They Might be Giants & Malcolm in the Middle

Just a quick post to say how much I love the judicious use of TMBG songs in the Fox hit Malcolm in the Middle. Is there some kind of connection between the band and the show?

They do the theme song and they have a song in almost every episode. I believe the last one (used brilliantly, I might add) was Spiraling Shape, used in the episode from the week before last when Malcolm and his brothers were pushing their parents’ treasured heirlooms off the roof onto the Porsche their dad was test-driving. Friggin’ hilarious.

I don’t know if there is a connection, but damn that show is funny as all hell.

Actually, They Might Be Giants does all of the music for Malcolm in the Middle. Most of the music is new and specifically written for the show (background music & etc.), but occasionally they’ll slip in one of their old songs.

Favorite slip-in of my own: The mother turns the TV on to an ‘educational’ program, and you hear “The sun is a mass of incandescent gas…” My roommate (a huge TMBG fan) had to bite down on his throw pillow to keep from screaming.

OK, this makes another reason to watch the show! I remember the premiere episode (I think it was, anyway) where they played “Pencil Rain” during the scene where the bully hits Stevie (the kid in the wheelchair). I was all about that; Mrs. O thought I was having an extreme geek moment.

Maybe I was, I don’t care. I just feel I have a special connection with TMBG 'cos my granddad and the Johns went to the same high school. Not at the same time, of course.

Am I the only person on this planet that saw the Tiny Toons episode( i saw it about 5 or 6 years ago) that featured Particle Man and Istanbul? It was great. TMBG is in my top five fave groups.

Nope, you’re not the only one who’s seen the Tiny Toons videos, psycat. In fact, I have them both in mpeg.

John Corrado, TMBG doesn’t do all the music. Occasionally they’ll throw in some stuff from other artists. Beck’s Mixed Bizness was in the season finale.

I remember that episode, too! They did “That’s What I Want” also, and had those music video-esque things to go along with them. I loved that.

Nope, you’re not the only one who’s seen the Tiny Toons videos, psycat. In fact, I have them both in mpeg.

John Corrado, TMBG doesn’t do all the music. Occasionally they’ll throw in some stuff from other artists. Beck’s Mixed Bizness was in the season finale.

Hey, thanks y’all. I have been wondering for a while who sung " Why does the sun shine ", and here I found the answer. Danke schon.

Yes!! At last, a chance to share a bit of useless trivia! Just what I live for.
Yes, TMBG made the song famous, but it was written by Hy Zaret and Lou Singer. It’s from the Science Songs collection from the late 50’s. Go here for more information and mp3’s of the original songs:
http://www.acme.com/jef/science_songs/

Sorry. I forgot to mention that I learned this vital piece of information from http://www.memepool.com. Bye.