Frankie Muniz admits he disliked his character in Malcolm in the Middle. The sitcom, which aired from 2000 to 2006, follows a dysfunctional working-class family. Malcolm in the Middle‘s ensemble cast includes Muniz as the titular character, alongside Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Christopher Masterson, and Erik Per Sullivan. The series received 7 Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and even a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. Muniz’s comments come as the series approaches its 25th anniversary and prepares for a four-episode Malcolm in the Middle revival on Disney+.
According to People, Muniz reflects on the series while discussing its upcoming revival, revealing that he and his wife only watched the show in its entirety for the first time 8 years ago. He was surprised by how unlikable Malcolm appeared throughout the series. Despite his opinion, Muniz is eager to return for the reboot, which will reunite him with Cranston and Kaczmarek. The revival will center on Malcolm and his daughter, who are pulled back into family chaos when his parents demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary.
“She looked at me at the very end and she goes, ‘You weren’t acting at all. You are literally Malcolm.’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t know how to take that because Malcolm sucked.’ He was the worst character on that show!”
What This Means For Muniz & Malcolm In The Middle
Muniz Returns to the Sitcom World, With the Help of Disney
Muniz’s comments highlight an aspect of Malcolm in the Middle that set it apart from other sitcoms, where its protagonist was not always likable. Throughout Malcolm in the Middle, Malcolm was often arrogant and frustrated with his surroundings. While Muniz’s opinion of Malcolm may differ from how audiences perceive the character, Malcolm in the Middle was one of the defining sitcoms of the 2000s. The series’ single-camera format influenced later shows such as It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, The Office, Everybody Hates Chris, The Bernie Mac Show, 30 Rock, Arrested Development, and Modern Family.
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The beloved sitcom Malcolm in the Middle gave fans 151 enjoyable episodes over its seven-season run but these 15 episodes ranked above the rest.
Furthermore, Disney Branded Television and 20th Television, the studios behind the revival, emphasized that the new episodes would retain Malcolm in the Middle’s humor and dysfunctional family dynamics. Malcolm in the Middle’s four-episode format aligns with other reboots on Disney+, like The Wonder Years and The Proud Family, although these series are not sitcoms. With Linwood Boomer, the series’ creator, returning to Malcolm in the Middle, the revival is on track to retain its original tone.
Our Take on Muniz’s Surprising Admission About Malcolm In The Middle
While Muniz Disliked Malcolm, He’s Still Coming Back to the Character
Muniz’s criticism of Malcolm is unexpected, considering how central the titular character was to the series’ success. However, his willingness to return for the revival suggests he recognizes the series’ lasting appeal, and the prospect of Disney+’s Malcolm in the Middle reboot is exciting. Whether or not Malcolm was the “worst” character in the series, Malcolm in the Middle worked because its characters were flawed, making them more tangible.
Source: People
Malcolm in the Middle
9/10
- Release Date
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2000 – 2005
- Network
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FOX
- Showrunner
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Linwood Boomer
- Directors
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Linwood Boomer
- Writers
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Linwood Boomer