After winning $100,000 on a scratch-off lottery ticket, and losing it just as fast after he's struck by a car, Earl Hickey has something of an epiphany, causing him to embark on a life changing journey to make amends for his past. Randy, Earl's rather dim-witted brother, is his faithful companion and travels with him throughout his quest to correct his transgressions...

My Name is Earl stars Jason Lee as Earl Hickey, a man whose life has been full of poor choices and mistakes. Earl's life takes a dramatic turn when he discovers that he is the holder of a winning scratch-off lottery ticket. But, before he can collect his winnings, Earl is hit by a car and the ticket blows away as he lies unconscious in the street. While he lays in his hospital bed recovering, Earl has a karmic epiphany - to make up for all the terrible things he's done in the past. Earl composes a list of every misdeed he was a part of and sets out to right every single wrong he's ever done unto others.

Joining Earl in his pursuit to cleanse his karma are a few friends; Randy (Ethan Suplee), Earl's rather dim-witted, well meaning brother; the sexy Catalina (Nadine Velazquez), a jumping stripper and cleaner at the motel where Earl and Randy reside; Darnell (Eddie Steeples), the owner of the Crab Shack where Earl drinks beer; and Earl’s ex-wife Joy (Jaime Pressly), nail technician and trailer-trash queen who is now married to Darnell and won’t lift a finger to help unless there is something in it for her.

Season Two of My Name is Earl opens with the episode Very Bad Things, in which Joy steals a delivery van from the local store after they refuse to refund her when she realises that the ridiculously huge TV set she's bought won't fit in her trailer park home. Roping in Earl and Randy's help to repaint the van, Joy thinks she's managed to conceal her crime. That is until someone takes a look in the back and discovers they've accidentally kidnapped one of the store's employees.

This episode helps set up an ongoing background story arc for this season, in which Joy is awaiting trial for this crime - discussing, with her deaf lawyer, (Marlee Matlin - What the Bleep Do We Know?!, The West Wing) the best way to stay out of prison.

In addition to the regular cast, this season also features a diverse range of guest appearances, including Christian Slater, who plays a stoner-turned-environmentalist whom Earl and Randy robbed years ago; Roseanne Barr, as Millie, the woman Earl tricked into thinking he was God; and Burt Reynolds, who stars as Richard Chubby, owner of the local strip club.

Among the other guest stars are Jenny McCarthy (Playboy Playmate turned actress), who plays a sexy gym instructor; Amy Sedaris (Strangers with Candy), as an obsessive cat lover; director John Waters, who pops up as an eccentric funeral director; Judy Greer (The Wedding Planner), plays a bearded lady; and John Leguizamo (ER), stars as Diego the hostage-taker.

Each episode is twenty minutes long and usually sees Earl attempting to cross another misdeed from his list. In this collection he is successful in crossing off number 12 “made a lady think I was God”, number 26 “robbed a stoner blind” and number 101 “stole a girl’s identity” to name but a few. However, Earl does hit a few hurdles along the way when he is kidnapped by gunmen, refused application for a credit card and embroiled in Joy’s ongoing court case.

Highlights in this season include the following episodes:

Sticks and Stones: Earl attempts to cross off number 91 on his list (Made fun of Maggie Lester for having a moustache). But on tracking down Maggie he discovers that she's got even more facial hair than she had at school, and is now working for a carnival as "The Amazing Bearded Woman". Not only that, but she seems to be living in a street populated by other carnival sideshows.

Larceny Of A Kitty Cat: In order to cross number 56 off his list, Earl must return a missing prize winning cat to its rightful owner. And while doing so, Earl is also playing cupid to Randy and the cat lady, who grow an attraction for one another.

Made A Lady Think I Was God, sees Earl tackle number 12 on the list (Made a lady think I was God). Millie Banks was the manager of Earl's trailer park and a real pain in the behind, until Earl realised that her hearing aid picked up his walkie talkie signal. Earl pretends to be the voice of God in order to stop her causing trouble, but it all proves too much for her and she moves away. But what Earl discovers, when he finally catches up with Millie, is not what he was expecting.

South of the Border: This two-part episode sees Catalina exported after she is stopped for speeding. As it's Earl's fault, he adds her to his list and then sets about making things right. They finally reach Catalina's village, where Randy has decided that he is going to tell her how much he loves her. The three trials at the end of this episode are the highlight.

Guess Who's Coming Out of Joy: With Joy now pregnant again, in a bid to make the judge sympathetic to her cause in her upcoming court case, Earl reflects on the birth of Joy's previous two children - neither of which are his. If for nothing else this episode is worth watching to see Beau Bridges (Stargate: SG-1's General Landry) as Earl's dad, throwing his son's hamsters out of an upstairs window in order to teach him a lesson.

Harassed a Reporter: Next up on Earl's list is Number 29 (Harassed a reporter), which means that Earl and Randy must try and help the struggling career of a reporter who they tormented years ago. This episode is worth watching for the finished news story alone.

Two Balls, Two Strikes: After Richard Chubby accidentally blows his own brains out, Little Chubby arrives in town to take over the family business. This is the perfect opportunity for Earl to cross Little Chubby off his list. Years ago as an act of revenge, Earl kicked Little Chubby in the nether regions, damaging his tackle, and now he has the chance to make it up to him.

While the above episodes stand out as particularly enjoyable, to be honest there isn't a bad story here. All have their own merits, and you'll find at least a handful of belly laughs in every single one of them.

Extras include audio commentaries on eight episodes; loads of Deleted Scenes, Karma Take 2 Blooper Reel (9 min 28 sec of outtakes - highlights include real translations for some of Catalina's Spanish lines and the fact that Ethan Suplee appears to really have a bird phobia); The Stoner Files: Robbed a Stoner Blind: From Start to Finish (38 min 41 sec featurette that examines the entire process of putting an episode together); Six web cam segments with Earl, Randy, Joy, Catalina, Darnell, and Earl & Randy; and My Name is Earl as a Telenovela (short spoof Spanish Telenovela trailer).

This 23-episode collection is well worth £35 of anyone's money. Buy it now and cross it off your list of must own DVDs.

9

Darren Rea