Cost Dad the Election

Season 1, Episode 9, Aired
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Episode Summary

Earl tries to cross off number four on his list, "blew dad's chance to be elected mayor". Four years earlier, Carl Hickey ran for mayor to redirect a proposed airplane traffic route over his house and away from the wealthy part of town. Earl unfortunately ruined any chance of his father winning when caught on tape assaulting a police officer. Earl must now help his father get elected and mend his relationship with his father.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (6)

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  • Earl tries to win his dad an election

    9.4
    "Superb"
    By jimbo_001, Jul 14, 2006 Report Abuse
    As usual, Australia messes up its programming, in this case Channel 7 shows episode 9 this week, skipping episodes 3 through 8. However, it doesn't seem like much has changed, though Joy seems to hate Earl a lot less (I guess he crossed off one of the many things on his list that involved his ex-wife).

    Anyway, this episode is very entertaining as we get to meet Earl's parents, his father being a great character and the bail issue is handled very well, though Earl couldn't cross the election off his list (guess he'll have to wait four more years).

    The tasering and the excuse that he locked his keys in his car were the highlights of the episode for me though I also greatly enjoyed Earl saying his father had diarrhea on the debate and all in all this episode is quite good and I hope 7 fills in the blank episodes.moreless

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  • Another great episode.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By danman5069, Mar 28, 2006 Report Abuse
    i loved this is it was so great when Earl wasnt tring to do anything and then that scared cop trazors him then Earl tries to get him and he does it again that was so great one of my fav. flashbacks this season. Then when the planes flew by and every one with out even knowing held things up that thats great. This is a special episode because we see more into Earl's family and because this is the first one that he never got to cross something off his list.moreless

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  • Cost Dad The Election, Earl gets arrested several times and cost Dad the election for it.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By comicbone, Dec 13, 2005 Report Abuse
    I thought this episode was great. The first time Earl was locked up and the big guy jail guard came around the corner with his Dad was chuckles, and then when he came the second time, I giggled, by the fourth and fifth time, I was crying laughing. The security guard, Vernard "Bone" Hampton, is a comedian that goes just by the name Bone, or Comedian Bone, good to see him on NBC. The different costumes that Earl and his brother had on in jail was too funny.
    Such a truth that some people think that moving their problems, the airplane noise, over to another area solves the problem when in essence it only makes it worst for others.moreless

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  • Excellent look into Earl's family life.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By russellbullock, Nov 26, 2005 Report Abuse
    This episode was a bit of a surprise. I expected Earl to have been raised in a trailer trash environment that would do Jeff Foxworthy proud. We discover, however, that his parents, though certainly not ranked among the culturally elite, are fairly normal, upstanding members of society.

    This made the father's frustration with Earl all the more believable. After all, if the apple had not fallen so far from the tree, Earl's father surely would not have been so enraged by his son's antics. The constant disappointment in his son built up over the years until it got to the point that no one single act could alleviate all the negatives in their relationship. Earl will have to earn his father's trust and respect and that is a great setup for future episodes.

    Was this episode knee-slapping funny? Not really, but I don't mind at all. My Name is Earl is a rarity of a show that has more depth than the average comedy. Like teh Simpsons, it can appeal to a variety of people on different levels. And that is what makes it great!moreless

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  • It was bound to happen: a lackluster episode of Earl

    5.2
    "Mediocre"
    By gridley23, Nov 24, 2005 Report Abuse
    It was bound to happen: a lackluster episode of my favorite sit-com "My Name is Earl"

    It wasn't awful or anything, but it was way below par. I barely laughed at all, which is unusual for the show. I suppose they were going for "a very special episode" kind of thing, but that part didn't work for me either. And I'm usually a sucker for father-son storylines.

    I reckon the problem might have been that Earl's parents were too normal, so they didn't generate enough craziness for Earl and Randy to respond to.

    The whole episode just seemed like a really, really average moment in an otherwise superb show.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • When Earl's dad is handing out buttons after the live debate, at the end of the scene there's is another High Def easter egg. Just as the scene is about to cut to Randy handing out cookies is a sign at the extreme left. The sign reads: "Carl Hickey Loves High Def" Edit
    • Featured Music: "Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant (Joy and Earl get tasered) "Higher Ground" by Stevie Wonder (People start hearing the planes again) "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (Earl's Dad re-enters the election) "Mexican Radio" by Wall of Voodoo (Randy loses the election forms) "Time Has Told Me" by Nick Drake (Earl is getting bailed out the last time) Edit
    • List Trivia: (Re-)Introduced in this episode: #4 Blew dad's chance to be elected mayor. #86 Stole a car from a one legged girl. (Previously introduced in the pilot episode and episode 1-02) Crossed off in this episode: Nothing is officially crossed off - however, by what Earl's father is saying, Earl probably crossed off "breaking a window". Earl mentions that his dad is #4 on his list several times during the episode, while we can clearly see during the title sequence, that "Cost Dad an Election" is #65. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • The Czech episode title is "Earlův otec kandiduje na starostu", meaning "Earl's Father Is Running for Mayor". Edit
    • Original International Air Dates: Czech Republic: September 21, 2009 on Prima COOL Edit
    • Although this episode is number nine in the series, it screened as episode three in Australia. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • (in the strip club) Earl: Jasmine, Savannah I'd like to talk to you ladies about another kind of poll. (shows them a voters registration form) Edit
    • (outside the County jail) Earl: Felony or Misdemeanour? Guy: Misdemenour. Earl: Great. Can we talk. (gives him the voters registration paper) Edit
    • Earl: Hey mom. Kay: Need money son, is that it? Earl: No, I just wanna.... Carl: Hey, who is it? Kay: Just some Mormons Carl. (whispers to Earl) Look he's out on the Mormons, so scoot, I'll put twenty dollars under the lawn goose. Earl: I don't need money mom. Carl: (walking to the door) For the last time boys, we already have a lord. (Earl waves and Carl walks away) Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Carl: You know I ran into John Sheppard down the street. This is very likely a inside joke. Beau Bridges (Carl) is currently 1 of the stars on Stargate SG-1, the name of the main character in it's spin-off series, Stargate Atlantis, is called John Sheppard. Edit
    • Joy and Darnell are playing a board game called Mouse Trap when the plane flies over. In Mouse Trap, you move your piece around the board while assembling the trap. You try to not get captured by the large, intricate contraption. Edit

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