I’m rather pleases that Mr Earl Hickey is now out of prison. Man, I was beginning to feel cooped up in there. Anyway, now our Karmic hero is out of the clink, we can get on with some good ol’ wholesome redneckery! On Thursday, to celebrate Earl’s release, we get a nice double bill of My Name Is Earl (Channel 4, Thursday, 19 June, 10pm) which are ominously titled ‘Bad Earl’ and ‘I Won’t Die With a Little Help From My Friends, part 1′. Now, I’m not sure with they don’t have a double bill next week, but I’m sure all will become clear… and I sure can’t be bothered finding out.

Anyway, the double header starts with Earl’s struggle to re-adjust to life on the outside. That in itself wouldn’t be very funny… so thankfully, our hero decides that his good deeds are not getting him anywhere so it’s back to his bad old ways. Of course, karma won’t let him get away with it as she’s a cruel, cruel mistress… and we already know that the second episode is called I Won’t Die With a Little Help From My Friends…

… the second header sees Earl trying to make amends all over again. Naturally, there’s feelgood moments and all that jive, but the best bit of the second show is, while Earl is KO, his mind creates an alternative sitcom world where he is married to his chum Billie. Vintage Earl.