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« My Name Is Earl
Episode Recap: "Randy in Charge (Of Our Days and Our Nights)"
So instead of a one-hour special, this week we're treated to some tried-and-true to-be-continued fare. There's a reason why comedies have historically been kept to a half hour while dramas get the hour-long treatment — those are the formats in which each work best. This episode's storyline probably had enough substance to hold up in an extended form (unlike last week's), but isn't it more fun to have a little suspense?
The prison warden (Craig T. Nelson) was up to it again tonight, offering Earl a five-weeks-off certificate in exchange for organizing a "scared straight" event at a local school. Of course, Earl's up for the challenge and begins holding inmate auditions. But when he hurts Randy's pride trying to protect him, his bumbling brother begins to make things difficult by exacting revenge in an effort to prove he's top dog.
I say good for Randy. He's definitely been playing it a little smarter recently — maybe due to Joy's coaching earlier this season — and he more than held his own in a battle of wills with Earl. But he probably picked the wrong time to let his pride get injured. We're talking prison, where people are stealing his weapons regularly and doing questionable (to say the least) things with his hand when he tries to feed them. Earl was in the right.
This whole situation highlights my favorite aspect of Randy in Season 3 — he's become much more assertive, yet he expectedly uses his new confidence in the goofiest ways possible. For instance, late in the episode, he decided to take some prisoners for ice cream. Concerned that they might mess up his order, he talks tough, saying, "Don't screw me on this." Also, while torturing Earl by making the cafeteria worker serve him unusual meals, he says, "Kosher meal. Enjoy your Muslim food."
Meanwhile, Joy's more than fed up carrying her past-due pregnancy, and I'm right there with her. It'll be nice to see her back to normal. And only Joy would come up with some of the labor-inducing ideas she had. Eating peppers, angry trampoline jumping, and furiously screaming, "Get out, get out, get out, get out!" But I knew the birth wasn't happening when blasting "Magic Carpet Ride" didn't work. If Steppenwolf won't convince a baby to emerge into the world, I don't know what will.
There's no convincing necessary, though, to get me tuned in next week. Will Randy and Earl make amends? I have no doubt they will, but of course, especially in comedy, it's the journey and not the destination that counts. I'm definitely excited for more Michael Rapaport, whose escape was surprising to me. And will Joy be truly happy when the baby's finally born and given to its parents, or will she have trouble letting go and try to pull some sort of power play? There are as many humorous possibilities as there are hours to spend waiting for next week. I'm looking forward to some old-fashioned to-be-continued anticipation.
More highlights, anyone?
• For his audition, a rather sizable prisoner says, "Do you like to cuddle? I like to cuddle." Earl immediately hires him.
• Joy doesn't like the idea of having a birth scar to match her "prom scar."
• Darnell scoffs at the Apollo 11 mission. "Alleged moon landing." Who doesn't love a conspiracy nut?
• The warden calls the prisoner escape "not the kind of thing that's going to get me laid at home."
• When the warden sends Randy to get Earl, Randy says, "The principal wants to see you again."
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Nov 9, 2007 12:20 AM
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Great episode! I also wondered why this episode was a half hour but last weeks was an hour. Last weeks just dragged.
My favorite part was when the warden wanted Earl to fit a green message into his scared straight show and Earl said he couldn't do it it would ruin the show. I wonder if that wasn't the writers way of saying the didn't want to do the green thing, but had to.
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Nov 9, 2007 1:05 AM
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This episode was soooo much better than last weeks. I really like Craig T. Nelson on this show. He is hilarious. Makes me miss Dauber and Luther. 
Oh, and how do you get PBS if you're preggers? 
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Nov 9, 2007 1:16 AM
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I enjoyed this episode so much more than last week's. I was actually surprised when the half hour was up. I thought they were doing a little gag in the middle of the show when they showed "to be continued" and that there was still time left. Ya gotta love it when that happens.
I do like Randy being more assertive, but I have to admit, I really do prefer his simple, sweet side. Of course, going with prisoners to get ice cream certainly exemplified that part of him.
Darnell was funny as usual. His true intelligence amidst his current surroundings always cracks me up.
Loved the "Freeze Frame" at the end.
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Nov 9, 2007 10:01 AM
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LOL! I loved this weeks episode so much better than last week!
I loved when Randy gave Earl the full regular meal and then just slapped it out of his hands. LMAO. I definitely laughed out really loud at that.
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Nov 9, 2007 10:53 AM
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How about at the very beginning, on the sign for the prison:
"If you were a rapist, you'd be home now."
It's those subtle touches that make this show great.
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Nov 9, 2007 10:54 AM
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jayhawk, freezeframe at the end cracked me up! I, too, thought there was going to be more Earl. If they could drag out last weeks ep, I thought for sure this hilarious one would continue!
I also thought it was funny when Randy was introducing the new inmate...a former police officer who then molested a little boy.
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Nov 9, 2007 11:17 AM
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I also thought it was funny when Randy was introducing the new inmate...a former police officer who then molested a little boy.
I had totally forgotten about that. That guy will not even get three strikes. He is out!
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Nov 9, 2007 11:25 AM
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Good episode. Joy with her self imposed inducing methods. Randy in the cafeteria. THe warden just being there. Earl's auditions.
Only one thing missing: Catalina.
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Nov 9, 2007 11:33 AM
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Randy: "Did I just say landlord again?" Ha!!
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Nov 9, 2007 11:55 AM
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"BJ and the Bear."
Without doubt, that was the funniest line on this or any show all season.
Great episode. Craig T. is a hoot-and-a-half. Loved Joy wedged in the waterbed too.
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Nov 9, 2007 1:55 PM
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Loved the swipe at NBC's green week when the warden tells Earl to fit a green theme into the scared straight show, and Earl explains that wouldn't make sense in the context of the rest of the show.
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Nov 9, 2007 3:48 PM
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I've got to agree with kandice31 and yanksb4life on the little bit of irony the writers pulled in Earl's "refusal" to include a "green" message because it didn't fit in the context of the show.
Besides, it's not like they haven't tackled the "green" message before, in a much more effective way.
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Nov 9, 2007 5:29 PM
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