'Earl' brings NBC good karma

0 Comments | USA TODAY, October, 2005 | by Bill Keveney

Television comedy and NBC, which both have seen better days, have a new hope. His name is Earl.

Launched without the help of a powerful lead-in in a competitive time slot, My Name Is Earl (tonight, 9 ET/PT) is the top-rated new series among advertiser-coveted young adults and No. 2 in viewers.

The story of a larcenous loser who discovers his own brand of redemptive karma, Earl has won both critical acclaim and a sizable audience, a rarity in a comedy drought. Earl is different from most comedies -- it's shot like a film, without an audience, and its hero is down and out -- but those involved say it's grounded in the classic elements: humor and heart.

"The show really is balanced, from the writing to the way it's shot, with intelligence and humanity. It's...