NBC PICKS UP NEW HIT COMEDY 'MY NAME IS EARL' FOR FULL-SEASON ORDER -- MUST BE GOOD KARMA

NBC PICKS UP NEW HIT COMEDY 'MY NAME IS EARL' FOR FULL-SEASON ORDER -- MUST BE GOOD KARMA

BURBANK - October 4, 2005 - NBC has picked up its new comedy hit "My Name Is Earl" (Tuesdays, 9-9:30 p.m. ET), for the rest of the season by adding nine additional episodes. This makes "My Name is Earl" the first new Fall comedy this season to be granted a full season order of 22 episodes, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment.

"We are extremely encouraged by the response to 'Earl' from the audience and critics alike," said Reilly. "Greg Garcia and the producers are doing a great job creatively and Jason Lee's Earl is a truly original TV comedy character that we hope will be around for years to come."

Through the first two weeks of the 2005-06 television season, "My Name Is Earl" is television's #1 half-hour comedy in adults 18-49, having improved the time period by 61 percent versus NBC's average for the 2004-05 season. "Earl" has averaged a 5.8 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49 and 13.3 million viewers overall.

Jason Lee ("Almost Famous," "Chasing Amy") stars as Earl, a man who has taken one too many wrong turns on the highway of life. However, a twist of fate turns his life into a tailspin of life-renewing events. Earl wins a small lottery, and, after an epiphany, he is determined to transform his good fortune into a life-changing event as he sets out to right all the wrongs from his past.

Seconds after winning the lottery, he is hit by a car and while unconscious; the winning lottery ticket blows away. While in the hospital, Earl discovers karma -- and in hope of a better life, he sets out to correct every bad thing he's ever done.

Joining Earl along his quest to cleanse his karma are a few dim-witted friends: hapless brother Randy (Ethan Suplee, "Cold Mountain") and the very sexy Catalina (Nadine Velazquez, "The Bold and the Beautiful"). Even Darnell (Eddie Steeples, "Torque"), the owner of the Crab Shack where Earl drinks beer, offers his support. But it's Earl's ex-wife Joy (Jamie Pressly, "Not Another Teen Movie") who won't lift a finger to help unless there's something in it for her.

Created and written by Greg Garcia ("Yes, Dear), "My Name Is Earl" is executive-produced by Garcia and Marc Buckland ("Medical Investigation," "Ed"). The series is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television and Amigos de Garcia.