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.
I think NBC robbed me from my time I enjoyed watching my name is earl.. my family loves this show and wish it could have finished what mr Garcia planned to end the series.. it didnt sound like a bad idea since we need a little bit of kindness in this world.. I hope they bring it back so we can at least finish his dream.. i would be devastated if all my hard work would end this way.. everyone at NBC should be a shamed just because they didnt like mr Garcia’s ending. that’s why you put it to… Read more »
I was so sad when My Name is Earl ended, especially because it ended on a cliffhanger. Everyone I’ve ever spoken to loved the show! They should definitely bring it back or at least finish it with a proper ending, even if it’s the second part of the very last episode.
I wonder who the NBC executives were who decided to cancel the show after they had given Garcia the go-ahead. They must not have watched the show, I hope Karma got them good.
I like the ending he came up with but it would have been good to see it played out.
I love My name is Earl, its an awesome show with excellent characters, humour and good values. I am watching the box set now and still remember being pissed off with the ending. Remember network executives it may not appeal to you but it does to others. Finish season 5.
Please bring back my name is earl. At least a season 5. Can’t we all sign a petition somehow? Please make it one of those shows that revive after years… This used to be my favorite show and I still watched it, even years ago when it was on live TV …
Why would you end the series like this??? I watched my name is earl before, On Netflix but before I ever got to the fourth season they took it off, I just now finished it and I’m pissed!! I wanna know who dodge’s real father is!! Why would you leave us wondering???? Please bring earl back!!
i really need my name is earl to come back! What the heck! This aggravates me to no end!! I need to know!!! Bring back Earl!!! Bring back Earl!
My name is Earl is still one of my favourite nshows ever made. And have been waiting and hoping each year it would come back. I’d buy 30 copies just to help make money and give them out to family and friends.
Pleeeaasssseeeeeeeee some one help bring back my name is Earl.
Actually watching season 2 right now while writing this.
-australia
Me too! Please bring it back for Season 5!
I still can’t believe My Name is Earl was canceled! It was a REALLY GOOD SHOW. This summary helps, but this show deserved to go on with at least a few more seasons. Good shows get canceled and stupid shows go on and on. Ridiculous.
We need a season 5!! Cannot believe that left it like that, no your stupid summary did not come even CLOSE to closer.
We need season 5
I loved that show! It was unique In showing somebody who tried to do the right thing. And the supporting cast was fabulous! Thanks for telling us about the ending of season four; yes that was frustrating but this gave some resolution.
You leaveing it is bad karma don’t you think I reckon there should be a 1 or 2 episodes to tye the series up
Dang, I’m almost glad I didn’t see that ending! He just rips up his list?? Why not just have him walk off to finish it into his old age? The whole time they’ve been characterizing karma as an ongoing process but he’s just gonna have enough stored up at some point to not care anymore? Geez, whatever…
It’s such a great show been watching it all the time on hulu wish it would come back with Randy being ripped like he is now.
I followed randy on Instagram.. I was like he was adorable now he’s hot… But yeah its sad the show ended without closure