My Name is Earl's comical plot, dynamic façade, and sidesplitting ensemble are just a few elements that caught the attention of viewers, as attested by the show's positive ratings and six Emmy nominations. But while most actors nominated on the show have smoothly managed to go through the series without any injuries, Beau Bridges' Emmy nod comes with physical pain.
While filming two episodes of
My Name is Earl, the 65-year-old actor got hurt as he struggled to break dance while playing Carl, the father of protagonist Earl J. Hickey (
Jason Lee), which consequently earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
“It nearly killed me when I shimmied and wiggled down almost to the floor,” Bridges said. “I had a little difficulty getting back up.”
The script also called for Bridges to throw pet gerbils at another actor, and in the process, one of the animals bit him.
“They do things on the show that are just so bizarre and out of the box and that you just don't see on television,” he said. “But somehow, it has this very real place that it comes from. It's very human, and I think that's why it resonates with people.”
Nevertheless, Bridges is pleased with the whole experience and looks forward to the Emmy's despite the stiff competition.
“It's just that old thing of being glad you're invited to the party,” he said.
Bridges is also up against fellow
My Name is Earl actor Giovanni Ribisi, who plays Ralph Mariano, Earl's childhood pal and partner-in-crime. Other Emmy picks include
Jaime Pressly, who plays Joy Turner, Earl's ex-wife, for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. The series has also been nominated for Outstanding Single-camera Picture Editing and Sound Mixing.
My Name is Earl season three returns with a one-hour season premiere on Thursday, September 27 at 8/7c on NBC.
-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: The Associated Press
(Image courtesy of MSN)