I'm not going to say that on tonight's episode Earl became a snitch or a canary or a fink, rat, stoolie, stool pigeon, informant or a narc, but only because I'm worried that if I squeal I'll get shived when I'm on the chow line. Whatever the job the warden assigned to him tonight (if I were to say what it was I would say it had to do with making the head of the black gang, Jamal, and the head of the Latino one, Hector, stop fighting), he did a fantastic job, by the second commercial break he had Jamal and Hector kissing each other.

Okay, so Earl had nothing to do with the kissing, the warden's notion of putting them into solitary together so they would stop hating each other worked perfectly, sort of. Once the two fell in love, it did result in more fighting between the gangs because that was the only way Jamal and Hector could ever hold each other. But they did stop hating one another.

I actually thought the episode tonight was really very well done. The notion of the relationship between Jamal and Hector and Earl's instantly being okay with it was not only funny, but it showed how far Earl has come on his journey (I'm thinking of the Gay Kenny episode). The early Earl would not have accepted the relationship so quickly and would have had something snarky to say in the voiceover if not directly to the inmates.

Even the Randy story tonight was great. He was, in fact, moderately smarter than last week. Sure, he tried to taste one of those pine tree car fresheners, but he also figured out that to get to see Earl he should try to become a prison guard entirely on his own. By the end of the episode, Randy was completely successful and even had the highest score on the prison guard exam (a whole 55 percent!). It was a much more balanced look at Randy as a character than we have seen recently, which I think is a move in the right direction for the series.

If I were to have one complaint about tonight it's that the half-hour flew by really, really quickly. I don't think that my sense of this is because it was just so funny and engrossing that I didn't notice the time pass, I just feel like little happened. Yes, Earl was able to accomplish the task set before him, but I don't know that there were enough stumbling blocks along the way. Some of this may be a result of last week's double-episode allowing the show to take twice as long do to the same thing, but some of it seemed to be that the problem simply wasn't that deep.

Fine, fine, one more complaint and then I'll be done. What is up with NBC lying (fine, "grossly misleading" may be more accurate) to the viewers? This problem seemed to start last season and has continued into this one. After tonight's episode finishes the voiceover lady for the network comes on and says "stay tuned for more My Name is Earl." Like a fool I hope that there will be a tag to the episode. Instead, after a bunch of commercials what we get are the credits rolling in really tiny print across the bottom of the screen and promos for the rest of the night's comedy. And, if that wasn't bad enough, in the promo for The Office Kelly says to Ryan she's pregnant! Do I need to know that right then? Can't I watch the episode and hear Kelly drop that bombshell? If that statement appears later tonight on the show as some sort of huge surprise "whoa" moment I'm going to be incredibly perturbed.

Deep breath. Deep breath. Before I go, here are some particularly funny moments from tonight's episode:

• Darnell showing Joy how bad Randy's reaction time is by slapping him in ultra-slow motion.
• Virtually everything Earl did to get Jamal and Hector back together, particularly spraying Jamal down with water so Hector would notice him all hot and sweaty-looking and then giving Jamal an push-up ice cream pop so Hector would notice him licking it.
• I told myself I wouldn't give a quote here, that tonight there would be no funny quotes, that the show itself was hysterical all on its own, but then Earl and Jamal had a talk. Jamal was telling Earl how to say goodbye to Hector on Jamal's behalf. Jamal's exact words: "He broke my heart, Earl. I could never trust him again. Tell him it's over, and then kiss him hard for me, squeeze his nipples, he likes that."

I don't quite like it that way, but why don't you come over to The TV and Film Guy's Reviews and give me a good clicking.

Comments

I'm setting the over/under at the last episode of Nov. sweeps as to when Earl gets enough 'time off certificates' to be released from prison.

Disappointed that there was no Catalina in the ep. Based on the way the 2nd half of season 2 went I'm a bit surprised they even brought her back for S3 - although you could have made the same statement after season 1.

Rishi | Oct 4, 2007 11:08:24 PM | #

---

I'm sad.

This episode was very well done, very campy, yet still edgy in the topic of choice, and in the end, makes out with a fuzzy/funny moment for the audience to enjoy.

Randy is finally growing up, even though he still has that whole oral fixation thing to get past. At least he's stopped trying to sniff and feel up everything.

Jamal and Hector's lines were a bit stiff, but that only added to the humor. "Aw man, I was stuck with the spoon the last time too!" "Better hope the guy your fighting brings soup."

It was nice to see Craig Nelson (The District, The Incredibles, Coach) and Larry Joe Campbell (According to Jim) on sitcoms again. Nelson rocking out was HILARIOUS.

And that brings an end to an episode I almost wanted to be super-sized (the 40 minute deal, not the hour deal).

I'm sad.

pakopako | Oct 5, 2007 8:02:18 AM | #

---

Josh, you are right, NBC goes overboard with promos that either give away a whole show or, conversely, completely mislead as to what might happen. (I'm barely hanging on as an ER viewer, and I can no longer bear to watch its exaggerated promos).

Wow, Craig Nelson looks ANCIENT!

I've always been a fan of Earl's list... because if nothing else, it reminds us of just how rotten a guy he used to be. But for the first time I can recall, it didn't seem to come into play at all in an episode.

As long as they keep up this prison storyline, they ought to find ways to keep him after his pursuit of the list (even though prison has made it that much more difficult for him to try to make amends).

We need more Catalina. As in, lots.

Goph | Oct 5, 2007 1:00:56 PM | #

---

The Office commercial promised a big surprise ending, which didn't happen. At least Kelly wasn't really pregnant.

Billiam | Oct 8, 2007 4:46:27 PM | #

---

Josh, you hit on one of my biggest pet peeves with the networks, namely their own spoilers within their promos. We can just about count on already knowing the funniest or most startling line of all of our favorite shows beforehand. It just goes to show what a bunch of morons they are: In their pitiful efforts to lure new viewers, they give a giant slap in the face to their most loyal fans.

Besides saving time zooming past ads, avoiding these promos is another reason I find myself recording shows for watching later, even when I am home.

Just more useless noise | Oct 10, 2007 10:57:10 AM | #

---

Post a comment

Name:
Email Address:	optional
URL:	optional
Comments: