MY NAME IS EARL: PILOT {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The pilot in this comedy series about Earl Hickey, a jobless ne'er-do-well who, after a lifetime of bad deeds, tries to reverse bad karma by changing his ways. This episode begins with Earl purchasing a lotto scratcher at the convenience store. Earl discusses how his scruffy looks also reflect his behavior since he steals anything he can. Flashing back to 1999, he recalls drunkenly making out with a bar floozy named Joy and getting married to her later that night in Las Vegas. In his inebriated state, he didn't realize that she was six months pregnant. A few years later, Joy was pregnant again, telling Earl they'd name the baby Earl Jr. However, Earl realized he wasn't the father when the baby turned out to be black. In 2005, Earl is still married to his cheating wife and raising two kids that aren't his. Also living with them is Earl's dimwitted brother Randy. The three spend most of their days drinking beers at Ernie's Crab Shack, run by Darnell "Crabman" Turner.
Back in the present, Earl scratches his lotto ticket to see that he has won $100,000. However, while celebrating, he gets hit by a car, causing him to lose the ticket and end up in the hospital. While Earl is doped up, Joy has him sign divorce papers and decides to marry Crabman, the actual father of Earl Jr. Distraught while in traction, Earl is taught the "secret of life" by watching TV and hearing talk show host Carson Daly state that the world runs on karma. Checking into a motel with Randy and befriending the maid Catalina, Earl decides that if he starts doing good things in his life then karma will pay him back favorably. Thus, Earl makes a list of every bad thing he has done in his life, determined to rectify the past misdeeds. Then, Earl finds his lost lotto ticket and is quickly $100,000 richer. First, Earl decides to make amends with Kenny James, a boy he picked on in elementary school. Tracking him down, Earl finds that Kenny is lonely, lacking a special someone in his life.
Earl enlists his "daytime hooker" friend Patty to help, but Kenny turns her down. Eventually, Randy realizes that Kenny is gay. The somewhat homophobic Earl decides he must stick with his plan and help Kenny regardless. Meanwhile, Joy is furious at Earl for both shacking up with Catalina and for not giving her half of his lottery winnings. Earl sits down with the frightened Kenny, trying to figure out why he doesn't have a man in his life. Kenny reveals that he is still closeted. In addition, he has no idea where to meet gay men in town. Thus, Earl decides to suck it up and take Kenny to a gay bar. There, Kenny thanks Earl for giving him confidence in his lifestyle, telling him that he has fully made amends. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: August 31, 2005 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:18
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:86870
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 2005-2009
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Greg Garcia … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Marc Buckland … Co-Executive Producer, Director
- Henry Lange … Producer
- Jason Lee … Producer
- Kim Hamberg … Associate Producer
- Danny Lux … Music by
- Jason Lee … Cast, Earl Hickey
- Ethan Suplee … Cast, Randy Hickey
- Jaime Pressly … Cast, Joy
- Nadine Velazquez … Cast, Catalina
- Eddie Steeples … Cast, Darnell Turner
- Leo Fitzpatrick … Cast, Sonny
- Gregg Binkley … Cast, Kenny James
- Dale Dickey … Cast, Patty
- Carson Daly … Cast, Himself
- Trace Adkins … Cast, Himself
- Laura Gardner … Cast, Kenny's Mom
- Frank Collison … Cast, Kenny's Dad
- Noah Crawford … Cast, Young Earl
- Andy Pessoa … Cast, Young Kenny
- Patrick McCarthy … Cast, Teacher
- William Belli … Cast, D.J.
- Deborah Cresswell … Cast, Wanda
- Rod Pearson … Cast, Policeman
- Louis T. Moyle … Cast, Dodge
- Trey Carlisle … Cast, Earl Jr.