by Mof Gimmers

Is it me, or is there quite a lot of good comedy on TV at the minute? I’d like to believe those dirty rotten scoundrels at various TV stations are trying to cheer us up in the post Christmas funk, but alas, they’re probably not.

That all said, My Name is Earl is really cheering up miseryguts like me up all over Britain.

Friday saw Earl Hickey, wonderfully played by Jason Lee, in yet another Karma Jam (Knife me in the eye for that turn of phrase). Earl had indeed burned a popular hotdog stand to the ground for $200, and of course, he needs to fix it, cosmic style.

Of course, it goes with many a hitch, but that is what makes this programme so very very funny. Check the scenario. Earl goes to get a job in a massive hotdog chain (who initially paid the $200 to torch the stand) by deception. Then he gets all his pals in. By deception. They then try to steal a photocopier. Which traps them in a tiny room. Implausible? Yes. The way they deal with it, funny? You bet.

This is a rare comedy. Hilarious, clever, well acted and killer plot with endless possibilities. Even better than this, it is something that (god forbid) if you miss an episode or two, you can get straight back into it. Jason Lee also has the best moustache on TV.

You see, Lee’s performance in My Name is Earl is, to my mind a career best. Before you Kevin Smith fans start sticking farts through my letterbox, I know what he done in the past. For those who don’t, Jason Lee has been a pro skateboarder (a lot of people mention this, but do we know if he was any good? I wouldn’t mind knowing if you want to mail in). He has also been in loads of films. Including Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Almost Famous, Vanilla Sky, and threw a voice at the Incredibles. And I still think that he’s at his best playing Earl.

I seriously advise all you out there who haven’t seen …Earl to watch it. Prepare yourself to mop yourself up after it has finished. Oh, and next week, you’ll have The Green Wing too. Ace.

Channel 4 microsite