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« My Name Is Earl
Episode Recap: "I Won't Die With A Little Help From My Friends"
Well, it's been a while, but now that all the poster boards have long been collecting dust, a new episode of Earl has finally been unleashed and it did not disappoint. After NBC President and CEO Jeff Zucker got the ball rolling with a quick recap and a good-natured joke or two about the writers' strike, we were back in Camden County.
Earl and Billie were, of course, right where we left them unconscious in the street. As Randy commandeers an ambulance in order to rush him to the hospital, Earl dreams of starring in a sitcom since TV has always been a source of solace. This was an excellent way to kick off Earl's return. I think the onscreen dichotomy between the actual episode and a farcical send-up of classic TV really drove the point home that these writers are right on the cutting edge. Also, it was in this imagined show that the big buzz surrounding tonight's installment played out. Paris Hilton, fresh off of her latest box office flop (The Hottie and the Nottie), made a small cameo. It was admirable that she was able to poke fun at herself, but I was very thankful that she had one recurring line and only had to play herself. The real joke for me, though, was that it took head trauma and the power of suggestion while in a coma for Earl to think of her.
The more enjoyable and necessary cameo was performed by the fantastic Jane Lynch as Sissy, the mentally unstable truck driver. Not only was she hilarious, but the situation with her character provoked some of the best lines of the episode. As she kept the blissfully unaware Earl as a love slave, Joy tried to convince her that they were going to take him for a perm and to make him a little bigger downstairs ("We'll pimp your ride, don't worry"). In his best man-child shtick, the oblivious Randy followed this up by saying, "Earl with a perm? Not with those cheekbones."
As usual, Randy, Joy, Darnell, and Catalina were in top form. However, it would be a disservice to not mention a few of this episode's minor characters who ended up bringing a lot to the table. Earl's doctor was a standout, being sure to mention all of Earl's symptoms (including an involuntary orgasm) and making such wild assertions as "I'm Indian. We're the new Jews." The scenes with the young faith healer and his father were also very much up to snuff.
After seeing this episode, I'd say it's a safe bet that we have a lot of good things to look forward to in the coming weeks not that I ever doubted it. The last scene placed karma definitively in Earl's corner, so maybe we can look forward to some old-fashioned list-tending. That and the Billie storyline should keep us primed, and some of the best comedic actors on television won't hurt either (famous socialites aside).
Mentioning all of the high points from this hour-long gem in limited space is a pretty tall order. I'll trust all of you to touch on anything I miss. Here we go:
Joy on Sissy: "That crazy bitch tried to constipate the marriage!"
Randy pleading with God: "Don't take him, Your Majesty."
Darnell after a defibrillator shock to his brain: "Actually, it's not a bad buzz."
Randy on Earl's injuries: "Well, at least they're internal."
In church, Joy makes a reference to the "Father, Son, and The Friendly Ghost."
Darnell's shady mention of making propaganda films in the third world.
Joy tries to use her femininity to bring Earl out of the coma and says "C'mon, you're a vegetable, not a fruit!"
A short John Henson cameo. He's still my favorite Talk Soup host.
"Let me see you limp." "Okay, but you're only going to look, right?"
For more My Name Is Earl, check out our Online Video Guide.
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Apr 4, 2008 2:07 AM
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High point: Joy calling the young faith healer "little pecker" 
Or something like that!!!
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Apr 4, 2008 7:38 AM
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I must have missed John Henson. Who was he? I'll have to rewatch.
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Apr 4, 2008 9:29 AM
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Except for the fact that Joel McHale rules - excellent recap.
The scene with Joy and the juvenile Faith Healer arguing just proved that there isn't a funnier female on television today than Jamie Pressly. (Although Nadine Velazquez is starting to become a force of nature of her own. How about Supporting Actress in a comedy for her Emmy voters?)
They say comedy on television is dying - it really isn't on "Earl".
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Apr 4, 2008 9:37 AM
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Great episode and Welcome Back Earl! How I have missed those crazy kids from Camden county. Everyone was really top notch last night. My favorite moment was when Randy lit the firecrackers on Earl's chest to try and get him to wake up.
My least favorite moment was the cameo of a certain no talent, skanky, worthless non-celebrity. Why would they do that to a great show like Earl? Complete waste of time and film. But it did give me time for a bathroom break!
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Apr 4, 2008 9:48 AM
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Frankly, I found this episode overblown and generally unfunny. Sad to say that I was really, really disappointed. After it was over, I realized I'd only laughed maybe once which is well below the norm for Earl.
I WAS thrilled to see Jane Lynch. That woman is excellent and always elevates any show she's on. Oddly, only about an hour before I'd been thinking of "Cindy Lightballoon" and wondering why she isn't on television more. Great casting choice there.
The only truly laugh-out-loud line for me was "We'll pimp your ride". Dear heaven, that term will never have the same meaning for me again.
The sitcom-in-a-sitcom really fell flat IMHO. The writers didn't seem "cutting-edge" or original, more like they were borrowing from Life on Mars. And the hideous stunt casting of Paris Hilton was anemic, pointless, and unfunny. Equally unfunny was the faith healer story. Boooring.
Here's hoping that Earl will actually be funny next time. The writers have done absolutely brilliant things in the past, and I have faith they'd do it again.
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Apr 4, 2008 9:49 AM
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John Henson was the news reporter in the scene where the faith healer watches the story about Earl and Joy robbing someone.
And Joel McHale is fantastic. I never miss The Soup but classic Henson Talk Soups take the prize for my money. And hey, at least I'm not trying to push Hal Sparks, haha.
One thing I wanted to mention: Jason Lee made a great appearance playing Kevin Bacon in episode 11 of my favorite video series on the 'net, Yacht Rock. Check it out here(beware of a little adult language).
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Apr 4, 2008 10:00 AM
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Gave you time for a bathroom break KateDFW?? Really??
Hmm, it was a 2 second cameo (granted, it happened a couple of times) and she popped in unexpectedly and quickly each time. You either can run to the bathroom and pee INCREDIBLY fast, or you missed a large portion of the scenes in and around the 2 second cameos of Miss Hilton.
Was it really worth it to miss other scenes of the show 4 different times to go on a bathroom break just to avoid seeing Paris on screen??
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Apr 4, 2008 1:19 PM
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OK so maybe I exaggerated just a bit but my point is that I will do anything not to watch her on screen. But I am really fast! 
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Apr 4, 2008 2:18 PM
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You listed my favorite line of the night! "C'mon, you're a vegetable, not a fruit!"
I wasn't sure if people would have caught that because it happened so fast.
I was glad that Paris's (yuck) part was so short, but I have to admit, I think I threw up in my mouth a little bit everytime she was on the screen. 
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Apr 4, 2008 3:01 PM
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The episode was so-so but I loved every one of Joy's scenes. She's a hoot! The "friendly ghost" line cracked me up!
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Apr 4, 2008 3:10 PM
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Jeff Zucker got on my last nerve, especially when he popped off and asked everyone to watch online, hopefully within the first 17 days. I went without decent TV for months because of that jack@ss and his cronies, so I was NOT amused by his attempts to be humorous.
The show, though, was enjoyable. Joy needs to cut Carmalita some slack, though; otherwise, that chick is gonna put a world of hurt on Joy. I agree with those who single out Joy and the trucker.
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Apr 4, 2008 3:20 PM
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Overall, a pretty funny return for Earl & the gang. I was sick of Paris repeating "That's hot" every time she appeared but c'est la vie. But Joy's line about Sissy "constipating" her relationship with Earl? Hi-lar-ee-us!!
One thing does bug me about the episode. We saw Earl's parents in the flashback at the beginning and we know there's been a reconciliation of sorts between the two and their sons thanks to Earl's list. So why weren't they at the hospital at some point? They didn't necessarily have to have lines but it's strange they weren't glimpsed at their comatose son's side.
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Apr 4, 2008 5:32 PM
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Hmmm,
Well, I'm in a smaller minority than I expected. I found this return to be so far below the standard I've come to expect from this show. Not only did I *NOT* find it funny, I was bored. I absolutely hated this outing. I usually love Jane Lynch and found her talent wasted. The only smile this episode got from me was Earl's VO saying "Randy wasn't going to make that mistake again." and Randy drives off in the ambulance. After that I was reading a book, keeping half an eye on the show and waiting for the Supernatural rerun to start.
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Apr 4, 2008 9:08 PM
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We waited how many months for that? I don't know, maybe it's me but I usually like my comedies to be, oh what's the word, yeah, funny, not depressing. Earl's in an indefinite coma - absolutely hilarious!
Very weak episode. Earl is the star, the funniest one on the show, and you have him in a coma for an hour!? And no, the show in a show does not count to me since it was all so hokey, trying too hard to be make fun of cloassic sitcoms.
Vegetable not a fruit was pretty much the only funny line of the night.
When do 30 Rock and Office come back so I can get excited about Thursdays again.
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Apr 5, 2008 1:54 AM
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