# Explain "Malcolm In The Middle" To Me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 27, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012 "2005-01-27T23:46:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/1 "2005-01-27T23:46:08Z")
This show is totally bizarre…the parents (Malcolm’s) are totally immature idiots. the father works for some stupid company that is going bankrupt…and the neurotc mother is not capable of making a can of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup. The older son used to attend military school-now he workks for a middle aged gay german (who runs a dude ranch). The youngest son delights in tearing up the house, and breaking windows, Oh, and they have a bay son…I don’t know what HE does. The show seems surreal at times…nothing in it makes sense, or is even funny…why do people watch it?? ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/2 "2005-01-27T23:58:34Z")
You missed one thing. It is funny. It’s the surreal parts that make it funny. A good way to describe it is Married With Children with more character development. And as of last episode, the baby is bent on killing the mother. We’ll have to see where that goes. Oh and Otto isn’t gay. He’s just odd. And Francis doesn’t work for him anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/3 "2005-01-28T00:01:02Z")
> [@Odinoneeye](#): > > And as of last episode, the baby is bent on killing the mother. We’ll have to see where that goes. Just like on Family Guy! ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/4 "2005-01-28T00:31:15Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > This show is totally bizarre…the parents (Malcolm’s) are totally immature idiots. Got that right. > [@](#): > > the father works for some stupid company that is going bankrupt…and the neurotc mother is not capable of making a can of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup. Well, I haven’t figured Hal out yet, but he acts the way he does because he’s cracked under the stress of fatherhood or because he never really grew up (one episode with his family reunion sheds light on the latter). Although I don’t remember anything much said about Lois’ cooking skills, the idea behind her is that she’s manipulative, controlling, and sadistic. I believe that, whatever the case, the kids have essentially driven their parents nuts, exacerbating whatever other baggage they had. > [@](#): > > The older son used to attend military school-now he workks for a middle aged gay german (who runs a dude ranch). Francis is a troublemaker just like the others, but he deals with his mom’s insanity by rebelling and pointing out every instance of pettiness on her part with his own hypocrisy as the punchline. Otto, his boss, isn’t gay and is married; his wife behaves much the same way he does. The thing with him is that he’s too good-natured to the point of being a naive pushover. At first Francis started acting responsibly in getting Otto out of the trouble he got himself into, but more recently just makes it worse. > [@](#): > > The youngest son delights in tearing up the house, and breaking windows, As the youngest (before the baby anyway), Dewey was overlooked by his parents as they dealt with Francis, Reese, and Malcolm. Most of his schtick involves him figuring things out for himself because he’s used to being ignored by his parents or exploited by his brothers. > [@](#): > > Oh, and they have a bay son…I don’t know what HE does. The baby served as the vehicle with which the show [vaulted over a captive selachimorph](http://www.jumptheshark.com/). > [@](#): > > The show seems surreal at times…nothing in it makes sense, or is even funny…why do people watch it?? _shrug_ Different strokes and all that. I like it, but it is wearing a bit thin. People have commented that the show has lost its charm as the kids have aged. I agree. As for the baby, well, see my above comment. I’m guessing they’ll end the show when Malcolm goes to college (if he hasn’t already). Failing that, they’ll run it into the ground. As for its tangible qualities, the show is akin to Married with Children in that they fight and get into trouble, but on many occasions have come together as a family to extricate themselves. Along with that, the comeuppance that characters like Reese get is good, and Malcolm’s various girlfriends and Francis’ wife Piama are freakin’ hot. Upon preview, it really is amazing what you can learn from the show when it’s just on in the background while quake is being played. Dayum. ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/5 "2005-01-28T00:39:27Z")
> [@Odinoneeye](#): > > You missed one thing. > It’s the surreal parts that make it funny. Yeah, that too. :smack: > [@](#): > > A good way to describe it is Married With Children with more character development. Damn. Beaten to the punch. :smack: :smack: > [@](#): > > And as of last episode, the baby is bent on killing the mother. We’ll have to see where that goes. See where it goes? To the ramp on the other side of the tank, that’s where it’s gonna go. :rolleyes: 😉 > [@](#): > > And Francis doesn’t work for him anymore. How did that one go down? What’s he up to now? Speaking of Family Guy, I’m not sure what to make of Fox embracing it so enthusiastically now that others have given it the chance and the respect Fox didn’t. Short-sighted bastards. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/6 "2005-01-28T00:57:21Z")
The comparison to Family Guy is good, though. It all makes much more sense if you see it as a live-action cartoon, and apply cartoon-logic. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/7 "2005-01-28T01:23:28Z")
> [@SusanStoHelit](#): > > It all makes much more sense if you see it as a live-action cartoon, and apply cartoon-logic. It also helps if you grew up in a house full of brothers. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/8 "2005-01-28T01:26:19Z")
The creator of the show, Linwood Boomer, has claimed that it is based on his real family and the Malcolm character is him. His mother says he’s exaggerating. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/9 "2005-01-28T01:27:55Z")
> [@Thudlow Boink](#): > > It also helps if you grew up in a house full of brothers. Heh. I have 14 cousins on my dad’s side, only 2 of whom are female. I feel your pain. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/10 "2005-01-28T01:49:38Z")
> [@Dr. Rieux](#): > > The creator of the show, Linwood Boomer, has claimed that it is based on his real family and the Malcolm character is him. His mother says he’s exaggerating. To which Mr. Boomer replied, “You _always_ do that! I **hate** you!” ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/11 "2005-01-28T02:09:25Z")
> [@Khan](#): > > How did that one go down? Francis: “It turned out the ATM where I was depositing Hans’s money wasn’t an ATM at all. So sue me. By the way, he’s suing me.” ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/12 "2005-01-28T03:06:28Z")
So I just noticed something … I’ve watched this show off and on for several years now …have they ever mentioned the family’s last name? I don’t remember ever hearing it. Of course, I might just never have noticed. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/13 "2005-01-28T03:16:23Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > So I just noticed something … I’ve watched this show off and on for several years now …have they ever mentioned the family’s last name? I don’t remember ever hearing it. Of course, I might just never have noticed. It’s never been aired, but there was a cut scene in the first episode where Malcolm reveals the last name is Wilkerson. I’m doing this from memory, but the scene goes something like this. Friend: What’s your last name. Malcolm: Wilkerson why? Friend: Oh, well my parents always refer to you as the morons (or idiots or something like that) Someone else may have the exact script, but it’s something like that. ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/14 "2005-01-28T05:09:19Z")
I love Hal’s odd dance sequences: the rollerskate one, the DDR-esque one, the _Charley on the MTA_ one… That’s pretty much what I like about the show. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/15 "2005-01-28T05:32:09Z")
I love the show. For a sitcom like this one, there is no deeper meaning. It’s just a farce and funny as hell. The cast is very strong. I don’t agree that nothing in it makes sense – the personalities of the characters are consistent and fairly predictable, albeit quite eccentric and weird at times. But always funny! ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/16 "2005-01-28T06:25:47Z")
The show was hilarious in the beginning but it jumped the shark a while ago. I happened to catch an episode this season involving Christmas presents and credit card fraud that made me vow to never watch it ever again. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/17 "2005-01-28T12:04:22Z")
> [@Khan](#): > > As the youngest (before the baby anyway), Dewey was overlooked by his parents as they dealt with Francis, Reese, and Malcolm. Most of his schtick involves him figuring things out for himself because he’s used to being ignored by his parents or exploited by his brothers > . But there’s growing evidence that he’s as smart as Malcolm…and no one has noticed yet. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/18 "2005-01-28T12:38:20Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > But there’s growing evidence that he’s as smart as Malcolm…and no one has noticed yet. Malcolm, Reese, and Dewey all have their talents. Malcolm is a genius and has a photographic memory. Reese is a gourmet chef. Dewey is an award winning musical prodigy who seems to be as smart as Malcolm and as sly as Reese…and noone has noticed yet. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Mr\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/19 "2005-01-28T14:09:12Z")
I love this show (though I agree it’s not what it used to be). It never got the respect it deserved which I blame on FOX. I love how Hal calls the boys “sweetheart” and is an emotional mush even amidst all those boys. I thought it was fantastic how they gave Reese roundedness by infusing him with a love for cooking. Even perfect Malcolm is constantly reminded what a whiner he is. Dewey…is dewey. He will probably be the only one who turns out ok having practically parented himself. I didn’t like how the ended Francis’ run on the dude ranch, Otto would never have fired him. Lois is my least favourite but that is probably because she is supposed to be. No wait scratch that, the baby is my least fave. Bleeeeeech what a lame thing to do, the show deserved better than that. ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012/20 "2005-01-28T18:25:42Z")
It’s definitely not as funny as it used to be, but what shows are? (OK, maybe _King of the Hill_). Still, the father is hilarious. Dewey is either gonna be a huge success or a serial killer (or huge success _as_ a serial killer). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-malcolm-in-the-middle-to-me/287012.md?page=2)