how to copy just that part! She may be upset because it seems as if they are constantly having her run around in stripper clothes. I mean, really, stripper clothes at the funeral? I think she said it was her lunch break or something like that, but come on. That was a bit much!

You're ALL completely nuts! The show is constantly fresh and funny while remaining true to itself.

Maybe you need a comedy that's a bit less challenging. Perhaps a re-run of "Friends" is more your speed. Since it's in syndication, it'll never change and give you something you weren't expecting.

BTW I STILL want a Savings Squirrel mask!

This is a joke right? Earl is still if not better. It's not lost any edge if anything incase you haven't seen the other anti-earl threads it's really pushing the envlope. I love earl! dont change!

What happened to My Name is Earl's Positive message. I fell in love with this show because I liked the idea that you get our of life what you put into to it. Seeing Earl make up for the faults of his past, and facing his demons from the past was the best part of the show. The current move from positive karma/and the beauty of the randomness of the list (letting you bring in new characters, going to new places, dealing with vaired ideas and concepts) VS now over focusing on the characters (Joy, Earl's personal life outside the list, Randy and Catalina)/ Ranchy humor is troubling. I still watch the show. But I would really love to see it get its "heart" back.

This show's premise about being positive was one of the most refresing things on televison today, please lets get back on track with that in season 3!

NBC has taken the show completely away from what season 1 was. I loved season 1.

Season 2, I just didnt care for very much at all. NBC is killing this show, and I may not even be back for another season at all.

The ONLY things NBC has that are "Must See tv" is Leno and Conan....and Soon, Leno will be gone....