Anyone who loves redneck humor simply has to be a fan of NBC’s hit comedy “My Name is Earl.” The show’s protagonist, a reformed ne’er-do-well named Earl Hickey, has spent the last four seasons using his lottery winnings to support himself and his brother while making up for all of the bad things he’s ever done. Not surprisingly, they’ve got a lot to make up for!
If the idea of a former criminal making amends weren’t farfetched enough, consider the money angle. Earl won a $100,000 lottery jackpot in the show’s pilot episode. He and his brother have been living off this money ever since. Now, Camden is a tiny town, where the cost of living is low, but realistically, how far could that money possibly go?
Taxes on a $100,000 jackpot would probably be around 40 percent, leaving Earl with $60,000. He and his brother rent a single room in a sleazy motel, which probably costs them no more than $30 a night, but that really adds up - $30 a night for a year is $10,950. Four years of hotel bills would be $43,800, which is most of his winnings right there, even if you don’t count the year he spent in the slammer!
Earl’s generosity is countered by his lack of necessities. His wardrobe is rarely expanded—or washed, for that matter—and his personal hygiene requires no product, hair care or otherwise. Earl doesn’t spend much on himself, but he is frequently generous with his brother, ex-wife and children.
Earl’s 73 El Camino is quite a workhorse, taking a beating and requiring few repairs. Thought his quest for redemption takes him on few long road trips, he still has to pay for gas. (Insurance, however, is “optional”.) Food is another big expense, especially since he doesn’t have a kitchen, and his brother is a big eater—if Earl has a credit card, the local McDonald’s probably has its number on file.
Earl spares no expense when it comes to righting the wrongs he has committed. And making amends is expensive too; Earl has bought cars for friends, thrown parties and proms, replaced stolen items and more. But just as his karma fund was drying up, his evil third ex-wife—in a fit of Amish purity—gave him another $72,000 to spend on his list.
“My Name is Earl” is a charming show, despite the unrealistic financial premise. Hopefully, Earl will win another lotto jackpot somewhere down the line to pay off his credit card bills, keep his creditors at bay and keep the show going!
