When I sat down to watch My Name Is Earl (Channel 4, Thursday, May 15, 10pm) last night, I foolishly decided that I didn’t really like the serial-style aspect of the new series. Surely, the whole point of ‘the list’ is that each show is different, short, sassy episodes with new and tumbling oddball comedic scenarios and… then it started and I was promptly aware of what a dumb-ass I’d been.

Like no other show that I can think of right now, My Name Is Earl lampoons other shows in a way that is both inventive, smart and funny. The past two episodes have been based around infamous American show, COPS (“bad boys, bad boys, whatchu gonna do…”). Through the eyes of another show, Earl & Co get to show the more ridiculous side of their life. Instead of simply being an exercise in tomfoolery, the show manages to cram in a stupid amount of gags as well as fooling anyone not paying attention that they are indeed watching COPS. The ad breaks and copycat camera style and graphics back that.

So, tuning in last night, I’d completely forgotten why the show had gone all COPS, only for the show to serve a timely reminder at the close. Randy had tuned in and now that he’s a prison guard (thanks to his missing Earl for his clink-stay), the cons don’t take the rise out of him. Of course, this means further japes in forthcoming episodes… and that can only be a good thing.

One gag in last night’s show had me creased up all ends which involved a heat camera. Let’s just say that the red patches informed us where all the blood and steam was during a faux-sexy moment. If you saw it, you may well be tittering about Randy’s surprising red spot right now. I know I am.

Aside from realising how horribly middle-aged the tail-end of that last sentence sounded, My Name Is Earl continues to be a stupendous programme. Somehow, it’s managed to create some depth in amongst the Raising Arizona hick hee-haw, whilst retaining the laughs and the gut-busting foolery. I usually go off shows pretty sharpish, but My Name Is Earl is still ticking all the boxes.