"Earl" -- justified the hype?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/21/05 at 10:57am

Reactions to NBC's new show?

Despite the admonition in the opening voice over about ignoring "stereotypes," I thought it shrewedly used many, and in the process managed to be cleverly aimed at ... well, just about everyone. It's nice to see the angst of someone besides urban Yuppies. But this root-for character is a Red State loser, who likes smokes, brews, bimbos, petty theft-and of course, fears and once beat-up on gays. Still, the jargon of the day was sent-up amusingly, "the sanctity of marriage" was particularly skewered. It remains to be seen whether the light coating of satire and 3rd act sentiment over a lot of low-life topography will sustain. It was enjoyable, but the reversing karma through-line has limitations. I'll keep watching.

Odd observations: the nebbish gay character looked eerily like Republican honcho Ed Gillespie.

Updated On: 9/21/05 at 10:57 AM

[ckeaton]

Posted: 9/21/05 at 12:48pm

To say that he once "beat up on gays" is a stretch I think. I may have missed something, though.

However, he beat up on the kid because he was a nerd. It was very clear that they didn't know he was gay until the brother found the pornography. The character is by no means a gay-basher, just a little afraid of differences.

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 9/21/05 at 12:57pm

It is a little too soon to tell, but I enjoyed the show. Jason Lee is perfect in the role.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/21/05 at 1:33pm

Ckeaton: You're quite right. But the distinction you raise supports my statement about how the show is pitched. You can identify with whatever element speaks to you. Earl beat up a geek, and in adulthood discovered the kid is still a scaredy-cat geek, and gay. If anything, geekier than ever

(Sidebar: I would've liked it better if he'd turned out to be a power broker like Ed Gillespie -- imagine that scene with Ed, rather than the one with the guy freaking out in his little house???).

So Earl bestows his karma-fix. The scene supports Earl's initial feelings: I didn't know he was a queer, but I knew there was something wrong with that little dude.

But hey, I ain't going after the show on PC grounds. PC can be tedious, and the show's lack of PC is its appeal. I'm just curious if we'll find this guy's arbitrary self-improvement journey all that captivating for week after week. The premise strikes me as limited, and potentially strained. I may be wrong. Personally, I prefer the (equally non-PC but far less contrived) THE OFFICE, which followed. Those people -- also far from the Yuppie world of FRIENDS -- are wildly comic, and very real. Different strokes for different whoevers and all that.

Updated On: 9/21/05 at 01:33 PM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 9/21/05 at 2:50pm

I am SO mad I missed that last night!

[DBillyP]

Posted: 9/21/05 at 3:39pm

I don't think it quite justified the hype, but I do think it is worth a second viewing.

I really enjoyed "How I met your Mother." Neil Patrick Harris was hysterical!

[ckeaton]

Posted: 9/21/05 at 3:45pm

Agreed.
I LOVE 'The Office', however.
Pam needs to get with that boy.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 9/21/05 at 4:11pm

How I Met Your Mother was ok, but you're right, Neil was fantastic.

I tuned in for Earl, and liked it a lot, but the real surprise for me was The Office. I watched a few episodes last year and didn't really care for it, but last night it was hilarious.