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.
This is BS i freaking love my name is earl why would you bird ass ******** cancel it. Bring on Season 5
My boyfriend just finished watching season 4 and he was absolutely devastated to hear that there will be no season 5. My Name is Earl is such an entertaining, light-hearted, laugh out loud comedy, that will be hard to match! The show should be continued!!!
In my honest opion Cancelling My name is Earl, was in fact a bad idea because many many people enjoyed the show it was a brillient show for people to sit down and watch. I dont see why it got cancelled at its earily days at a cliffhanger, its a real shame the Actors and the Actresses to stared in the show they were brillient! and i hope the TV companies will bring the show back at season 4 continuing or the beginning of season 5, but as i said Please bring the show back to life! P.s: Everyone single… Read more »
My Name Is Earl is one of the funniest shows ever. In these days of a slow econemy and world troulbles a show like Earl helps us forget the bad while we laugh at the crazy characters of the show. I will miss My Name Is Earl very much.
They need to bring back Earl. I watched it with my family every time a new episode came on. Im extremely up set that TBS would end a entire show the way they did. I think I figured out who the dad of earl jr is though. Its RANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!! How much of a shocker would that be. HAHAHAHAHA
Not to get off subject, but Keith I think you need to go back and rewatch . Because earl Jr is the second child, which is believed to be Crabman’s boy. Dodge is the one the cliffhanger , leads you to believe, he’s earl’s boy. but none the less , (HEY) networks one you needs to take off your blindfold, and see that it’s not what you like it’s what the consumer wants.
Bring back the sitcom. It is the only one worth watching that you can truly laugh out loud to. Why did NBC cancel it anyway? Was it because it was too popular for people to want to watch any of the other dumb shows they put on? Or is it the same noticeable situation everyone finds themselves in, the Everyone likes it so we need to get rid of it Situation? My entire family and Friends list all say BRING BACK EARL!!! P.S. To all the actors and actresses who starred in the sitcom, no matter what happens you still… Read more »
I found season 1 & 2 dvds on sale, it was $25 for the pair. Although I never saw an episode, I remember a buddy of mine once told me it was a well written, funny show, that left you with a good feeling. I’ve been burning through these discs! The characters are all very like-able, the stories VERY entertaining. I just google’d “Wiki” and “my name is earl” .. I was sad to see there were only 4 seasons. I plan on picking up the two remaining seasons on DVD to complete my collection. I find that these are… Read more »
Season 5 should start out finding out who Dodges father is. It would be Earls son. It has to be….. the show should last till the whole list is completed. Im a stay home mom who has time to watch tv and there is nothing on. Ive found out Earl is on 6 times a day but they are late and one on at noon and its the same ones on that you seen yesterday or few hours ago if there were new season i could see it on a few channels
Someone needs to pick up My Name Is Earl for a fifth season and soon, to leave a show that good with a cliffhang is wrong. TBS has no idea what they are missing out on, i for one have not missed a singel episod of My Name Is earl. I know Earl would go for at least two more season.
The network is run by village idiots, which proves they have no idea what they are doing.
Earl had at least 300 items on his list, 4 seasons does not even put a dent in it. A 5th and a 6th season could easily happen if, only the networks would open their eyes. I for one would not miss some of these stupid reality shows. Earl, Randy, Joy,and Crabman will not go down without a fight from the fans.
After just viewing season four, it was shocking to learn that there will not be a season 5. I have to say this is indeed one of the best shows on cable. It is well written and acted. Some of the stories far fetched yet entertaining. Loved the Danny Glover cameo on the one episode. I am hoping another network picks this up soon. looking forward to seeing how they develop the story line on Joy and Crabman.
TBS can suck it.
Of all their shows listed on their website, my name is earl is the best.
Burn CBS burn. 99% of the votes currently equaling over 9,100 clearly identify their bad decision
Farscape,earl,terminator Sarah conner chronicles,firefly.life on mars could have went to another season in the future,I got so sick of shows I find,love and follow I quit paying $110.00 a month ,I will never pay for cable again! Protest paying for shows that are 3 minutes short of being infomercials take back our television we pay for.cancel!and tell them your tired of having to dvr 33 minutes of an hour long show!
all i can say is you are morons i wached every show on tv and then went and bouth them as soon as thay were put in the stors
NBC sucks for cutting “My name is Earl”, I just got done watching the fourth season and I thought it was hilarious , why would anybody want to get rid of this show, I think that it is one of the best shows on tv. I think that the people at NBC are a bunch of morons for doing this, they will regret it when the show is on another network . I’m so upset I really want to know who Earl jr’s dad is. PLEASE BRING THE SHOW BACK!