# Yes-No-Can you repeat the question--You're not the boss of me and you're not so big. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 10, 2001, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449 "2001-03-10T16:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2001, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/21 "2001-03-12T16:30:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\* > Military school is an important part of the show because that’s where you send the kids when then don’t behave & need to learn disipline. Francis appears to learn some disipline there. \*\* That’s great if we’re watching **7th Heaven** (which we’re most certainly not!), but it really just throws the whole plot line out of whack. Sure, the storyline is complimentary to the main plot, but its just out of place. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2001, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/22 "2001-03-12T23:24:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AETBOND417 \* > \*\*This show is awesome. I missed a few minutes of last nights episode but was told what happened. The scene with Francis banging on the window after the teacher’s remark about being a callous parent had me rolling on the floor. The restaurant episode was another great one. > \*\* I hurt myself laughing at that one. I thought I was gonna die. Also–“That’s not porn. It’s a _documentary_!” Last night’s Malcolm _was_ especially good–but I think it stood out more than usual because it came after that excerable Simpson’s episode. I mean, that episode **sucked**! (BTW–If anyone persists in making unking remarks about my man Stevie, I’ll be happy to ddiscuss it with you in the Pit. :P) ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2001, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/23 "2001-03-12T23:41:24Z")
**Dewey** and the fly. I was rolling at that little subplot. 😃 and **Lois** , with her “why are they always named Tony” I love this show. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2001, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/24 "2001-03-12T23:49:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\*(BTW–If anyone persists in making unking remarks about my man Stevie, I’ll be happy to ddiscuss it with you in the Pit. 😛 ) \*\* I **LIKE** Stevie. I just wish they had chosen …a… less…annoying… personal habit… for… him. 😃 (and if anyone really has a condition that forces them to talk like that, I’d be very sympathetic etc. In this case, however, it was some one’s idea of a comic attribute) ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/25 "2001-03-13T00:29:32Z")
I dont know why Steve has multi-handicaps. If he was like that in real life, then it might be acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/26 "2001-03-13T03:31:31Z")
Two things. 1. Sunday’s Simpsons was pretty funny, especially compared to the rest of the season. 2. The best part of Malcom in the Middle last night was “level 4 rage” I go through the same thing with my mother. ---
**Author:** ![Gregor\_Samsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Gregor\_Samsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregor_Samsa)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/27 "2001-03-13T03:40:28Z")
The only thing I found funny about last night’s _Simpsons’_ was the name of the chemical (poindextrose.) The rest of it was awful. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/28 "2001-03-13T05:17:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pipeliner \* > \*\*The only thing I found funny about last night’s _Simpsons’_ was the name of the chemical (poindextrose.) The rest of it was awful. \*\* I know it’s a cliche but I really did choke on my milk and laugh out lound. I actually sounded like. BWAA HA HA HA HA BWAA HA HA HA AH. Even more pathetic was the fact that I really did want to tell my hubby that I was ROTFLMAO ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/29 "2001-03-13T11:44:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > \*\ ***I** at least was kind enough to not mention the fact that you also forgot the “I don’t know” part… \*\* Not to mention several 'You’re not the boss of me now’s. (Just had to post that since someone beat me to nickpicking ‘maybe, I don’t know…’ ---
**Author:** ![Daniel\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Daniel\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/30 "2001-03-13T14:13:25Z")
Don’t diss my man Francis. He’s one of the best characters there. Here’s this kid sent to military school who still wants to be as wild as he can, but when he finally gets his friends to go along with his plans, they escalate to the point where he’s the voice of reason trying to bring everything back. I love it. He and “the general” definitely have that Bart/Skinner nemesis thing going. I really can’t find anything to complain about this show. Me and my wife try to catch it as often as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/31 "2001-03-13T14:32:18Z")
Who are these heathens who are bashing _The Simpsons_??? ---
**Author:** ![Spider\_Woman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Spider\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spider_Woman)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/32 "2001-03-13T15:25:43Z")
and everyone else in the house (including one fat cat who occasionally watches television and bats at the moving objects) adore that show. I thought I was going to hurt myself laughing. ----:D/ ----///\\ ---
**Author:** ![plasticbryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@plasticbryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plasticbryan)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/33 "2001-03-13T16:44:58Z")
This show has quickly moved to the top of my list for all time great TV shows. My favorite episode was the one were Malcolm is trying to get out of the “Talent Fair” (or whatever they called it), but, ends up saving the day by doing all the math calculations in his head. No wait! My favorite was from this year, when that girl got a crush on him and he asked for advice from Francis, and Francis told him not to let Lois get involved, but she did and then he couldn’t explain to the girl. This show is what saves my sanity. ---
**Author:** ![jwg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@jwg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jwg)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/34 "2001-03-13T22:26:46Z")
I like the little things they put in - throw aways, I think they call them - like when the mother shaved her legs in the car, and shaved the fathers back, Francis explaining the burning car and the girl getting out of bed, and when they had brochures for a “work camp” as an alternative to Francis’ military school. I think they have done a great job with almost all of the characters - Malcolm’s teacher, Francis’ friend with the camouflage body paint, and so on. The only one I have a problem with is Dewey, who seems to be a little too dopey/mopey for me. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/35 "2001-03-13T23:01:10Z")
Okay, check this out, people… [http://www.corona.bc.ca/films/details/malcolminthemiddle.html](http://www.corona.bc.ca/films/details/malcolminthemiddle.html) ---
**Author:** ![Gregor\_Samsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Gregor\_Samsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregor_Samsa)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/36 "2001-03-14T04:12:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*Who are these heathens who are bashing _The Simpsons_??? \*\* Well, I’m not happy about the fact that IMO _The Simpsons_ have run out of steam. I still think that their reruns are better than most first-run episodes of other shows. I just think they’ve lost what spark they had. I watch the show every Sunday night, and consistently find one thing (maybe two) per episode that makes me laugh. And the rest is just filler. It’s really a shame, but I think it might be time for these guys to retire. In their defense, at least they haven’t started moralizing like _M_A_S_H\* did after it hit the crapper. ---
**Author:** ![Marvel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marvel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvel)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/37 "2001-03-23T08:10:34Z")
…love the show. They can relate to the family on TV, especially the “of COURSE we working-class folks don’t have a f\*&%ing maid” house, unlike the unspeakably clean ones you see in other sit-coms. Sure, HOW many houses with multiple children really look as good as The Cosby’s, eh!!! And I love that They Might Be Giants are the “house band” for the show. Did anyone notice “Why Does the Sun Shine” coming out of the TV set prior to the credits on an early episode? Patty ---
**Author:** ![alloran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a587f6/32.png) [@alloran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alloran)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449/38 "2001-03-23T22:54:43Z")
And at the end “Life is unfair” in a wistful tone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-can-you-repeat-the-question-youre-not-the-boss-of-me-and-youre-not-so-big/57449.md?page=1)