My Name Is Earl: Season Four, The Final Season

To quote the Dixie Chicks, “Goodbye, Earl.” The never-to-be-resolved cliffhanger aside, Earl's well that ends well for this scruffy series whose loopy sense of the absurd will be missed. What distinguished My Name Is Earl was its unique comic universe, outrageous situations, and offbeat dialogue. The show's cancellation was a real shame because, after the woeful detours of season three (Earl and Randy in prison, Earl in a coma), the 2008-09 fourth season was a welcome return to its roots, as Earl (Jason Lee) once again took on the business of righting past wrongs and crossing them off his list. In the funny and genuinely moving opening episode, Earl agrees to produce an action movie starring a now-grown Make-a-Wish child (guest star Seth Green). Among other noteworthy episodes in the 27 collected here is a two-parter in which a tabloid TV show (hosted by Geraldo Rivera) reveals the fate of long-missing Crab Shack owner, Ernie Belcher. Another story arc finds Earl's ex-wife Joy (Jaime Pressly) trying to fit in among suburban trophy wives after she and her second husband, Darnell (Eddie Steeples), are forced to adopt new identities in the witness protection program. DVD/Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes, a gag reel, and—best of all—a segment in which cast and crew members answer actual fan mail. The latest set of My Name Is Earl is not exactly must-own TV, but it should find a welcome home in larger collections. Recommended, overall. (D. Liebenson)