1. First, you've got two sets of brothers.
Earl and Randy Hickey, and Dean and Sam Winchester, to be precise.
2. Both shows heavily employ classic rock soundtracks.
And the characters (Okay, maybe not Sam so much) love it.
3. Both sets of brothers travel around in a classic car, doing good deeds.
Even though Dean's Impala is a bit better kept than Earl's El Camino.
4. They do normal brotherly things together.
Like drink beer and talk about their feelings.
5. They've all been to jail at some point.
Whether it's because they've been arrested, are posing as a guard, or are just in to help people.
6. They all wear ungodly quantities of denim and plaid.
Seriously. So much.
7. They stay in quirky motels.
Well, Earl and Randy stay in just one motel. But the point still stands.
8. They get tied up alot.
9. Both younger brothers (Randy and Sam) are characteristically unlucky-in-love.
Though, to be fair, at least none of Randy's girlfriends have been claimed by the forces of darkness.
10. Meanwhile, both older brothers (Earl and Dean) have reputations as heartbreakers.
Who can forget the furious "one-legged lady" from Earl? And of course, we have Dean's long string of one-night stands.
11. The elder brother gets the younger brother involved with the show's main "quest".
Earl drags Randy around on his epic karma hunt, while Dean picks Sam up from college to search for their father.
12. Sometimes the plot gets silly (but we love it anyway).
Supernatural: Racist truck. Giant, sentient teddy bear. Slow-dancing alien. Archangel pornos. The one with the talking dog.
My Name is Earl: Hippie commune. Murderer Alyssa Milano. Suburbanite sideshow performers. That insane trip to Mexico. Patti the (only) town hooker. That whole business with the witness protection program.
How do they come up with this stuff?
13. Lilith (Supernatural) and Joy (My Name Is Earl) share an uncanny resemblance.
And they're somehow equally terrifying.
14. We are treated to tons of childhood flashbacks.
The Winchesters absolutely defeat the Hickeys in the "Most Traumatic Upbringing" contest. Hands down.
15. Sometimes the characters wind up in alternate dimensions.
Whether it's from a dream sequence or straight up magic, hey, it happens.
16. Both sibling pairs have amazing families that "don't end in blood".
17. And even though they may not always get along...
18. At the end of the day, they're brothers. And they'll always have each other's backs.
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