My Name Is Earl: Season One

Erstwhile California skateboarder/bad boy Jason Lee, a discovery of filmmaker Kevin Smith, has matured into a terrific comic actor, and his talents have a fine showcase in this frequently hysterical sitcom, which derives much of its humor from scabrously funny depictions of low-class losers and trailer-park trash. Lee plays Earl Hickey, who loses a winning lottery ticket when he's hit by a speeding car and has an epiphany while recovering in the hospital. Convinced that the law of karma is behind his persistent bad luck, Earl—after regaining both the ticket and his health—seeks redemption by making a list of his transgressions and attempting to redress each one. Of course, this strategy seldom works out the way he expects, and he winds up adding as many items to the list as he crosses off. Ethan Suplee plays his dim-witted brother Randy, who along with waitress Catalina (Nadine Velazquez) accompanies Earl on his often-quixotic missions. Jaime Pressly is hilarious as Earl's scheming ex-wife Joy, and Eddie Steeples makes a good foil for her as current husband Darnell (their wedding is disrupted by Earl, who accidentally breaks Joy's nose, in one of the better episodes). A breakout success of the 2005-06 broadcast season, My Name Is Earl surprised viewers and critics alike with its cheerfully zany blend of lowbrow comedy and social satire, and nearly every one of the first season's 24 shows is a winner. DVD extras include a bonus episode titled “Bad Karma,” audio commentaries on select episodes, deleted scenes, bloopers, and a behind-the-scenes featurette. Highly recommended. (E. Hulse)