17 Years Ago Today, A Classic 2000s Sitcom Ended on a Frustrating Cliffhanger (We Still Want Answers)

Exactly 17 years ago today, on May 14, 2009, the TV show My Name Is Earl unexpectedly ended. The final episode of Season 4, called “Dodge’s Dad,” was meant to start a new direction for the show’s long-running storyline about the Hickey family. In it, Earl learns he’s actually Dodge’s biological father – a son Joy previously believed was from a one-night stand. The same DNA tests also revealed that Darnell wasn’t Earl Jr.’s father, completely changing a key relationship on the show. The episode ended with a “To be Continued” message as the characters reacted in shock at the hospital, but NBC cancelled the show before they could solve the paternity mystery in a fifth season.








