My Name Is Earl aired for four seasons on NBC before it was cancelled, and the creator has revealed how he would have ended the series if it had continued on to a natural end. The series ended with a bit of a cliffhanger, but Greg Garcia did have a plan in mind for how to wrap things up.
In a Reddit AMA, he revealed how he would have ended the comedy series if he had been able to close it out. He said:
“I had always had an ending to Earl and I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to see it happen. You’ve got a show about a guy with a list so not seeing him finish it is a bummer. But the truth is, he wasn’t ever going to finish the list. The basic idea of the ending was that while he was stuck on a really hard list item he was going to start to get frustrated that he was never going to finish it. Then he runs into someone who had a list of their own and Earl was on it. They needed to make up for something bad they had done to Earl. He asks them where they got the idea of making a list and they tell him that someone came to them with a list and that person got the idea from someone else. Earl eventually realizes that his list started a chain reaction of people with list and that he’s finally put more good into the world than bad. So at that point he was going to tear up his list and go live his life. Walk into the sunset a free man. With good karma.”
Garcia also revealed that he had asked the network if it was okay for him to end the season on a cliffhanger. The network told him to go ahead, and it was only after that NBC decided to cancel the series. Garcia might have written a different season four finale if he had known the network was going to cancel the series.
In addition, Garcia also planned to reveal who Earl Jr’s father was before the show ended. The writers were thinking that it would be someone famous who’d been in town for just one night. The writers didn’t get to decide who that would be, but the baby daddy was intended to be revealed before the series ended.
Were you a fan of My Name is Earl? Did Garcia’s reveal give you closure for this series? Tell us what you think.
How can it end like that? I just finished watching it on Netflix and was so upset at the ending.
Same **** the NBC network
We had cancelled our regular television access and switched over to just using Netflix to save some money. Naturally, me and my husband began watching different series. “My name is Earl” was the first Series we started watching together, up until I started watching episodes without him because I was too anxious to watch the next one so I became the only one to finish the series alone. You can imagine my disappointment after I reached the last episode of season 4 when trying to figure out “dodge’s” father. The series is too much fun to just “cancel ” even… Read more »
Same thing here.
The only person I could’ve thought to be the father of Earl Jr. had to have been the guy who playing Darnell in the episode about the crabshack and the old owner Ernie.
I’m soooooo upset I’ve watched my name is Earl as a kid and adult I want to see him finish I want to know who Earl jr dad dammit I want to know !!!!!!
Ummmm Nooooooo. HOw about we get Netflix to get hold of the cast and do up a reunion type series. I watched this show when it was originally on but had never see the last episode. OMG….I bout died. Can’t end like that. Pleeeeaassseee haaalllpppp. 😉
Not really but, sort of NBC sucks!
Greg Garcia made a good show it was funny, yet corny yet Inventive
Best show ive ever seen! Started my first episode 2 weeks ago. regret i never wTched it back in 2005! Bring it back !
Comments below about a movie to tie the loose ends is a great idea, and I like the scenario about Darnell changing his blood type when they became Jewish(in witness protection). NBC made a poor decision and bad luck has been following them, they should make a list and put Earl’s show cancellation on it. One of the funniest and thought-provoking comedy shows in years and taught a good message – in a little twisted way.
Please bring it back!!!
I love the show although I would have loved to see how his relationship with Dodge would have changed. Also I agree that it should come back as Netflix original, I hate to see it go.
Absolutely loved the show and I know it is way too late for them to consider bringing it back. Maybe they can bring it back as a Netflix original like they did with Arrested Development. I really thought season 3 was the downfall of the show. Even though season 4 was fantastic, I think they just lost so much viewership from season 3 that they couldn’t recover.
I remeber when I was growing up my parents would watch the show. I just created a Netflix account and decided to rewatch the show. I absolutely forgot how funny and good the show is, and also has a positive message about karma. The show is pure gold. I have finished the whole series, I was not happy with the end though. I was expecting Earl to finish the list and to find out who Earl Jr. dad is because that’s how the last episode made it. It should have not said “to be continued” if it wasn’t. Although it… Read more »
I thought Earl jr was Darnell (Crabman) son because when him, joy and the kids went into witness protection they changed his blood type.
I want it back love that show
Now with Netflix I would think at the very least they could do is wrap up the series with a few episodes. I loved this show. Shame on NBC for canceling this awesome show without a proper ending.
Why Why why!!!! I love My Name is Earl. Laughter with a message. I just watched the entire series on Netflix. To end it with a cliffhanger is just cruel and unusual punishment. Bring Earl back!!! Bring Earl back!!!! Bring Earl back!!!!