# Malcolm in the Middle's R-Word **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 26, 2000, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malcolm-in-the-middles-r-word/34528 "2000-09-26T00:17:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malcolm-in-the-middles-r-word/34528/1 "2000-09-26T00:17:06Z")
Last night’s rerun of _Malcolm in the Middle_ on Fox was probably one of the first or second episodes of the series. In it, Malcolm and the gang are at an “Academic Carnival” - basically a get-together for the gifted students and their families. Lots of wacky hijinx ensue. Anyhoo, one snooty mom starts criticizing Malcolm to his mother, suggesting that Malcolm is unruly, uncooperative, blah blah blah. She then goes on to mention that Malcolm has even “…said the **R-word**.” The meaning of this enigmatic phrase was not revealed by episode’s end, leading me ask: WTF? What possible word, beginning with the letter “R,” could be uttered by a 12-year-old boy in a gifted program at a public school that could cause such concern? And more importantly, what does it have to do with Malcolm? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malcolm-in-the-middles-r-word/34528/2 "2000-09-26T00:19:40Z")
The only thing I could come up with was “retarded”??? ---
**Author:** ![AzRaek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/azraek/32/16739_2.png) [@AzRaek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AzRaek)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malcolm-in-the-middles-r-word/34528/3 "2000-09-26T01:05:58Z")
I thought “republican”? ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malcolm-in-the-middles-r-word/34528/4 "2000-09-26T01:12:34Z")
Rape . . . racist . . . rap . . . radical . . . roofer . . . reefer? ---
**Author:** ![Bubble\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@Bubble\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bubble_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malcolm-in-the-middles-r-word/34528/5 "2000-09-26T02:15:27Z")
That was a funny episode! I did not see it the first time it ran. I know at the end of the show I was wondering myself what the “R” word was and still for the life of me I have no idea. I hope someone on here knows… ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malcolm-in-the-middles-r-word/34528/6 "2000-09-26T02:16:18Z")
In the original broadcast, IIRC, Lois asked what she meant, and the lady leaned in and whispered “retard!” and Lois leaned back and said “Retard?” and the lady goes “SHHHH!!!” Apparently, it offended someone, because it’s been cut in all the rebroadcasts. –Tim