Someone just mentioned Malcom in the Middle over on the Chris Gaines thread, and I thought that I'd ask what you thought of it.

Personally, I saw it and hated it. For a show that was being promoted as a "live action Simpsons", I found it totally unfunny. Don't get me wrong, I can relate to it, but it's just situational humour in situations that I don't think are amusing. I mean, the first scene, the father is naked in the middle of the kitchen, having the mother shave his back. All three kids are sitting at the kitchen counter eating breakfast. I think that it was supposed to be funny, but really, I thought that it was kind of gross. I mean, okay, fine, shave yourself, but do you have to do it in the middle of the kitchen? While they're eating?! Call my crazy, but I have issues with that. Ten minutes later, the mother is running around the house, getting ready for work. This, as far as I'm concerned, is normal. Except for the fact that she's topless the entire time. Running around, putting away laundry, answering the phone, and, finally, answering the door to find Malcom's teacher there. I should point out that when the doorbell rang, she had a pile of clothes in her hands which, I believe, she set down on the bed. If that was me, I would at least have grabbed a tee shirt and held it in front of me. Once again, I think that it was supposed to be funny, but it just didn't work. Sigh. I think that I'll stick to watching Simpsons.
-Meghan

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

Answers

I saw it, too -- and, like you, I thought it was the worst things I had ever seen. I was disgusted with myself for watching it. I think that no one really wants to see a LIVE Simpsons family -- that kind of thing is funny because it's distanced by the fact that they are cartoons... but that kind of disgusting, ignorant, annoying crap is not funny at all with real people. I hated every minute of that show and I can't wait for it to go off the air.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2000

I watched some of it. It wasn't very good. Usually you can tell weeks before a new show airs whether it will be good. I think the rule is, if you hear about it before it comes on, it's no good. If it's new and they advertise it, I won't like it.

Anyway, I write because a friend called me during Malcom to tell me how funny it was and how much it reminded her of me. I didn't see enough to know if that was a compliment or not.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

I watched it last night just to see why everyone was saying it was so hysterical. It's not. Save your eyes. And I didn't think the methods the mother used to get the boys to confess were funny. I thought her methods were borderline abusive. Ha ha.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

Wow, I can't believe so many people hated this show. Last night I laughed so hard I nearly peed myself. I think it's clever and original, and I LOVE that they don't have a friggin laugh track, which is one of the worst TV inventions/conventions ever. (Maybe that's why y'all didn't think it was funny?) I think it is brilliant.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

Nope, I just thought it was boring. I didn't hate it, I just don't have any interest in it. And I really tried to like it. I also resent Fox pre-empting Futurama for it.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

We forgot it was on until there were only 10 minutes left, so I don't feel like I can really judge it fairly until I see an entire episode. From what I did see, I wasn't amused at all, but I figured I was just missing a lot of the jokes since I had no idea why the kids hid the television, why the father wasn't home on the night of his anniversary, why the kids taped pillows to themselves and one of them was hanging off the ceiling fan. No sir, didn't get it. And when the dad spent so much time with the bathroom valet, or whatever they're called, and didn't even tip him? I thought the guy was going to say something about it, and instead he just said thanks for looking him in the eye? That's not comedy? That's sad! That made Hormonal Me want to cry!

I'll try Malcolm in the Middle once more, in its entirety, before I decide for sure if I like it or not, but right now I'm leaning way over towards not.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

No no no....Malcolm in the Middle is excellent! It's hilarious. I think the Mom - children interaction is very realistic! Geez, at least it was in my house for my brother and me. I think it lives up to the hype.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

I watched it last night, and maybe it was just one of those days for me, but I thought it was HYSTERICAL!!! I'll probably never see it again -- I'll forget what night it's on or something and besides I never watch Fox anyway (except for the Simpsons reruns at 5:30 and 6) but boy oh boy, I was laughing my head off.

"I get to do the bow! I get to do the bow!"

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

Well, I loved the actor playing Malcolm. I think he's great. I think the show might have potential. I might try to catch it once more, maybe not. There's a chance for improvement.

Not that I get a chance to watch a whole lot of TV anyway...

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

I loved it. I've seen both episodes so far and I think it's the best new show in ages. It was definitely funnier last night than that lame-ass faith healer Simpsons episode.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

Lame ass faith-healer? "My milk money, and my milk." Sorry, but I love the Simpsons to no end, even some of their more recent slightly disturbing episodes. What I don't get is how anyone could compare Malcolm in the Middle to the big S. The only possible link is that they each have one bad kid, one smart kid, and one young kid that no one really pays that much attention to. Sure, there's the one kid at boarding school, but he's like the oldest Cosby kid- no one cares.

Whoever said the mom-kid interaction on MITM is realistic was right on the money. It's very realistic. Marge Simpson isn't. She's a hyper stereotype of the mild-mannered, do everything mom. The dad (from what I've seen) is sort of silly and bumbling, but Homer is a perfect example of the genius of pure idiocy. The Simpsons have the freedom to do things that totally defy reality, while at the same time making very pointed and sometimes mean-spirited observations of our society. And the supporting characters! Mr. Burns and Smithers! The guy who owns the Android's Dungeon (the comic book store)! Disco Stu! The Baby with One Eyebrow!

Malcolm in the Middle just shows me my childhood with a cast of less interesting characters and a pool of less talented writers.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

I think this show is hysterical. And the mom is so spot-on in how she punishes the kids. Borderline abusive? What? How so? Because she threw away their toys? Oh, please. And, Meghan? Your complaint about her answering the door topless? I've done some door-to-door stuff before, and let me tell you, people answer the door undressed ALL THE TIME.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

I thought that Malcolm in the Middle was a riot! I love the mother's tactics for punishment Maybe some of you guys didn't have a mom who ran around topless but I did so this cracked me up since I related to this.

The boys wrapping the mom's gift in pieces of several different wrapping paper. I remember doing this as a kid either for effects or becuz I misjudged the size of the paper compared to the gift. My hubby remembers doing this when he was a kid becuz they were poor.

This show is hilarious and I hope that it sticks around for a while.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the guy who directed the first episode (didn't catch his name) the same guy who did "Better Off Dead?" It definitely had a similar feel to it. And in the second episode, wasn't the guy who works with Mom the same guy who played Ricky in "Better Off Dead?"
I'm not quite sure what to make of the show yet... some of it is funny, but I don't think it's anywhere near as clever as Futurama... I do think they're overpromoted it as the second coming, when really it's just a modest little show...

o.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

I've been disappointed by two Simpsons episodes this season -- the faith healer one this week, and another one that I can't remember at the moment. Those are two of the only three bad episodes I can think of (the other being the Johnny Cash coyote one). I'm a huge fan, and I don't think Malcolm is in the same league -- but I do think it's hilarious.

Futurama really does nothing for me. I vastly prefer King of the Hill.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

The mom-kids relationship on Malcolm in the Middle is realistic? And only borderline abusive?

Based on the one episode I saw (this week), that's really depressing.

Put me down on the non-amused side.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Savage Steve Holland directed "Better off Dead". This show was directed by Todd Holland.

My favorite part of the MITM was the slow motion fight with They Might Be Giants' "Pencil Rain" playing in the background. I stood up clapping.

--David

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Hey, Omie, I never saw "Better Off Dead" (yes, I know I should!), but I'm pretty sure the guy who works with the mom worked at Ellen's bookstore on "Ellen". If that helps.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Ah, then it is the same guy.... any chance Savage Steve and Todd are related? It just seemed like too much of a coincidence. Sadly, according the IMDB, Savage Steve Holland hasn't done anything since Eek the Cat in 1992.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

I only watched part of the first episode because it was required by law. I wanted FOX to stop interrupting my every thought with a reminder that they had a new show called "Malcolm in the Middle."

I thought it was okay. The color of the film is a little strange, isn't it? It makes me think I was watching someone's art film project, or some sketch comedy show.

I wasn't laughing too much, more like a chuckle. Not like "King of the Hill." Not even like "The Simpsons," which I sometimes don't like at all.

Nothing beats my beloved "Dr. Katz" though. You shutup with the squigglevision digs.

Anyway, Malcolm: I didn't find it offensive. I found Married... With Children much more offensive. At least this family cared about each other. I thought the mother was about as abusive as Roseanne. And anyone who thinks that mothers don't walk around answering the door topless obviously hasn't been reading the stories I tell about my grandmother.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

I totally agree with Andy that it should not be compared to the Simpsons. However, I saw the first episode and thought "wow, was that suppose to be funny? They really hyped this up and it wasn't that funny" Then I saw the following week and I thought it was funnier. I think this show is going to get more interesting with time and character developement. I definitly think it has possiblities.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

I thought it was Better Off Dead for the middle-school set. This means I enjoyed it immensely. Your mileage, however, may vary. (And apparently has.)

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Hey, Pamie-- is it my imagination, or is Dr. Katz ending? They played a marathon on Com. Central and they kept saying "The Last of Dr. Katz's Case Files...."

The good news is I was in Fredericksburg this weekend and I happened to catch The Dick & Paula Celebrity Special on FX (we don't get FX in Austin, do we?). It was REALLY damned funny, as good or better than Dr. Katz. I dug up a review of it that had some of this:
"Witty, astute opener co-penned by Snyder and Jon Benjamin features Oedipus himself, sporting an eye patch, who's intro'd: 'Well, now, how many of us can claim that we accidentally murdered our father and slept with our mother?' During hilarious asides both in the green room and during his interview seg, we learn that Oed has an Oedipus complex ('A huge one') and is marketing a perfume called Complex."

Funny!

o.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

i thought "you hit the cripple!" was fucking hilarious.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

I am usually not some one who HAS to watch a show every week, but I am hooked on Malcom in the Middle. The mother is a crack up!! It is one of the best new shows in a long while.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Does anyone remember The Adventures of Pete and Pete? I thought MITM was like P&P, only the mother was meaner and didn't have a metal plate in her head. I prefer P&P, because the younger Pete had a tattoo, and he would shake it and say, "Dance for me Señorita, dance!"

The guy that works with the mom is one of the Higgins boys, from the Higgins Boys & Gruber. Is no one going to defend Futurama? Just in the recent Xmas episode, they did the funny Harold Lloyd stunt hanging from the digital clock. (I went to a college where they showed Harold Lloyd movies.) And the shrivelled up old guy walking around naked. (My college was in New York City, where that kind of thing was also common. Does that ever stop being funny?) And they had Santa Claus try and kill everyone except Zoiberg, the ethnic-lobster man. Santa Claus is gunning you down...

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Open your eyes, do you even know what u r dissing? this show is da' bomb and if u diss it i will diss the shows u like! http://www.angelfire.com/celeb/MalcolmRockz

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001

I think that malcom in the middle is a kick ass show and ever since the first time i've watched it i have not missed an episode. I like the show because it deals with a lot of funny situations and problems and i think that the way that they deal with them is funny. Like, when the new family moved in next to malcom's family they hated each other except the two fathers and they had to sneak around like best friends when they are grounded to see each other. I don't know but i think that that's pretty funny.

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001