My Name Is Earl: Completely and Officially Over
June 11, 2009 by Chandra
The bad, sad news dropped earlier today. Basic-cable network TBS, which currently syndicates My Name Is Earl, has declined to pick up the comedy following its cancellation at NBC last month. That means the sitcom is now officially finished. *sniffle*
Blame the latest disastrous and final development in the comedy’s struggle to survive on failed negotiations. Apparently, Turner, which owns TBS (and also TNT), and the sitcom’s production studio, Twentieth Century Fox TV, were unable to reach an agreement that would have allowed production of new episodes to continue.
The culprit? Money, as always. It seems one or both sides couldn’t come up with a financial strategy that worked for everyone involved.
In fact, to keep the single-camera comedy going for a fifth season would have required chopping $1 million from the weekly budget. That, in turn, would have required cutting members of the series’ cast and writing team, in addition to reducing production expenses. And since ABC and Fox both already passed on the chance to acquire the show, there was nowhere left to turn for a last-minute bailout.
Said Twentieth Century Fox TV in an official statement:
While we had hoped to find a way to produce additional episodes for TBS, in the final analysis we simply could not make the economics work without seriously undermining the artistic integrity of the series. As none of us, [series creator Greg Garcia] included, want the show to go out on anything but a high note, we regret that we must put to rest any speculation that Earl will continue. We are grateful to everyone at TBS for their enthusiasm for the series and wish to offer our heartfelt thanks to the cast and crew of My Name is Earl for their incredible work.
And there you have it. So long, My Name Is Earl. Karma was mostly good to you while your four-season run lasted.
