Pilot (Malcolm in the Middle)
"Pilot" | |
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Malcolm in the Middle episode | |
Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 1 |
Directed by | Todd Holland |
Written by | Linwood Boomer |
Original air date | January 9, 2000 |
"Pilot" is the
Plot
Brothers Malcolm (Frankie Muniz), Reese (Justin Berfield), and Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan) wake up to a typical school morning - the three siblings fighting over waffles at breakfast and their mother Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) carelessly shaving their father Hal's (Bryan Cranston) excessive body hair. While walking to school, Malcolm and Dewey lay eyes upon the school bully, Dave Spath (Vincent Berry). In class, Malcolm's teacher (Merrin Dungey) comments on his talent for painting; in an act of jealousy, Spath pours red paint on his chair. Malcolm sits in the paint just before being called to see the school psychologist, Caroline Miller (Catherine Lloyd Burns), and is ridiculed by everyone he passes on the way to her office. Caroline states her intentions to run some tests on Malcolm, and does so by holding up a tampered picture with several mistakes in it. Still annoyed at Spath's prank, Malcolm launches into a tirade, angrily yet correctly naming all the mistakes before yelling about the paint on his clothes. In an excited manner, Caroline stops her watch that she was using to time him.
After school, Malcolm arrives for a "play-date" with
The next day, Malcolm's teacher informs his non-interested class about how he is a success, and Malcolm finds himself surrounded by geniuses only a short while later. After accidentally insulting Stevie, Malcolm tries to make amends with him but Spath once again picks on Malcolm. This causes Malcolm to lose his temper and begins to insult Spath, telling him he's worthless. As the two break into a fight, Malcolm ducks as Spath's fist accidentally and softly brushes against the cheek of Stevie's face. Stevie overhears Spath's friends talking and then falls over in his wheelchair, turning the crowd against Spath despite his claim that it was an accident. As Malcolm and Stevie smile at one another, Malcolm realizes there are things worse than being a Krelboyne.
Afterwards, Malcolm then mentions what happens to Spath afterwards and debates whether he feels sorry for him or not. Dewey, who is under an overturned trash can on which Malcolm is sitting, yells to Malcolm to let him out.
Production
Kaczmarek said on the August 28, 2021 episode of
The original version of the pilot was about 25 minutes, but was shortened to 22 minutes for TV, including overlaying the credits over the last scene instead of being separate, and shortening some scenes like the boys talking about Francis being in Alabama.
The episode was originally going to end with Malcolm tying a skateboard to the back of his dad’s car, with the car’s engine starting as it cuts to black. The network didn’t want the stunt to be replicated, so despite his own wishes, Boomer obliged and cut the scene.[2]
Accolades
This episode won multiple awards, including two
References
- ^ "Jane Kaczmarek". Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!. August 28, 2021. Event occurs at 26:38.
- ^ a b “Disk Commentary” Linwood Boomer and Todd Holland. Malcolm in the Middle- the Complete First Season Disc 1, Fox TV, 2002. DVD.
- ^ "Linwood Boomer at Yahoo TV".
- ^ "Awards for "Malcolm in the Middle" at IMDb". IMDb.