The once popular My Name Is Earl sitcom was cancelled last month. After four seasons on NBC, the show’s executive producer, Greg Garcia, was informed early in the morning, just 30 minutes before the news was given to the press.
While being dumped by the peacock network didn’t come as a huge surprise, Garcia wasn’t ready for the show to end. He told the LA Times, “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.”
It was largely presumed that the FOX network would take on Earl since the sitcom’s produced by a sister company, 20th Century Fox Television. Execs at the network apparently downplayed the possibility and, when the time came, decided to pass.
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Ethan Suplee, “Randy” on the show, broke the news to fans, writing, “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.”
Now, TBS is apparently interested in keeping Earl going. The cable channel has been airing the show in syndication and expressed some interest in picking up the show at the May upfronts.
Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks, told Company Town that the network likes to develop original programming but that new episodes of an established show like Earl would be an asset in drawing viewers to sample them. At the time, Koonin hadn’t been approached by 20th Century Fox but said, “Tell them to give me a call. We’re in the book.”
The discussions for 13 new episodes of Earl are still in the early stages and there are a some major hurdles that would need to be overcome before they could become a reality. The actors and writers have all been released from their contracts and they’d have to be renegotiated. Also, the show is an expensive single-camera comedy and the overall budget would be an issue as well.
On the positive side however, the show is already in syndication and more episodes would mean additional rerun money for years to come. With that in mind, the studio and participating talent will likely want to make the deal work if at all possible.
While Earl’s return is still considered a longshot, the fact that there are discussions to revive the series is certainly a good sign. What do you think?
Image courtesy 20th Century Fox.
I got season 4 on DVD for xmas (after a long wait for it to be released here) and was crushed at the ending – final season with a cliff hanger ending – thats just bad karma…..
TBS said they plan to show season 5 sometime around May or June of this year (2010). The left season 4 open with a clif hanger on perpose so that there would be a season 5. Tbs does want to keep the show so the best thing to do would be to watch the re runs on TBS monday threw friday. Lets email and write to TBS for a new season. Lets also quit watching the office. the office is one thing that is at a higher rateing then my name is earl. if TBS quit showing 3 hours of… Read more »
I would hate to see My Name is Earl be cancelled. That is one of the very few sitcoms I like anymore. They have that old school comedy that you just don’t see on television anymore. I will be very disapointed if this show gets cancelled.
BRING BACK MY NAME IS EARL ….NOW
I would be shame to let a perfect sitcom like this quit. In my opinion, it’s best one I know.I agree. Season 5 LET’S GO!!!
i hail from the uk and have watched all the seasons over and over. i think it would be sad to end it now – SEASON 5 COME ON!!-
Totally awesome show, it can’t end like this, bring on series 5
i love my name is earl. bring it back. you cant have a to be continued then cancel it. i want to know who earl jrs. real father is. BRING EARL BACK. BRING EARL BACK.
here are the best ways to retuen my name is earl to tv. watch the reruns. if the rateings are high they would want more. threaten nbc by saying you will quit watching the network. when abc family cancelled kyle xy everone stop watching abc family channel and told them why. when the networks lost ratings they brought the show back. kyle xy will have season 4 in 2010. if we did this to nbc or tbs im shure the show will come back. stop watching the office. it replased earl and if the office lost ratings on nbc and… Read more »
CANCELLING MY NAME IS EARL & MEDIUM, ARE 1 OF THE WORST DECISIONS, SOME NETWORK IDIOT EVER MADE. BRING EARL BACK!!!!!!!
at the end of season 4 it says to be continued, i wont be able to cope if i dont know what happens in the end ^[]^ LOL
Please don’t take Earl away!!! I recently started watching it and find my self laughing outloud.This is one of the few shows I watch.It is so clever and the characters are so well defined that with all the garbage reality shows out and raggedy gossip shows ie.TMZ that this hearkens back to the ”GOOD OLE DAYS” when shows had plots,endearing characters and lasted more than 3 or 4 episodes before its into reruns. Please,please keep this going.
Well I’m back and if this is what it takes to get a show back on then I guess this is what I’ll do. I along with all the EARL faithful want the show back….you guys are just like the fast food places that put something on your menu in big bold print…and in small print there are these words “for a limited time” , you guys suck…I’ll watch the show in reruns but never on NBC or TBS…I bought the DVD’s ….all four seasons and I know NBC made money but that is the last you’ll get from me….I’ll… Read more »
Pleasee Bring Back MY NAME IS EARL! Even if Just for a Season, it was one of my favorite shows, but if they could give the show a good ending that would be great.
Earl is the best show I saw the last years!