If you’ve been following the ratings and cancellation predictions, you’ve known that the Jason Lee sitcom had been “on the bubble” for a few months.
Last week, NBC announced that they weren’t going to pick up My Name Is Earl for a fifth year. Interestingly, the show’s creator found out about the cancellation just 30 minutes before the network released its schedule.
Greg Garcia told the LA Times, “They woke me up at 7:30 to let me know. I e-mailed Jeff Zucker [president and chief executive of NBC Universal] on Sunday, and I never got a response. But this is show business. The writing was on the wall. When you go to bed the night before the schedule is out, and no one has spoken to you, you know what’s happening. You get somewhat frustrated with how it’s being handled, but that’s the business we work in. I’ve never fooled myself that it’s a fair or friendly business.”
To add insult to injury, during a conference call with reporters, Ben Silverman dissed both Earl and also-cancelled Medium. The co-chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios said that the network decided to cancel the series because neither the fans nor the advertisers had waged a campaign to save them — unlike the outpouring of support for Chuck.
Loading ...
|
Garcia took it in stride, responding, “If that’s how they’re running their network, good luck to them… I don’t believe that for one second, but if that’s true, if that’s how they’re deciding what shows to pick up, wow.” Garcia also noted, “It’s hard to be too upset about being thrown off the Titanic,” referring to NBC’s ongoing ratings struggles.
Though NBC cancelled it, Lee has said that he’d like to continue doing the show. Garcia and the show’s studio, 20th Century Fox Television, agreed to try to sell Earl to another network. Both FOX and ABC have been interested in the past and TBS, who airs the show in syndication, also expressed said they’d be open to picking it up (presumably with a lower budget).
Having already sold the show into syndication, finding a way to add to the episode count makes sense financially. Garcia notes, “There’s a lot of reasons the show would work well on another network, and I think we’d do very well with some promotion. We certainly feel like we have more stories to tell. That’s why we left the show on season four on a cliffhanger. And I know we’ve got at least another season in us and a lot of great ideas. So if another network wants to put us on, fantastic. Nothing that would make me happier.”
Since 20th Century Fox Television produces the show, it was assumed that FOX would most likely pick it up. Still, the odds of one network taking another network’s cast-offs are never very good and FOX execs downplayed the possibility. After all, the network has already committed other sitcoms, including the low-rated ‘Til Death.
The possibility of the show continuing was apparently put to rest over the weekend. Ethan Suplee, the actor who plays Randy on the show, broke the cancellation news to fans via Twitter last week. On Saturday, he communicated that the show was indeed over.
He wrote, “Thanks for the effort guys, we appreciate it. It seems that Earl is actually dead. Fox has passed. The mustache will live on in our hearts.”
There’s no word on the state of other prospects for the sitcom but it sounds like the show is over.
Are you disappointed or had Earl already overstayed his welcome? Should an ending be filmed to wrap everything up?
Image courtesy NBC.
I am extremely dissapointed with the cancellation of Earl. In my opinion, it’s up there as one of the great’s. Totally agree with others that if it has to end, then there should definately be an oppurtunity to see a conclusion episode and not to have it end on a cliffhanger as it has done with the end of the recent series 4. Ideally though, the show should continue.
I am very dissapointed. My husband and I recently got into the show and bought all the other season on dvd to catch up, now that we are caught up they cancel it!! How the heck are we suppose to know whats up with Earl jrs dad?!?!!? I hope that some other network really picks this up there is a fanbase for the show. If you don’t like the show don’t hate on it, just don’t watch it!!
Real reason My Name Is Earl got cancelled is because NBC & 20TH Century Fox know now after all the evidence that was provided by Mark Gable’s world renown lawyers, that garcia really did rip off Mark Gable’s script Karma. And NBC & 20TH Century Fox are embarrassed to be associated with garcia. cause greg is full of bleep. ask greg to explain Karma by Mark Gable. Mark Gable wrote My name is Earl, read the lawsuit. what kind of man accepts an award for work he didn’t create? pats on the back, limo’s, champagne, hamptons mansions, red carpet events… Read more »
this sucks. the show has had it’s ups and downs but overall it has been a good show with a very interesting concept. i hope someone will pick it up but some of the cast will not take a pay cut now to go to TBS or cable. they should at least be given the opportunity to wrap up the show in a two hour finale.
Good riddance, this show has sucked for a long while. Randy and Catalina should have been let go a long time ago, they add nothing. Alyssa Milano was a complete waste on the show. They should have made it based on Earl, Crab Man and Joy.
\I thought Ralph was a riot as well!
I’m really sad that earl is ending. It’s one of my favorite shows. I at least want them to film an ending to wrap everything up.
Not since the days of “Hello Larry” has this network been so poorly managed. Cancellations of shows with solid fan bases like “Earl” and “Medium”!? Killing promising, engaging shows like “Life”?! Locking out the 10pm time slot for Leno!? “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here”!!!!??? I would guarantee you that if Mr. Zucker and his management miscreants had run this company back in NBC’s hey day, we would not have the likes of “Seinfeld”, “Cheers” or “Hill Street Blues”, to name a few. They would have cancelled them in their first years in favor of more cheap, brainless,… Read more »
Heck yes I’m disappointed. The last seven or eight eps of the season recaptured what MNIE lost with the Alyssa Milano eps (Thank God that ended…I like Alyssa Milano but that arc was long in the tooth!). I am sad this show is gone – much more upset than I would’ve admitted to before watching the last set of shows from this season. Hart Jason Lee and the rest of the cast – SUPER talented group of people. Will be missed on Thursdays.
I am so bummed about this show’s cancellation. Is there a petition somewhere to save it??? I’m not done with those crazy Camdenites!
I heard the bad news on the radio the other day and found it hard to believe. I truly hope the show continues in some way, some form. I think we all need a little Earl in our lives.
I only watch two television shows and I watch them religiously. My name is earl has been my favorite show since the first show of the first season. I had hoped to keep watching it till Little Dodge and Earl Jr. were grown. The possibilities of making up for ones past wrongs is endless for someone of Earl’s age and background. There could be several list items per day for his entire life leading up to the first episode. I had no idea that the show was in danger of being cut. I do not plan on watching anything else… Read more »
the reason my name is earl never got an outpouring of suport from the fans to save the show is because no one ever thought the show was in trouble unlike chuck which we saw signs of the show being in trouble for a renewal oh and earl is ten times better then any other show on nbc thursday night especially the office and parks and recreation which i cant believe anyone watches because they are stupid esecially steve carell who is the least funny person on the planet
The SOB’s at NBC can burn in hell! Earl is one of the greatest show ever to be put on TV. I’ve watched the first and second season over thirty times and I still watch them and laugh. I always find something new when I watch them over. I was so furious when I heard about the cancellation. I would rather watch earl a million times over instead of that stupid Parks and Recreation. I would never watch that ignorant sketch show!!! I guess this is the end for Earl. So I guess I’ll Keep wishin for one more season.… Read more »
!!CHRIS ASKS WHY NBC IS RUINING THURSDAY NIGHTS. BRING BACK EARL!
This is the worst decision since “New Coca Cola”. This country needs an Earl-a-thon. Let’s save Earl. I am holding my breath from this point until they reinstate Ea,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,