Boogeyman

Season 1, Episode 20, Aired
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Episode Summary

Earl decides to cross off "made a kid scared of the Boogeyman" from his list. Earl soon discovers just what kind of lasting affect he had on the little boy.
8.9
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Fan Episode Reviews (12)

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  • A middling episode ruined by a very poor casting decision.

    6.1
    "Fair"
    By jekyll, Nov 26, 2011 Report Abuse
    All in all, the story was not wholly terrible, but not one of the show's best. Earl discovers that a boy he scared by pretending to be the Boogeyman is still traumatized by it years later. So shaken by what he's done, Earl goes beyond the day of slavery (which felt a bit like a rip-off of Richard Pryor in "The Toy") that was demanded to cross this off his list, and helps the boy recover. Eventually the kid wants to live with Earl, and tracks him down to the hotel. It wasn't filled with as many laughs as many previous episodes, but it was heartfelt.
    Sadly, the miscommunication that then led people to believe Earl kidnapped the boy was far too obvious, and the kid's coincidental behavior that created the situation a bit too convenient. The show also felt hemmed in by the smaller than usual parts for CrabMan and Joy. However, the biggest problem was a monumentally huge casting blunder. I'm certain Malcolm David Kelley is a fine young man, and he's a decent actor, but his presence in the show as the traumatized boy was so jarring to anyone who's a fan of "Lost" that he was nothing more than a huge distraction. You just can't see him as anyone other than "Walt," and the episode suffered greatly for his presence. Having someone known from such a giant, breakout show was just a flat-out mistake.
    In the end, we're left with an episode that was one of the weaker installments as it is, but the casting error made it even worse.moreless

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    2 4

  • Very enjoyable to watch.

    9.3
    "Superb"
    By Sarah_Is_Lost, Jan 09, 2008 Report Abuse
    What can I say about this episode? I thought it was brillant. The episode was very enjoyable to watch. I could watch it over and over again. The writers did a great job, writing this episode. Also, the actors in this episode were great. Earl was so kind crossing off, a little child. The boy, was so cute aswell. I might go and watch this episode right now. All in all a very, enjoyable episode to watch, for me it was one of the best in episodes in season one, but they are all so good. So its a hard choice, but a very good episode.moreless

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    0 0

  • Yet another original idea

    8.6
    "Great"
    By jimbo_001, Dec 03, 2006 Report Abuse
    This episode is hilarious, especially the first part of the episode where Earl cures the phobia of the dark which was very funny and while the fake kidnapping was probably even funnier, it went on a little too long but the ending with the gas was a brilliant idea because it is a real situation and if it wasn't explained by the kid, cops are clearly going to gas the criminals for our amusement.

    There are a few slips in quality but very few in the episode and overall, I found it most entertaining but certainly not one of the best.moreless

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    0 0

  • Earl decides to cross off "made a kid scared of the boogeyman" from his list.

    8.5
    "Great"
    By RAFAELJOSE04, Oct 25, 2006 Report Abuse
    Earl decides to cross off "made a kid scared of the boogeyman" from his list. At a young age, we have very delicate minds that could be easily traumatized by even the weirdest moments. In attempt to rob a house, Earl scares a small rich kid and makes him believe that there is a real boogeyman. The boy is still afraid to sleep with the lights off and Earl offers to be his personal slave to cross out his bad deed. The kid definitely has some fun on Earl's expense but they quickly become good friends. Earl's new friend leaves home and moves in with him. This leads to a tense police standoff in the motel and Earl being accused of kidnapping. During Joy's TV interview, the notion of Earl's Karma list makes Earl appear as some sick child predator. Ethan Suplee was at his goofiest. He really enjoyed playing with all the kid's toys and taking advantage of being a kidnapper. He also takes a liking to the gas bomb that the police lodge through the window.moreless

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    0 0

  • Good episode, enjoyable

    9.1
    "Superb"
    By thomdp, Aug 21, 2006 Report Abuse
    In 2000, Earl, Randy, Joy, tried to rob a house when the owners returned. They hid inside, fleeing one at a time. Earl however, was trapped in a kid's bedroom. The child goes to bed and Earl tried to sneak out. When the kid saw Earl, he thought he was the boogeyman.

    Now, Earl tries to make it up to the kid by being his slave. But after a day of slavery he realizes that Albie is afraid of the dark. So each night they dim the lights a little, and Earl sits outside Albie's window, talking to him. After a week, he is no longer scared of the dark.

    Albie then shows up at Earl's door, saying he wants to live with him because his own parents ignore him. Earl tries to call the kid's dad, saying "I have your son" and Albie hangs up the phone, then rips the cord out of the wall. His dad believes that Earl kidnapped his son.

    Soon the motel where Earl lives is surrounded by police. Albie's father climbs the motel fire escape, and tries to rescue his son. Seeing that his dad cares about him, Albie returns home.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • List Trivia: Introduced and crossed off in this episode #239 Made a kid scared of the boogeyman. Edit
    • Featured Music: "Halloween Theme" by John Carpenter "I Shot The Sheriff" by Bob Marley "I'm Your Boogie Man" by KC and The Sunshine Band "I'll Be Around" by Spinners Edit
    • Catalina appears (and has a few jokes) but has no spoken lines. Edit

  • Notes

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    • The Czech episode title is "Earl únosce", meaning "Earl, the Abductor". Edit
    • Original International Air Dates: Czech Republic: October 8, 2009 on Prima COOL Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Earl: (voiceover) And, after a week of sleeping on a tree full of bugs, I was looking forward to taking a nap on real furniture full of bugs. Edit
    • Earl: It's okay to be scared of the dark, Albie. Albie: I'm not scared of the dark. Earl: Alright. But even if you were, it's okay. I'm scared of stuff. Albie: Like what? Earl: Well, like, sewer gators. Y'know, they might come up and bite me when I sit on the toilet, so most times I just kinda hover. Albie: I am scared of the dark, Earl. Earl: I'm gonna help you get over that. Edit
    • Earl: (voiceover) Turning down the lights that night helped Albie a little bit; but what really helped was just talking. The next night, we dimmed the lights a little bit more and talked about relationships. (to Albie) Why don't you ask her out? Albie: I dunno. What you said really scared me. Earl: Well, Joy's a bad example; not all women are like that. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Man: Who's that "Boo Radley" guy behind the plant? Boo Radley is the neighbor in Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird". He is a large man who never talks to anyone and is thought by most to be clinically thick. Thus; Randy. Edit

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