VARIETY IS A REPUTABLE NEWS SOURCE

Yesterday, Variety ran a "news" item about My Name is Earl possibly getting picked up by TBS. Here's the headline they went with.

TBS may give new 'Earl' segs a whirl

Look at that for a second. I don't know what's more annoying- that they referred to episodes as "segs" or the incredibly half assed rhyme.

There may be life yet left in "My Name Is Earl."

Twentieth Century Fox TV is in talks with cabler TBS about a possible 13-episode pickup. TBS already carries "Earl" reruns.

The talks for new episodes are said to be in the very preliminary stages, and it's far from certain that a deal will be reached, insiders cautioned.

Nothing too offensive here. Sounding pretty vague though- "preliminary stages", "insiders". Let's read on.

The laffer starring Jason Lee as a reformed petty thief was axed by NBC in May after four seasons on the Peacock. There was some chatter that the Fox network might pick up the project from its sibling studio.

"Earl" could be a fit with TBS' broad slate of original laffers, including "The Bill Engvall Show," "My Boys," "Meet the Browns" and "10 Items or Less."

Okay. Laffer? That's what were calling comedies now? As if once wasn't bad enough, now it comes up again. TBS apparently has a "broad slate of original laffers". I guess TNT airs all the "cryers" and in the case of The Closer "gouge your eyeballs out with a rusty knife-ers". More vague language here too- "some chatter". Now the coup de grace.

Reps for 20th and TBS declined comment.

What's that? Where is this coming from, then? What is the story? There is no story. There's "insiders" there's "chatter", but there's no story here. Congratulations Cynthia Littleton, you're stealing money.

In a related bambat exclusive, insider chatter suggests FOX is developing a series about vampire pirates. Preliminary reports indicate it's a real laffer.

Source: Variety