Ep 9. Cost Dad An Election

In My Name is Earl season 1 episode 9, titled "Cost Dad An Election," Earl and Randy decide to cross a task off of their karma list by helping their dad, Carl Hickey, win an election for mayor. However, when they discover that Carl is running against their childhood friend, Ralph Mariano, Earl initially refuses to go through with the plan.

But when Earl learns that Carl wants to use his position as mayor to build a highway through a precious nature reserve, he realizes that the universe wants him to help Ralph win instead. Thus, Earl and Randy set out to sabotage Carl's campaign and help Ralph secure more votes.

Meanwhile, Joy and Crabman are dealing with their own election dilemma - they both want to be the president of the trailer park. The competition between them quickly becomes heated and dangerous.

As the election approaches, Earl and the gang resort to increasingly outrageous tactics to secure Ralph's victory, including stealing Carl's van and planting evidence of infidelity. However, their plan backfires when Carl decides to play dirty as well and steals Ralph's campaign slogan.

In the end, the election comes down to a single vote from a trailer park resident who was swayed by Earl's positive influence. Ralph wins by just one vote, and Carl is left devastated.

Despite their initial reservations, Earl and Randy are pleased with the outcome because they know that Ralph will make a better mayor than Carl. They cross "cost Dad an election" off of their karma list and move on to the next task, but not without a lingering sense of guilt over their actions.

In classic My Name is Earl fashion, "Cost Dad An Election" tackles serious issues like environmental preservation and political corruption with humor and heart. The episode also showcases the strong relationships between the show's core characters and their determination to do the right thing, even when it's difficult.