Darcy Shean

While atoning for stealing from a convenience store, Earl (Jason Lee) spots Natalie (guest star Beth Riesgraf), a very needy, clingy girl whom he broke up with by faking his own death. After getting some advice about women from Catalina (Nadine Velazquez), Earl decides that he and Randy (Ethan Suplee) must go tell Natalie the truth so he can cross her off his list. Luckily for him, the blow is softened by the presence of Natalie's new boyfriend Dirk (guest star Dax Shepard), who seems absolutely perfect for her. Just when Earl thinks he's free of her, Dirk takes a hint from him and fakes his death to break up with Natalie. Earl believes that he should tell Natalie about Dirk in order to be in the karmic clear, but Catalina convinces him that it’s much better to keep this from her than to crush her spirit. So Earl decides to merely be nice to her, a seemingly harmless act that traps them back in a torturous relationship.

The glee club decides to write and perform its own songs in hope of winning regionals; Quinn intends to get Finn back.

Gallo, Violet and Ritter debut their microbrewery business at Winterfest. Brett prepares to present her paramedicine program to an oversight panel. Firehouse 51 gets in the holiday spirit.

Sydney must guide a nervous and pensive Rachel on her first solo mission; Sloane contemplates honoring his agreement with Gordon Dean.

Maya DiMeo moves her family to a new, upscale school district when she finds the perfect situation for her eldest son, JJ, who has cerebral palsy. While JJ and daughter Dylan are thrilled with the move, middle son Ray is frustrated by the family’s tendencies to constantly move, since he feels his needs are second to JJ Soon, Maya realizes it is not the right situation for JJ and attempts to uproot the family again. But JJ connects with Kenneth, the school’s groundskeeper, and asks him to step in as a his caregiver, and Ray manages to convince Maya to give the school another chance.