"My Name is Earl" and my mustache is unfortunate

One of the first questions posed to Jason Lee, star of NBC's Tuesday night comedy "My Name is Earl," asked how it felt to have the hope of a network riding on his back.

"Good morning!" he replied with a smile.

Lee in "My Name is Earl"

Maintaining a positive attitude toward NBC's expectations will serve Lee well in the long run. In truth, though, he has less to worry about than most. The overall vibe towards his show is positive. People seem to like the actor's appeal most of all.

His whiskers are a different story. Those of us used to seeing Lee in films such as "A Guy Thing" and "Dogma" are familiar with his well-groomed mug and the winning grin that sells it.

The walrus 'stache he grew for Earl doesn't do him any favors, and that's the point. Earl Hickey is a loser extraordinaire whose only salvation is his dumb luck and the $100,000 he won with a lottery scratch ticket. Inspired by this random boon, he sets about doing good deeds to right his past wrongs. Sadly for Lee, who looks truly goofy with facial hair, that does not include a nice shave to make mother happy.

"I'm locked into it through the end of February," he said. "... We thought it would be good. We tried a Fu Manchu, but I looked a little too shady. So we shaved the Fu Man and just left the Tom Selleck."

Remember kids, what works for Magnum, P.I., doesn't work for everyone. Lee is living proof of that.

"Early on, when we were talking about what this character should look like, Jason told me, he goes, 'Trust me. When you see me in a mustache, you'll laugh,'" recalled series creator Greg Garcia.

"And he was right."