Bryan Cranston is an award-winning actor known for excellently portraying different characters in movies and TV shows. One of his most notable performances is as Hal, the eccentric father in the hit TV show Malcolm in the Middle.
The show aired from 2000 to 2006 and followed the lives of the dysfunctional yet lovable family of Hal, Lois, and their four sons. The show ran for seven seasons and produced 151 episodes.
Cranston shared his thoughts on what it was like on the show and working with Jane Kaczmarek, who played Lois, his on-screen wife.
What Bryan Cranston Had to Say About Jane Kaczmarek
While speaking to The Independent, Cranston spoke highly of Kaczmarek, saying he loved working with her. He mentioned that they had great chemistry, and they were always on the same page when it came to their scenes.
Cranston said, "We had a great working relationship. I loved working with Jane. She's a consummate actress and a lovely person."
He said they saw things the same way, "Jane and I hit it off right away. We enjoyed each other's humor and saw things the same way."
He continued with the fact they were both parents in real-life and would use that while on set, "We were right around the same age and both parents, so there were a lot of things we had in common. We'd be telling the kids as actors, 'Come on guys, settle down, we gotta do this...' the way any parent would talk to their kids – and they would listen to us like any parent and roll their eyes. The roles were very well fit."
Related: Was Bryan Cranston Happy 'Malcolm In The Middle' Ended And Would He Do A Reboot?
Kaczmarek's portrayal of Lois was just as essential to the show's success as Cranston's Hal. Her tough-love parenting style, quick wit, and sharp tongue made her character one of the most memorable in the show.
Cranston shared how Kaczmarek's performance inspired him to improve his acting skills. He said, "She was a great scene partner. She made me a better actor. When you have someone that good to work with, it lifts you up."
What Jane Kaczmarek Has to Say About Bryan Cranston
Kaczmarek recalls how fun it was to work with Cranston and how he would "talk everyone down."
"I cannot impress enough what a real paternal influence Bryan was. He was always there when situations got tough. I was always pregnant and wanting to be home. Sometimes I think the dispatch at which I yelled at those children was because I really just wanted to go home – I had kids at home to yell at [laughs]," Kaczmarek said.
She continued, "Bryan would do impersonations of everybody on set and talk people down from the ledge. He knows the lyrics to every song ever written. He'd start singing, and we'd play 'Name That Tune.'"
The show's creator, Linwood Boomer, credited Cranston and Kaczmarek for their exceptional performances and ability to bring their characters to life.
Related: What Happened To Frankie Muniz's Net Worth After Malcolm In The Middle?
He said, "Bryan and Jane were amazing. They really understood the characters and brought so much to them. They elevated the show to a whole new level."
Malcolm in the Middle was groundbreaking in its portrayal of a dysfunctional family. But Kaczmarek doesn't agree with that statement:
"People would say, 'They're such a dysfunctional family,' and I would think, 'Are you kidding me? They sit down for dinner together every night! Those kids don't get away with anything. This is a highly functioning family. They're mean, loud, and aggressive – but they're highly functioning.'"
Would The Cast Do a Reboot?
Many loved this show, with an average viewership of 15 million views per episode; it's no wonder chatter of a reboot or reunion is a buzz. But would the cast do it?
Frankie Muniz, star of Malcolm in the Middle, said, "We've talked about how fun it'd be to do a reunion show, season, or a movie, and I don't think anything excites me more. I'd love it because I had such a great time doing the show, and the whole cast was amazing."
He continued, "I feel like we have more story to tell, especially 20 years later. There are so many possibilities about what the family could be up to. As a fan of the show, I want to know what happened."
Kaczmarek said, "Bryan is really keen on a reunion show, and I would love to – but I said to him, 'What would we be doing?' Then I remembered one of the final things in that final episode in 2006: Hal and I are rejoicing that we've got two kids out of the house, and I come out with a pregnancy stick, and you hear us both screaming because I'm pregnant again. If that was true, we'd have a 14-year-old. We'd have another Malcolm at home because when the show started, Malcolm was 14."
Related: Bryan Cranston Hinted At A Malcolm In The Middle Reunion But Will It Happen?
Cranston, who is actively trying for a reboot, said, "I told Linwood this thing still resonates. I want to pull him out of retirement and have him write a reunion movie. If we were to produce a Malcolm in the Middle 20 years later show, we'd absolutely contact every single crew member to come back because that's the family."
He continued, "I'm going to keep working on him. I think I can convince him. Like a good wine, it endures. It passes the test of time. It's a classic story and series, and I couldn't be prouder."
