Dwyer 1

My Name is Karma The television sitcom My Name Is Earl details the karmic change brought about by Earl Hickey, actor Jason Lee, and his path toward enlightenment. Throughout the progression of four seasons, Earl and the people around him slowly become better people by spreading positive vibrations and learning life lessons. My Name Is Earl explores the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jainism concepts of karma. According to Hindu teachings, karma is described as the account of good and bad deeds a soul carries with them and the credit and liabilities that manifest from such deeds (Karma and Reincarnation in Hinduism). Buddhism describes karma as being like flowing water. Sometimes the flow is so strong that little can be done except to hold on for the ride. Other times the flow is gentle and can be diverted in any way we choose; either positively guiding us in the right direction or negatively pulling us in a less than desirable direction (Bhikkhu). Followers of Jainism believe that karma is a substance that flows through our bodies bringing in lighter or denser energy based off of our actions. Conducting negative actions allows karma to bring denser energy into the body preventing liberation of the soul. Preforming good actions allows karma to bring in lighter energy helping to liberate the soul (Jayaram V). Combining these three philosophes, the basic premise of My Name Is Earl is that by performing good deeds good things will happen around you and by doing bad deeds bad things will happen around you. The show was created by Gregory Garcia and the first episode aired on September 20, 2005. Each episode usually starts out with Earl telling the viewers, "You know the kind of guy who does nothing but bad things and then wonders why his life sucks? Well, that was me. Every time something good happened to me, something bad was always waiting round the corner: karma. That's when I realized that I had to change, so I made a list of everything bad I've ever

Dwyer 2

done and one by one I'm gonna make up for all my mistakes. I'm just trying to be a better person. My name is Earl." (My Name Is Earl). Most episodes contain flashbacks of things Earl and his brother Randy, actor Ethan Suplee, did wrong in the past. They spend the rest of each episode trying to make everything right again so Earl to cross it off his list. The first episode of My Name Is Earl focuses on the reason for the creation of Earls list and his understanding of Karma. Earl used to be a low life crook who got too drunk and ended up marrying a pregnant woman named Joy, actress Jamie Pressly. Earl and Randy move in with Joy and soon she becomes pregnant again. Thinking its going to be Earls child, they decide to name him Earl Jr. As it turns out, Earl Jr. is black and actually the son of Darnell Turner, actor Eddie Steeples, Joys future husband. After several years with Joy and his illegitimate children, Earl wins the lottery but is immediately hit by a car. He loses his ticket and is sent to the hospital. While laying helpless and drugged out in his hospital bed, Joy divorces Earl and he discovers the concept of karma from watching Carson Daly. Earl decides that he must make up for all of the bad deeds he has ever done in his life. He creates a list of things that he needs to fix in order to make his karma right. Earl begins on his path to enlightenment by completing list item #136, Ive been a litter bug. While picking up trash in the parking lot of the motel that he and Randy now call home, Earl finds his lost lottery ticket. He takes it as a sign from karma that he is on the right path in life now. This simple series of events provides evidence for Earls argument that by doing good deeds you will attract positive energy and good things will happen. Wanting to continue his karmic healing, Earl decided to continue his list by completing item #64: Picked on Kenny James. With help from Randy, Earl finds out where Kenny, actor Gregg Binkley, lives and observes him to see how he can help him out. Earl decides that Kenny

Dwyer 3

is lonely and needs to get laid. Earl tries to hire Patty the daytime hooker, actress Dale Dickey, to have sex with Kenny but it does not work. After confronting Kenny in person about the situation, Earl and Randy find out that he is a homosexual. Shocked by their new discovery, the brothers take off out of Kennys house without being able to cross him off of Earls list. Earl tries to ignore the list item and avoid Kenny, but karma has other plans for him. Joy soon shows up and attacks Earl demanding some of his lottery money. Earl realizes that he must complete every item on his list no matter what. If he does not, karma will find a way to make his life miserable. He decides that there are no special circumstances when it comes to karma. His encounter with Joy is further evidence for Earl that karma exists and that he must help Kenny. Earl returns to Kennys house later that night alone and asks him why he does not have a man. Kenny tells him how he has not told anyone else that he is gay, and that he is scared of going to the gay bar alone. Earl volunteers to take Kenny to the gay bar and help him find a man. While at the gay bar, Kenny tells Earl how grateful he is that Earl returned his confidence and helped him open up. Kenny ends up becoming one of Earls better friends and helps him complete many of the more complicated items on Earls list in later episodes. Earls new found friendship with Kenny is even more reinforcement for Earl that karma exists and is contagious. By helping Kenny out Earl not only made a friend and improved his karma, but also gained Kenny a friend and made him happy. Earls positive vibrations made Kenny radiate positive vibrations improving his life as well. My Name Is Earl is one of the most positive television shows to ever air on television. It practices what it preaches by spreading a good messages and teaching people about the effects of karma. The show is a constant reminder of how greed can separate humanity by spreading bad

Dwyer 4

karma, but through pure intentions, togetherness, and selfless actions good karma hopes to heal humanity.

Dwyer 5

Works Cited Bhikkhu, Thanissaro. Karma. Access to Insight. 8 March 2011. Web. 5 April 2013. Jayaram V. Jainism and the Concept of Karma. Hindu Website. Web. 5 April 2013. Karma and Reincarnation in Hinduism. Shaivam. Web. 5 April 2013. My Name Is Earl. IMDb. Web. 5 April 2013.