"My Name Is Earl" Love Octagon (2008)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Michael Fresco

Writers:

Gregory Thomas Garcia (creator)
Danielle Sanchez (written by)

TV Series:

"My Name Is Earl" (2005)

Original Air Date:

1 May 2008 (Season 3, Episode 19)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Plot:

Now that Earl is out of his coma, he sets out to find his true love, Billie. However, finding her is difficult, and he discovers that she has several other suitors trying to get her. |

Plot Keywords:

Straight Becomes Gay | Karma | Ne'er Do Well | Beer | Motel

Cast

Jason Lee	...	Earl Hickey
Ethan Suplee	...	Randy Hickey
Jaime Pressly	...	Joy Turner
Nadine Velazquez	...	Catalina
Eddie Steeples	...	Darnell Turner
Michael Rapaport	...	Frank
Alyssa Milano	...	Billie
Mike O'Malley	...	Stuart
Gregg Binkley	...	Kenny James
Raymond Cruz	...	Paco
Missy Doty	...	Josclyn
Louis T. Moyle	...	Dodge
Trey Carlisle	...	Earl Jr.
Sam Menning	...	Pickled Egg Guy
Zaid Farid	...	Guard

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Netherlands:6

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Quotes:

Frank: Oh whatever, I'm the only person in the room who really knows you. I mean, who was there when your aunt what's-her-name died.
Billie: You mean my mom?
Frank: Yeah, her.

Soundtrack:

Leaving Town

No Heart, No Brains, No Taste

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Although they've finally gotten Earl out of prison, this show continues its downward slide, losing its heart, soul and taste.

Earl is desperate to find Billie (Alyssa Milano) and recruits her old boyfriend Frank (the tiresome and unfunny Michael Rappaport) to help track her down and find her. Only she's being kept by the guy who hit her with the car, the ex-cop and pro bowler. Eventually Earl tracks Billie down and declares his love for her at the same time Frank, the ex-cop and Catalina (she's declared herself a "chapstick lesbian") do the same. In the end everyone finds true love with one person or the other but the sentiment comes off as phony and insincere. It's like the producers are bored with their own show. They should be. I am since it lost its genuineness and gentleness and replaced it with crass and mean jokes, often trading character for a cheap joke.

The writing's also gotten sloppy. While Randy's fear of birds has been well established in previous episodes, in this one he opens a parrot's cage and it gets away. His subplot is catching the bird. He even lets the bird rest on his arm instead of being petrified with fear.

This was once the best show on TV. While the shows since Earl got out of prison have been better, the sooner they get back to the list and hopefully rediscover the show's heart, the better.

This is just painful to watch, even more so since it was once so good.