Brilliant! Just brilliant!

• Posted in On TV

Watched the latest episode of My Name is Earl last night.

Best. Episode. Ever!

The whole episode featured the residents of Camden County on the show COPS, back when Earl was still married to Joy and a petty thief. But the best parts were all the in-jokes. Last night on Earl, we got to see just about every person he’s helped or hurt, from the one-legged girl to the one-eyed mailman to Nancy the hooker. Kenny was also on the show, along with the cop Earl helped turn into a professional bowler.

I love it when a series does all the wink-wink stuff for the fans. I try to do that in my Bigtime books — just throw out little references or turns of phrases from previous books.  

What about you? What nods do you like to see in your favorite book, movie, or TV series? Inquiring minds want to know …

4 Responses to “Brilliant! Just brilliant!”

  1. Brian says:

    My Name is Earl is a very good series. I’ve enjoyed Jason Lee since his work in Kevin Smith’s movies. The problem is Thursday’s at 8:00 is a killer time slot for me, so I have only been able to catch Earl when my other shows have been in reruns.

    Besides being a good comedy, I really appreciate the fact the series is set in a rural area. Besides the WB, in the last few years series set outside of a major city have been few and far between. Of course with so many shows depending on someone being murdered in each episode, I guess it isn’t practical to have a crime drama in a small town.

    The other thing I love is that Joy lives in a trailer. Can you think of another show that had a major character living in a trailer? Almost every other series places a poor family in a huge two-story house, so if for no other reason I applaud NBC for depicting another side of life in America.

    I do love it when a series brings back minor characters as a nod to the fans. Also I love it when shows make references to pop culture. Maybe a reference to Karma Girl is forthcoming on Earl.

  2. Jennifer Estep says:

    I know what you mean about Thursdays, but for me it’s the 9 o’clock hour — when I watch “CSI” and maybe work a little in front of the TV and tape “Grey’s Anatomy” for later. I’ve also been watching reruns of “Smallville” lately, which is a lot better than I remember (I quit watching after the first season).

    The only other series I can think of that aren’t set in a metro area are “Men in Trees,” “Reba,” and parts of “Prison Break” and “Heroes.” I would add “Smallville,” but a lot of the action seems to take place in Metropolis these days.

    Oh snap! I love me some Joy. She is the funniest and most outrageous character on TV right now. Give that girl an Emmy. She deserves it. 🙂

    A reference on “Earl” would be a dream come true, or better yet “Veronica Mars.” Then, I would really know that I’d made it. 😉

    Another dream would be to have one of my characters pop up on “Heroes” or “Smallville.” Are you listening, TV producers? I’ve got some kick-ass superheroes for you …

  3. Brian says:

    I was thinking Karma Girl would be best for Earl since he is going around helping people because of karma.

    Hopefully more shows will be set in small towns. I would add Friday Night Lights as a current show not set in a city, and I don’t think I would count Heroes or Prison Break. While some of the characters on Heroes are not in a major city, they are on a course to save New York City. Prison Break isn’t set in rural America — I would just say they are passing through. Of course Lost isn’t in a major city, but it isn’t in America either — At least I don’t think it is.

    You mentioned dreams about your work — Has a comic book adaptation entered you mind? With the recent success of the Anita Blake comics and The Escapist comics that was inspired by The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay — It might be something to dream about.

  4. Jennifer Estep says:

    Ah, I see what you mean. My girl definitely believes in karma (as do I), but she doesn’t go around helping the people — quite the opposite. At least, at first. I won’t spoil the rest of it for you. 😉

    I forgot about FNL, which I’ve also really enjoyed this year. I’d like to see a show set in the South — but without the usual “Deliverance” stereotypes.

    Oh yes, I’ve also had dreams of an actual comic book based on “Karma Girl.” Or a TV series. Or even a movie. But those are just dreams at this point. I’m a tiny little newbie author in a very, very big pond. I am, essentially, a nobody.

    Right now, I just want people to like the book and to “get” it. It’s not exactly like anything else on the market. It’s a romance and chick-lit and a comic book and a spoof and a tribute all rolled into one. With lots of explosions thrown in for good measure.

    Hopefully, “Karma Girl” will sell well enough for my editor to want two more “Bigtime” books. Then maybe, I further my plan for world domination …

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