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.
Bring back Earl!!! In Australia they played it on a ridiculous time slot so I’ve bought all the DVDs was so shattered when it just ended!! It is a one of a kind show SAVE EARL!!!
I loved this show it’s the best they should 100% bring it back
when i found out it was cancelled i freaked out !! you cant just cancel a real good show like that BRING OUT A SEASON 5 PLEASE !!!
another great show cancelled. NBC you suck. the peacock…..
I think that NBC is just f***ed up. One show that will go down in history on their network just gone……1 thing that i have to say is that they should bring back Earl or i hope Fox takes it cause im mad…I just finished with the 4th one and i want to know what happens next….at least let them have one more season come on.
Damn i love this show and now when I read this it just breakes my heart!!!
Earl rocks!!! We’ve seen them all, yet we continue to rent them and watch them repeatedly. In the words of Randy, “How dare you…”, “Bring them back…”, “we should have them everyday”.
I always thought NBC sucked! So I never saw the show until it went into syndication. It quickly became my favorite program, and I usually watch three or four episodes per day (TBS & FOX). Hopefully someone will pick it up. With all the junk on network TV these days, I’m really amazed Earl’s gone. I think the show puts Seinfeld and Cheers to shame, and they were on forever.
Earl is the best show we’ve ever seen. we never missed a single episode. The show should be allowed to continue until at least earl finishes all list items.
I just got finished with season 4 from Netflix… now to find out there is no season 5!!!!
Freak! At least give us an hour wrap up special or something!
You do this all too often, I find a good series and bam… gone…arggg.
I really don’t understand who runs thing @ nbc and really don’t care, but “Dumb and Dumber” comes to mind. Bring Earl back or I swear I’ll never anything else on your network again. Please would someone out hear us and have the B#lls to bring the show back Pleeeeeze
There are a lot of unanswered questions still remaining. It would be a pity if the season 5 is not aired. But to the producer I would like to suggest that get the useless episodes like COPS and inside probe kind of stuffs out and just concentrate on your main motto, the list. And then just make it till the end.
I really like this show a lot i watched this show ever since it came out in 2005, ive seen almost all the seasons I would like to see season 5 but it is canceled. We should have this show back on the air.
I think it sucks that you guys canceled it. I want to know who Earl Jr.’s daddy is!!! Please let the show go on. :'(
We love Earl we watch reruns everyday I think u people suck at nbc and tbs u will show reruns but dont want to run new ones keep ur head up people us ky folks love ya!!!!