"My Name Is Earl" might live on.

TBS is in preliminary talks to order 13 new episodes of the single-camera comedy from 20th Century Fox TV, sources said.

The news comes a couple of weeks after NBC pulled the plug on the 4-year-old series starring Jason Lee in what became one of the highest-profile cancellations of the upfront season.

Ever since "Earl" was put on the bubble for renewal at NBC in the spring, rumors began circulating that the series, which has won five Emmys, might look for another home. Early speculation included 20th TV's sister network Fox, whose entertainment president Kevin Reilly launched "Earl" while at NBC, and ABC, which has been open to acquiring series that have aired on other networks.

"Earl" would make a good fit at TBS, which will run repeats of the offbeat comedy beginning in the fall as part of an off-network syndication deal with Twentieth TV inked in 2007.

Still, sources stressed that the conversations between 20th TV and TBS for new episodes are in the very early stages, and a deal is far from a lock as the sides have to figure out whether an expensive network single-camera series can be produced under a basic cable network's economic model.

Also, while still under a hold at 20th TV, "Earl's" cast has not been lined up for a lower-budget reincarnation.

A cable afterlife for canceled broadcast series often is considered, especially for shows with a devoted fan base, but the idea rarely pans out.

In 2005, Showtime flirted with the idea of picking up Fox's Emmy-winning single-camera comedy "Arrested Development" after it was canceled, but a deal couldn't be reached.

It is easier when the cable network is part of the corporate family.

In 2007, the NBC drama "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" moved to sister cable network USA, with the broadcast network getting a second window on the crime series. The show, which underwent budget trims, is produced by UMS, another NBC Universal entity.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i6c932f87e11ed33a30a9baf304daa944

Karma finally caught up to "My Name is Earl."
Twentieth Century Fox TV has announced that talks with Turner to produce new original episodes of the laffer have broken off -- and that the show has ended its run for good.

NBC canceled the laffer in May, but 20th hoped to keep the show alive, shopping it to nets such as Fox and ABC before turning to Turner. TBS already runs off-net repeats of "Earl," and both sides crunched the numbers to see if financially the show could hop back into production for the cabler.

Turns out it couldn't.

"While we had hoped to find a way to produce additional episodes for TBS, in the final analysis we simply could not make the economics work without seriously undermining the artistic integrity of the series," the studio said. "As none of us, (creator Greg Garcia) included, want the show to go out on anything but a high note, we regret that we must put to rest any speculation that 'Earl' will continue."

The studio said it was "grateful to everyone at TBS for their enthusiasm for the series."

Garcia exec produced "Earl," as did Bobby Bowman.

Jason Lee starred as Earl Hickey, a small-time crook whose brush with death turns him on to the idea of karma. He puts together a list of things he's done wrong over the years -- and goes about trying to make things right.

Jaime Pressly, Ethan Suplee, Eddie Steeples and Nadine Velazquez also starred.


http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118004820.html?categoryId=14&cs=1

That's too bad. I was hoping Earl would get a chance to have a proper finale.

It's not fair the show had a chance to wrap things up.

That's too bad. I was hoping Earl would get a chance to have a proper finale.

It's not fair the show had a chance to wrap things up.

Wouldn't it make sense for shows that get renewed for any season get a guarantee in the contract that they will be allowed to make one additional episode in case of cancellation?

It would certainly end the problem of longer running shows having no closure.

Wouldn't it make sense for shows that get renewed for any season get a guarantee in the contract that they will be allowed to make one additional episode in case of cancellation?

It would certainly end the problem of longer running shows having no closure.

That's a good idea. Any show that has been on for more than three seasons deserves a final episode.

This would be good for TBS. In fact, i won't be surprised if it does as good as tyler perrys shows does on TBS!

TBS has just passed on a deal for Earl since budget agreements on what to cut and 20th could not make those cuts. It seems as tough Earl is staying cancelled.

TBS has just passed on a deal for Earl since budget agreements on what to cut and 20th could not make those cuts. It seems as tough Earl is staying cancelled.

There goes the best thing on TV :(

There goes the best thing on TV :(

Yeah, it's a tragedy. :crybaby: