In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« My Name Is Earl
Episode Recap: "Midnight Bun"
Tonight's continuation episode was well worth the wait, pulling out all the stops in the laugh department. What better way to get the ball rolling than having that tongue-in-cheek, action-packed recap bring us back up to speed? It kind of reminded me of all those internet movie trailer mash-ups that are so plentiful these days, but of course, with much better editing. What followed was one of the most rapid-fire Earl episodes I've seen in a while, hitting all the right nuances of the plot, cramming it with humor, and not wasting a second.
If I had an MVP award to hand out, it would undoubtedly go to Ethan Suplee . It's interesting that Randy, the simpleton of the bunch, somehow consistently emerges as the most multi-faceted character of the show. Last week we saw his vindictive side, and this time he showed a sad, introspective side. I couldn't help finding the crying, I'm-not-good-at-anything scene quite touching (albeit in a funny, this-is-a-comedy-show kind of way). I'm glad that Earl didn't try to sugarcoat anything for him; rather, he largely let Randy figure out his own self-worth. And it's true that Earl wouldn't be where he is if it weren't for Randy (no, not prison &mdash you know what I mean).
Oh, snap! Joy and Darnell were on top of their game tonight as well. Especially during the hospital scenes, there were so many great one-liners it was actually a little hard to keep up. After enjoying her massage and "crudi-tray," it was fun to watch the ever-tough Joy with her flippant, let's-get-this-over attitude toward childbirth. She fits well with Darnell, who's calm and collected even after accidentally getting dosed up with oxytocin. Well, at first anyway.
Rounding things out nicely was the sideline story of Catalina babysitting Joy's kids. For a second there, I thought they were just going to harp on her dreadful childhood memories the whole time. However, we ended up with some of her funniest moments this season. While opting to not learn the children's names (calling them "white one" and "black one"), it was a hoot watching her beat them at children's games, rubbing it in their faces the entire time.
While both main storylines were handled expertly, they can really only be justifiably summed up in a highlights fashion &mdash definitely a classic how-about-when-that-happened kind of episode. The future's looking good for Joy, now that she can resume causing mischief unfettered. But the big questions remain: how much longer will Earl be in the big house and what will he need to do to get out? For now, it looks like man does not remain free solely by the grace of good karma.
But now, on to some of those highlights:
• In the faux-serious intro recap, Joy is described as someone "who'll stop at nothing to get her sister's surrogated, biracial baby out of her womb." Also, the intro hit its tension-filled climax with footage of an atomic blast.
• Darnell: "Without illicit sex, shame is just shame."
• Apparently, Joy's a Nancy Grace fan.
• After the police dog runs off, Randy decides to try picking up Frank's scent on his own and becomes disgusted when smelling his dirty clothes.
• Joy on giving birth: "All I need is gravity, a bucket, and a wet nap."
• Having won musical chairs, Catalina yells, "Suck on that, white one!"
• Darnell once performed a Caesarian on his cat, Miss Kitty. "I was nine; I did the best I could."
• Randy asserts that not only did Frank not trip on the rock that always gets him, but he "walked right over it like the Fonz."
See more Earl in our Online Video Guide.
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Nov 16, 2007 12:14 AM
|
|
I loved this episode. The opening sequence, had me rolling. Im still laughing over "who'll stop at nothing to get her sister's surrogated, biracial baby out of her womb."
|
|
Nov 16, 2007 5:24 AM
|
Happy Birthday!
As I was sitting in my igloo, preparing a masterpiece of fine cuisine for my wife: Icee the Snowlady, I heard the telltale sounds of Earl.
Except this wasn't my normal Earl intro. What was going on here?
I walked back into the cooling room and sat on the ice bunker and rewound the DVR. (thankfully, even The North Pole is DVR-friendly.) The intro of Earl reminded me of watching an old episode of Mannix, except much cooler, and I like things that are cooler.
But the best part of the show for me was the baby. It must have been a joke, because that baby they delivered was HUGE! Icee and I laughed, and then I laughed again when Randy was crying. Icee then promptly threatened me with a lit Zippo lighter for being mean and unChristmas-like. I quickly apologized and hoped that Santa wasn't currently checking his list twice.
It's been a running joke on the series, but I love the stories from Catalina and her village. They are the true scene stealers on the show. They need more about Catalina and Randy's sham of a marriage. Or just more of Catalina and her village.
Just a shame the show won't run a full season because of the strike. But, as a struggling writer of carrot-themed books (which, oddly, no one seems interested in buying) I hope the writers get what they deserve and get back to work ASAP.
Have a frosty day everyone!
Your TV pal,
Fr0sty
|
|
Nov 16, 2007 6:26 AM
|
What a great follow-up to last week's funny episode.
It was nice to see Earl on the outside for a bit again. My favorite episodes are with the whole gang together; and this one had Ray Ray to boot! I got what I hoped for from last week and got "sweet Randy" back, but then I had to feel bad for him during his moment of self-awareness. He really was the MVP last night. Even Earl had trouble "keeping up with [Randy's] emotions."
Some of my favorite moments:
Joy's joy at the maternity room: "I swear it it's like I died and went to Chili's."
Crabman having contractions & worrying about giving birth to pooptuplets.
Both Crabman and Ray Ray apparently having the same unfortunate horoscope for the day.
And I loved, loved the moot vs mute debate. That is a pet peeve (I know, sad huh?) of mine and I hear or see the incorrect 'mute' every now & again.
Sucks that it is not on next week, but I hope everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving!
|
|
Nov 16, 2007 8:24 AM
|
|
I loved the voiceover in the beginning -I couldn't stop laughing. The overly dramatic voice was a very unique way of doing a "previously on," I loved when Joy thought that the wrap was a sandwich! LOL Then Catalina calling the kids "Black one" and "White one" mixed with Earl's voiceover that she had to learn the kids names! LOL
|
|
Nov 16, 2007 10:13 AM
|
|
Is "Oh snap!" an exclamation you use often Bill???
|
|
Nov 16, 2007 12:51 PM
|
It has been a long time since I have laughed this loud and often at a show! It was definitely the funniest episode in a long time.
I loved the mute/moot argument! Probably the loudest I laughed was when they were discussing the water birth and Joy said that she wanted to get in there and make the baby pop to the surface like a cork (or something like that) and Crab Man said "or like a little witch baby". It was just his delivery or something. It had me rolling.
LOVED THIS EPISODE!!
|
|
Nov 16, 2007 2:04 PM
|
|
My favorite line (wish I could remember it exactly) is when Joy was in the swanky birthing room - and said the pro-lifers might convince more people if they paid for poor folks' insurance. Very funny.
|
|
Nov 16, 2007 2:50 PM
|
"Oh, snap" is something Joy saids a lot.
I was going crazy trying to figure out what the intro reminded me of (some tv show, right?)
|
|
Nov 17, 2007 10:59 PM
|
|
|
