Jeff Korbelik: 'Earl' saves comedy in search for karma
The sitcom is making a comeback.
This year’s crop of new ones — “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS), “Out of Practice” (CBS), “Kitchen Confidential” (Fox) — may make people finally stop talking about the good old days of “Seinfeld,” “Frasier” and “Sex and the City.”
The best of the bunch is “My Name is Earl,” a laugh-out-loud, politically incorrect comedy featuring a mustached Jason Lee as a lowlife who’s on a mission to right the wrongs from his past.
Why is it so good?
To start with, it’s unpredictable. The good ones — “Seinfeld” and “Arrested Development” — always are. Sure, you know Lee is going to find redemption at the end of each episode, but getting there is a roller coaster ride.
Secondly, “Earl” is a one-camera comedy, meaning it’s not shot in a studio in front of an audience. There isn’t an annoying laugh track and the giggling you hear is you.
And, finally, the creators and executive producers have assembled a cast that rivals the one on “Arrested.” The sitcom also stars Jamie Pressly as Earl’s ex-wife, Ethan Suplee as his deadbeat brother, and Nadine Velazquez as the maid the two brothers befriend.
At the forefront is Lee, who made his initial splash in the business in Kevin Smith movies such as “Mallrats,” “Chasing Amy” “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and “Dogma.”
His portrayal of Earl is understated, which makes the character quite endearing.
The comedy isn’t for everybody. Some may find it offensive. The pilot lampooned race, homosexuality, prostitution and Carson Daly.
I take it with a grain of salt. It’s not meant to be taken seriously. I’m thrilled to have something to laugh at again.
“Arrested Development” and Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO) have been carrying the torch during this downtime. “Earl” may be the one to ignite a resurgence in the genre.
The following are short reviews of Tuesday night’s other new shows. I will look at Wednesday’s new fare next week.
“Bones” (Fox, 7 p.m.): First off, it’s just strange seeing David Boreanaz as a suit-wearing FBI agent after watching him for five seasons kill demons as the vampire Angel.
In this procedural drama he plays a supporting role to Emily Deschanel, who plays a forensic anthropologist with an uncanny ability to solve crimes by studying people’s bones.
Yes, it’s a bit of a stretch for me as well. I wasn’t thrilled by the pilot, but I liked the characters.
Plus, Boreanaz has a fan base, which may be enough to keep this on the air for awhile. (1½ stars)
“Supernatural” (The WB, 8 p.m.): The WB has paired two of its youthful stars — Jared Padalecki (“Gilmore Girls”) and Jensen Ackles (“Smallville”) — in a drama that should appease those who miss Buffy and Angel.
I actually like this one. The duo are brothers who are tracking down a demon who killed their mother and Padalecki’s girlfriend. Along the way, they help people being terrorized by the unexplained.
Padalecki and Ackles are good together. The stories so far have been spooky enough to make a heart skip a beat. Plus, there’s a cool car (a '67 black Chevy Impala) and a classic rock soundtrack. I’m in. (3 stars)
“Commander in Chief” (ABC, 8 p.m.): I think I’m in the minority on this one. Commercials for it mention how critics are calling it the “best new drama.” Apparently, they saw a different “Chief” than I did.
It has potential, but so far it’s a bit contrived and overly dramatic and pales in comparison to the “other” White House drama on NBC.
I do like Geena Davis and Kyle Secor, who plays Davis’ husband on the show. So I’m holding out hope this one will get better. (2 stars)
“Close to Home” (CBS, 9 p.m.): This one, which premieres Tuesday, comes from hit-maker Jerry Bruckheimer, but it’s not one of his better efforts.
Jennifer Finnigan (“Committed”) stars as a prosecutor (and new mom) who specializes in cases affecting those in the suburbs, hence the name.
This is just another crime-of-the-week drama with not much original going for it. Makes you wonder why CBS didn’t give “Judging Amy” another season. (1 star)
Around the dial
* Fox is the first to wield the ax.
The network canceled Chris O’Donnell’s dramedy “Head Cases” after just two showings.
O’Donnell played a lawyer whose career was derailed after suffering a nervous breakdown. Fellow lawyer Adam Goldberg was his therapy “buddy.”
Fox will air “Nanny 911” in its place on Wednesdays until the baseball playoffs start.
For the record, I wasn’t too hip on “Head Cases.” There was no chemistry between O’Donnell and Goldberg, making it painful to watch.
* Geraldo Rivera will be back on network TV in November.
The Fox News correspondent will host a weekday half-hour show on the network. “Geraldo at Large” will feature field reports, investigative journalism and interviews.
It will replace the recycled “A Current Affair,” which was canceled after only eight months.
* Good news for fans of “The West Wing.”
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Stockard Channing said she will appear on the NBC drama this season in her role as Abigail Bartlet.
She left “Wing” for the new CBS sitcom “Out of Practice.”
n In addition to “Close to Home,” three other new shows debut this week. They are:
“Freddie” (ABC), 7:30 p.m. Wednesday — Bachelor Freddie Prinze Jr. is a successful chef who takes in his sister, sister-in-law, niece and grandmother in this comedy.
“Related” (The WB), 8 p.m. Wednesday — Jennifer Esposito, Kiele Sanchez, Lizzy Caplan and Laura Breckenridge star as four sisters in this dramedy.
“Hot Properties” (ABC), 8:30 p.m. Friday — The sitcom features Gail O’Grady (“NYPD Blue”) as one of four female real estate agents who try to balance their careers with their personal lives.
n Quick hits: HBO will not give a second season to Lisa Kudrow’s comedy “Comeback” ... TNT (channel 38) will air tonight’s episode of Don Johnson’s “Just Legal” at 9 p.m., right after it airs on the The WB.
Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.
“My Name is Earl”
8 p.m. Tuesday
NBC (channel 6)
4 stars
This year’s crop of new ones — “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS), “Out of Practice” (CBS), “Kitchen Confidential” (Fox) — may make people finally stop talking about the good old days of “Seinfeld,” “Frasier” and “Sex and the City.”
The best of the bunch is “My Name is Earl,” a laugh-out-loud, politically incorrect comedy featuring a mustached Jason Lee as a lowlife who’s on a mission to right the wrongs from his past.
Why is it so good?
To start with, it’s unpredictable. The good ones — “Seinfeld” and “Arrested Development” — always are. Sure, you know Lee is going to find redemption at the end of each episode, but getting there is a roller coaster ride.
Secondly, “Earl” is a one-camera comedy, meaning it’s not shot in a studio in front of an audience. There isn’t an annoying laugh track and the giggling you hear is you.
And, finally, the creators and executive producers have assembled a cast that rivals the one on “Arrested.” The sitcom also stars Jamie Pressly as Earl’s ex-wife, Ethan Suplee as his deadbeat brother, and Nadine Velazquez as the maid the two brothers befriend.
At the forefront is Lee, who made his initial splash in the business in Kevin Smith movies such as “Mallrats,” “Chasing Amy” “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and “Dogma.”
His portrayal of Earl is understated, which makes the character quite endearing.
The comedy isn’t for everybody. Some may find it offensive. The pilot lampooned race, homosexuality, prostitution and Carson Daly.
I take it with a grain of salt. It’s not meant to be taken seriously. I’m thrilled to have something to laugh at again.
“Arrested Development” and Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO) have been carrying the torch during this downtime. “Earl” may be the one to ignite a resurgence in the genre.
The following are short reviews of Tuesday night’s other new shows. I will look at Wednesday’s new fare next week.
“Bones” (Fox, 7 p.m.): First off, it’s just strange seeing David Boreanaz as a suit-wearing FBI agent after watching him for five seasons kill demons as the vampire Angel.
In this procedural drama he plays a supporting role to Emily Deschanel, who plays a forensic anthropologist with an uncanny ability to solve crimes by studying people’s bones.
Yes, it’s a bit of a stretch for me as well. I wasn’t thrilled by the pilot, but I liked the characters.
Plus, Boreanaz has a fan base, which may be enough to keep this on the air for awhile. (1½ stars)
“Supernatural” (The WB, 8 p.m.): The WB has paired two of its youthful stars — Jared Padalecki (“Gilmore Girls”) and Jensen Ackles (“Smallville”) — in a drama that should appease those who miss Buffy and Angel.
I actually like this one. The duo are brothers who are tracking down a demon who killed their mother and Padalecki’s girlfriend. Along the way, they help people being terrorized by the unexplained.
Padalecki and Ackles are good together. The stories so far have been spooky enough to make a heart skip a beat. Plus, there’s a cool car (a '67 black Chevy Impala) and a classic rock soundtrack. I’m in. (3 stars)
“Commander in Chief” (ABC, 8 p.m.): I think I’m in the minority on this one. Commercials for it mention how critics are calling it the “best new drama.” Apparently, they saw a different “Chief” than I did.
It has potential, but so far it’s a bit contrived and overly dramatic and pales in comparison to the “other” White House drama on NBC.
I do like Geena Davis and Kyle Secor, who plays Davis’ husband on the show. So I’m holding out hope this one will get better. (2 stars)
“Close to Home” (CBS, 9 p.m.): This one, which premieres Tuesday, comes from hit-maker Jerry Bruckheimer, but it’s not one of his better efforts.
Jennifer Finnigan (“Committed”) stars as a prosecutor (and new mom) who specializes in cases affecting those in the suburbs, hence the name.
This is just another crime-of-the-week drama with not much original going for it. Makes you wonder why CBS didn’t give “Judging Amy” another season. (1 star)
Around the dial
* Fox is the first to wield the ax.
The network canceled Chris O’Donnell’s dramedy “Head Cases” after just two showings.
O’Donnell played a lawyer whose career was derailed after suffering a nervous breakdown. Fellow lawyer Adam Goldberg was his therapy “buddy.”
Fox will air “Nanny 911” in its place on Wednesdays until the baseball playoffs start.
For the record, I wasn’t too hip on “Head Cases.” There was no chemistry between O’Donnell and Goldberg, making it painful to watch.
* Geraldo Rivera will be back on network TV in November.
The Fox News correspondent will host a weekday half-hour show on the network. “Geraldo at Large” will feature field reports, investigative journalism and interviews.
It will replace the recycled “A Current Affair,” which was canceled after only eight months.
* Good news for fans of “The West Wing.”
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Stockard Channing said she will appear on the NBC drama this season in her role as Abigail Bartlet.
She left “Wing” for the new CBS sitcom “Out of Practice.”
n In addition to “Close to Home,” three other new shows debut this week. They are:
“Freddie” (ABC), 7:30 p.m. Wednesday — Bachelor Freddie Prinze Jr. is a successful chef who takes in his sister, sister-in-law, niece and grandmother in this comedy.
“Related” (The WB), 8 p.m. Wednesday — Jennifer Esposito, Kiele Sanchez, Lizzy Caplan and Laura Breckenridge star as four sisters in this dramedy.
“Hot Properties” (ABC), 8:30 p.m. Friday — The sitcom features Gail O’Grady (“NYPD Blue”) as one of four female real estate agents who try to balance their careers with their personal lives.
n Quick hits: HBO will not give a second season to Lisa Kudrow’s comedy “Comeback” ... TNT (channel 38) will air tonight’s episode of Don Johnson’s “Just Legal” at 9 p.m., right after it airs on the The WB.
Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.
“My Name is Earl”
8 p.m. Tuesday
NBC (channel 6)
4 stars
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