My Name Is Earl
11-08-2005
by Aaron Dicer

My Name is Earl,
NBC, Tue. 9PM

What's In a Name?

I think I’ll let Bono from U2 get us started today.

"It's a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the Universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma."

Of course Bono was not speaking directly of NBC’s newest sitcom, “My Name is Earl”, but he might as well have been. (As an aside, I wonder what Bono watches on TV.  I find it hard to envision him sitting down to enjoy his weekly dose of “The Biggest Loser” or “Malcolm in the Middle”, probably more of a “Lost” type guy, don’t you think?)  The difference between Grace and Karma, in addition to keeping Bono on his knees, is exactly what should drive the discussion of one of the funniest new shows of the season.

“My Name is Earl” stars Jason Lee as the aforementioned Earl, who would likely win the literal version of the show “The Biggest Loser”. He has no morals, no money, no job, and no family (well, a divorced wife, two kids that aren’t his, and a stoner brother, but you see my point.) After winning a hundred grand or so in the lottery, he finds himself at a crossroad, at which point he is promptly run over.  In the hospital, he hears Carson Daly talking about Karma (the religious belief that when you do good, good will come back to you, and when you do bad, well, watch out for oncoming traffic.)  He decides then and there that this Karma thing is the answer and makes a list of every wrong thing he has done, so that, little by little, he can convince Karma that he deserves his lotto money back.  Karma obliges by the end of the first episode and Earl commits himself to using the money to make right his wrongs.

Let’s get one thing straight right away, this show is hilarious.  Jason Lee is perfect in this role and the laughs come often, even without a laugh track to clue me in to when I’m “supposed” to laugh.  My personal opinion is that “Earl” (along with FOX’s “Arrested Development”) is helping to usher in a new type of sitcom, one that is funny and smart, and doesn’t play down to the audience.  This is a very tightly written and skillfully acted show (with Jaime Pressly as the other standout performance as Earl’s ex-wife Joy) and an example of what a sitcom should be.  There is some inappropriate content to muddle through (a little foul language and the typical misunderstanding of what sex is all about.) but all in all, from a quality standpoint, it’s a great little show.

Even when you look at its message, “Earl” actually turns out to be one of the most positive shows on television (This week’s episode was a beautiful look at what it means to “love our enemies” and “be kind to those who persecute us”, though I don’t remember the part in the Bible about letting a little girl throw a knife into your leg, so that your ex-wife can win a mother-daughter beauty pageant, but I’ve been known to skim so I might have just missed it).   Seriously, what could be better than a show that week in, week out encourages people to be good to each other and right their wrongs?  Well, maybe one that does it with the right motive and foundation.  The problem really is found in that one little word, “Karma”, the idea that what we do will come back to us in kind.  It’s just not true.  A simple look around for personal examples should suffice; someone you know who lived a mostly good life who developed cancer, the friend that got a “five finger discount” on merchandise through high school and never got caught.  Life is full of examples that this world and Karma aren’t the best of friends. 

So if not Karma, what?  The answer is Grace.  That list of messed up stuff you’ve done, you don’t have to undo it, God will tear the whole thing up, burn it to ashes, and then drown it in the ocean, if you just ask.  That’s Grace.  God pays the workers that show up at 8am the same as the workers that show up an hour before close.  That’s Grace.  God says I love the Earl’s of the world, no effort needed.  That’s Grace.  And the good things you do are a response to the good things He’s done, for you.  “But Dice, doesn’t that Bible of yours also say something about reaping and sowing?”  Good point, and as Paul says, it’s not like we should keep on messing up to prove how cool grace is. (obvious paraphrase).  In the end it’s about being good for the love of God, not to earn some cosmic brownie points, so that your life will be better.

Back to Bono who, for one, is glad that God isn’t always fair.

“I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge," says Bono. "It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity."

Sorry Earl, according to Bono (and a little thing called the Bible), there really is no need to make a list, God’s already made one, and His has nothing to do with Karma and everything to do with Grace.

Message – B-
Content – B-
Quality – A-
Overall – 84%

(Questions, comments, opinions, ideas? Email me at dice@cmcentral.com)

You can read a summary of Bono’s interview here: http://www.worldmag.com/displayarticle.cfm?id=10892