"Earl" producers nix move to cable
By Nellie Andreeva
NEW YORK (Billboard) - "My Name Is Earl" is not getting a second chance after all.
Cable network TBS had expressed interest in continuing the canceled NBC series with new episodes. But producing studio 20th Century Fox TV and creator/executive producer Greg Garcia have opted not to move forward after examining all the cuts they would have to make in order to produce the series on a smaller budget.
"Greg Garcia's brilliant 'My Name Is Earl' kept America laughing for the past four seasons and certainly deserved to continue for many more," 20th TV said in a statement Thursday.
"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. As none of us, Greg 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.
"We are grateful to everyone at TBS for their enthusiasm for the series and wish to offer our heartfelt thanks to the cast and crew of 'My Name Is Earl' for their incredible work."
"Earl" will still run on TBS, in the form of repeats. Beginning in the fall, the cable network will air the four seasons of the offbeat comedy as part of a syndication deal with Twentieth TV inked in 2007.
(Editing by Sheri Linden at Reuters)
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