MARATHON MAN
Ex-‘Malcolm’ star Muniz binging his old Fox sitcom
FRANKIE Muniz recently tweeted about the joys of binging on his former series, “Malcolm in the
Middle” — a digital-age treat that was impossible when the Fox sitcom originally aired (2000-2006).
“It’s insane how few episodes I have ever seen and how little I remember!” he tweeted (in part) about the series, which followed boy-genius Malcolm (Muniz), older brothers Francis (Christopher Masterson) and Reese (Justin Berfield), kid brother Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan) and harried parents Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) and Hal (Bryan Cranston).
Muniz, 31, on the phone from Arizona, says there’s a reason he doesn’t remember much about the series.
“It’s a funny thing. When you do a show like we did, 151 episodes, back then there was no streaming, so if I didn’t catch [the show] when it was on I didn’t see it,” he says. “I remember at one point I asked [the producers], when we were filming Season 5 or 6, if I could get VHS tapes of all the episodes. When you’re busy making a show ... it just becomes part of your life and you don’t necessarily get to enjoy it when you’re in the moment.”
After “Malcolm” ended, Muniz raced cars, played drums in several bands (including Kingsfoil) and toured the world. (He’s currently managing the indie pop band Astro Lasso.) “The show ended 11 years ago and I stepped away,” he says. “I didn’t realize when I was doing it, but I was part of a really cool show, you know what I mean? Maybe I’m crazy watching my own show, but I’ve never seen it.”
He says he started watching “Malcolm” on Netflix when hearing from fans of the show. “So many people were writing me last year saying that they just binge-watched all 151 episodes in a week on Netflix, and I’m like, ‘That’s a good d idea,’id ” heh says. “I’m on Season 5 right now, and I’m shocked every day by how great and funny the show was, and — it’s weird — but I can honestly watch the show as a fan. I don’t know what’s going to happen [on each episode]. You’d think I would remember, but we did so many episodes.
“When you can binge-watch the show from Season 1 to Season 2 there’s a big change in all the boys,” he says. “Wow. We grew up fast, we really did. When the show started we were tiny little kids. The only life I know is me being on ‘Malcolm,’ and having that, and being able to look back and see the awkward transition of going through puberty on TV ... it’s kinda cool to have that. Is it weird watching the show? I can honestly say I don’t see myself; it’s weird to think that’s me. I’m watching it as a fan would. I see characters. I’m not the kind of actor who criticizes myself.”
Muniz says he stays in touch “a little bit here and there” with most of his former cast mates, but shares a strong bond with Cranston, who went on to win four Emmys for “Breaking Bad” and a Tony Award for “All the Way.” “For the last 11 years, probably once a month, Bryan will text or call me to check in,” he says. “Even now, when you know his schedule is insane, the fact that he still reaches out ... he’s just a great guy. He’s honestly mym idol.” And, unlike othero child stars who often talk bitterly of their early success, Muniz embraces his years on “Malcolm in the Middle.” “When the show ended,e the showh ended. I moved on to other careers,” he says. “I’m not shying away from it. I just realize the show has impacted peoples lives and made them laugh ... and that’s a great thing. “I’m allabout embracing what I did and I consider myself extremely lucky. If I never do anything again, I’ll have something really cool to look back on.”