Creator and showrunner Linwood Boomer never really considered a Malcolm in the Middle reboot or reunion after the series ended in 2006. To be honest, he didn't really need to have it. He had made a lot of money from the series, which aired more than 100 episodes during its seven-season run. Now, the show returns for a four-part episode reunion series, Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair.
"My life is great," he says over Zoom from his Southern California home. He met his wife, Tracy Katsky, a former Fox executive, on the set of the show, and they have been together since.
He jokes, sarcastically, "You may not realize this, but being a rich white guy in this country is awesome. It's awesome."
Katsky laughs nervously, "Maybe don't print that."
To understand Boomer's humor, you need to know about the hit 2000s series, Malcolm in the Middle, centered on a young genius middle child named Malcolm (Frankie Muniz), who is surrounded by a chaotic but loving family - sweet, clumsy dad Hal (Bryan Cranston), overbearing, controlling mother Lois (Jane Kaczmarek), troubled oldest child Francis (Christopher Masterson), problematic older brother Reese (Justin Berfield), and younger sweet music prodigy brother Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan). Malcolm later gets two more siblings throughout the series' seven seasons. The entire series plays on sarcasm and awkward humor that is relatable, playing on the absurdity in front of the genuine, loving family moments.
Critics praised the show for its writing, acting, and humor. During a time when audiences rejected single-camera comedies, Malcolm in the Middle hit record ratings, with more than 23 million viewers for its debut episode.
Based on Boomer's life and the people he grew up around, he describes working on the series as a lot of hard work, especially for someone who tends to overthink. He was happy to take a step back from the series to rest and focus on his family.
During the era of reboots and reunions, Boomer felt the pressure to bring Malcolm and his family back to life. So many networks, executives, and actors, including Cranston, had approached him to have a reunion. But Boomer didn't budge unless there was a good enough idea or reason, despite the cast and crew wanting to return to these roles.
Katsky had wanted Boomer to do a Malcolm in the Middle reunion, giving him the idea of Malcolm's daughter, who was going through the same situation as he did growing up - being a misunderstood genius, while celebrating Hal and Lois' 40th wedding anniversary.
He loved the idea, praising her for being the straw that broke the camel's back and led to the reunion. But for him to return, he wanted Katsky to be beside him as executive producer.
Katsky had produced many projects throughout her career as an executive. But she had her reservations working with her husband because they're married. She cutely adds, "mostly happily." They had to set some ground rules while working together.
She admits she's been wanting him to bring back the characters for the past 20 years, only because she knew her husband was talented.
"Linwood is incredible," she says sweetly. "His vision and his ability to execute that vision are unparalleled."
In Malcolm In The Middle: Life's Still Unfair, Malcolm has a whole other life away from his family, claiming that his work keeps him from them. Little do they know, he actually has a thriving career, a bright teenage daughter, Leah (Keeley Karsten), and a beautiful girlfriend, Tristan (Kiana Madeira), whom he loves. He really has it all. That is, until his parents demand he attend their 40th wedding anniversary, and it spirals out of control, as one would expect from the chaotic lives of the Wilkinson family.
Boomer returned as co-writer with his team from the original series - Michael Glouberman, Matthew Carlson, Gary Murphy, and Al Higgins; director Ken Kwapis; almost entire main cast returned to be part of the series except infant characters (Jamie is now played by Anthony Timpano; Dewey (Caleb Ellsworth-Clark now replacing Sullivan). Newcomers included Hal and Lois' 7th child Kelly (Vaughan Murrae) revealed nonbinary.
With the world vastly different from what it was 20 years ago, Boomer knew he had to keep up with the times. Malcolm's asthmatic best friend Stevie (Craig Lamar Traylor) is gay and happily married with a kid. Kelly is nonbinary, and the family doesn't make a big deal of it. They just exist as such. It's what made the original series so beloved. It didn't matter your race, gender, or sexuality - everyone has their own kind of crazy.
"These things are from my life," Boomer admits. "They're my family, my friends, and the people I love. All these things have happened in one way or another to someone important whom you care about. That's how I've always written everything; certainly everything successful that I've written has been what's coming out of my life."
He also wanted to bring some laughter and positivity because Katsky notes,"the world is, you know, mean and there's a lot of bad-natured things out there."
Ever the jokester, Boomer says all the humor is "always intentional and very self-serving to make sure it's the version of the Thanksgiving story where I was right and smart,and that everyone should have listened to me."
With a few years on both Boomer's and Katsky's belts in the industry,Boomer revealed that now he is older he's less fixated on success.They're both past that point in their lives.Back then they worked hard to reach 100 episodes after which a person could quit show business.(Granted this was before streaming happened,the days of proper residuals.)
"Back then I was so adamant about everything," he recalls."I wasn't as much now.I was less insane and demanding this time around."
Katsky recalls that his social skills had improved dramatically. She shares,"Even though he has very strong opinions,he was so much better about expressing them in a way."
When the cast did reunite,it was as if no time had passed between the cast and the crew,despite twenty years.Katsky compared it to summer or theater camp,"It's all the people that you see every summer,and we just hadn't seen them and each other for a really long time.When you step into that world,their my real friends,but then you go back to your other world."
Though the series will be on a streaming platform,which means they weren't restricted by time,Boomer didn't want the story to lose its focus.He stuck with the half-hour format to remain consistent,but also because it was initially supposed to be a movie.
Katsky states,"Disney wanted six episodes,but Linwood said he could do three.They came back with six,and he returned with four.That’s how it ended up that length,and it’s because of what the story dictated."
Boomer wished he could have added so many of the other characters and storylines,but he did what he could with the cameos,including Francis’ friends from the cadet academy,the ranch,and Malcolm’s friends from school.He wanted to see more teachers,and one of Dewey’s friends,named Egg,would just show up out of nowhere.
"There were other cast members we wanted to bring back,"he sighs."I had written for eight or nine different [characters].We have limited time so we won't be able to do them all.The last episode is pretty long-way longer than any Malcolm episode we ever did by 50%."
Despite the reunion being one of the most anticipated ones to watch for millennials and their children,Boomer isn't interested in being the showrunner for another spin-off of Malcolm's story.It's also a different era and focus in Boomer's life.He admits,"I'm an old man.This was a lot of work for me."
But it doesn't mean the idea is entirely dead.Boomer praised Karsten's performance as Malcolm's successor,saying how much she reminds him of Muniz at that age.
"I think that kid Keely is a monster,"he says."Underused talent.There’s something almost spooky about the level of talent and awareness and just comedy chops that someone that age normally has.Most can’t do anything that Keely can do."
Until then,Boomer and Katsky hope fans will enjoy Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair and feel as if they're reuniting with family.
"The way Linwood writes is that the characters have honest emotional responses to the world,as opposed to telling you how the world should or shouldn't be,"says Katsky."It's just the world kind of is what it is.The characters are who they are,and they interact on a very real,hopefully genuine emotional level with what's going on.There’s stuff happening now,and it’s how they deal with it."
Boomer adds,with humor,"It’s stuff I say at dinner with friends: Here is my opinion on this issue. It’s not as entertaining. It’s real education,and people should listen to every goddam thing I say or nothing because it’s all brilliant."
All four episodes of Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Unfair premiere on Hulu and Disney+ on April 10.