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.
Why did this show get cancelled anyway? It’s a great show. They better at least make an hour-long tv movie to tie up the loose ends. It seems like there could be a ton more episodes… “the list” provides endless opportunities.
BRING EARL BACK!!!
No f-in way im not gonna be the broken record and say the netflix speech againg but same here. and people do love this show, who wouldnt buy a My Name Is Earl T-shirt or a hat even i know i would, you people a crazy for not keeping earl on the air. and further more it hurts my feelings.
i’m glad 2 c i’m not the only 1 who’s so MAD n LOVED earl so much, i was watching earl on netflix n had no idea that it was cancelled n was looking 2 c if season 5 had come out yet n was heart broken when i found out while looking 4 season 5. it is my favorite tv show is there any hope @ all that it might get picked up by someone, dose anyone no why it got the ax. i don’t buy the ratings had webt down bs.
out of interest i picked up my name is earl season 1 and loved it so f*cking much. so i continued to collect the box sets and got so into it its a masterpeice in the form of a hillbilly. im tired of picking up dead shows tht shouldin b (sic) its propper ******** init blad.. same thing david lynch felt with twin peaks ull regret cancelling dis. its not ready too leave!
p.s
my album in store next june will include a tracks with griminal and N-Dubz
straight 4rm underground
They need to bring back Earl!
WTF!!!!! What a screwy end
wtf this is b.s. man, how the hell can they leave us at earl being dodges father and then say to be continued, then no season 5, this is bull crap. Im so dissapointed! My name is earl is my favourite sitcom, and now its gone 🙁
dear god tbs get this did show nbc why ther not winning any rating wars getting rid off ther best show
Bring back Earl. This is crap i want to know what happends how can you just end a show on a to be continued……….
All I can say is that I’m really upset the way Season 4 ended, and no one’s picking up for a Season 5. For all the reality crap that’s out there, it disgusts me that the one sitcom I actually enjoyed isn’t anywhere to be found.
Those network “big wigs” need to get their heads out of their … well, you know.
No way. They have to at least have a 5th season….too much has been left hangin’. I think this show has more than one more season in it, personally. Come on, fat cats….this is a show that people love!!! Can’t you at least see the profit in that, if nothing else??! I’m not a fan of modern television shows, yet I adore “My Name Is Earl”….if I do, there’s gotta be millions more out there. At least give it a trial ‘sum up’ run and see what your viewership is….i’d settle for a half season replacement compared to nothing!
i agree. I just got done watching it all on netflix to and I say right now if it went on a new season id be glued to the t.v. and that station every airing. BRING EARL BACK! *raised eyebrow*
Man this can’t happen! I love this show I just got done watching all four seasons on netflix and fell in love with this show. I wonder who JRs real father is?
I cant believe this happened, Netflix gives me the light to finally get to watch all the earl episodes i want, and then, on season 4 episode: 27 they leave the best ‘to be continued…’ and it really wont be, WTF man, i wanna sue NBC for failure to follow policy, and actually letting them create the season finally instead and causing pain to all of us who need earl!
I am mad!I want more!