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My Name Is Earl

(Rated TV-14, Comedy, Starring Jason Lee, Jaime Pressly, Ethan Suplee, Where to watch: NBC, Syndicated, DVD, Online)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Offbeat, heartfelt comedy, but not for young kids.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Earl learns not to judge others. Others forgive him. He also quits smoking and convinces another to as well.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Some slapstick, unrealistic violence -- punching, gunfire.
  • Sex:

    Kissing, references to infidelity. Some skimpy outfits, couples shown in bed together in various states of undress (nothing at all explicit). Plenty of talk about Joy's breasts.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Fairly mild: "Damn," "hell," "bitch."
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Alcohol, smoking, sometimes portrayed in a negative light. Characters sometimes get drunk. Occasional drug references.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About My Name Is Earl

Parents need to know that this show contains jokes about sexuality, intoxication, lack of education, and religion. The program revels in its political incorrectness, using a one-legged woman and a gay character for quick laughs, but redeems its main character and itself by having him learn a lesson about not judging others.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about forgiveness. Do Earl's good deeds warrant forgiveness from his victims? Although it's clearly a comedy, the show does take the idea of karma and morality seriously. How can these concepts be applied to our everyday actions?

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Our Members Say

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See all 23 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    THE redneck comedy!

    This is an amazing show for a redneck comedy! I have followed this show for some time now and it is still fresh and fun to this day! It is all about a man named Earl and his younger, innocently funny brother Randy who tackle a list full of past events that hurt other people. This list is led by Karma.The show though does feature some vulgar humor, some occasional language, and characters such as a prostitute, gay character, and Joy, Earl's ex wife who is sassy, rude, and funny! The show is a teen must and is guaranteed to delight your redneck comedy urges!

  2. I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    I started watching when i was 7. There is this hooker that is in most episodes and they say some cuss words

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Indiana
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 5.0

    I heard from a lot of people that it was a very funny show, so i tried watching it and it became one of my most favorite tv shows ever. Has some sexual humor in the show and some language, nothing much to worry about. Very good show.

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Louisiana
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0

    I like it

    Best white trash redneck show ever

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0

    I laugh so hard at this!

    This TV show is the best TV show EVER! I love it! I started watching it when I was like 9 or 10 and it is so amazing! Watch it!

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