Part 3/7:
Initially, Garcia pitched the show to Fox, but they were uninterested. However, when he took the pilot to NBC, they were intrigued but wanted a well-known star to lead. That star turned out to be Jason Lee, a former professional skateboarder turned actor recognized for his work in Mallrats and Chasing Amy. After initially resisting the role, Lee eventually embraced it, leading to the green light for the sitcom.
Upon its debut in 2005, My Name is Earl garnered impressive viewership, drawing in over 14.9 million viewers—numbers that would go on to exceed those of even acclaimed contemporaries like The Office and 30 Rock.