The fourth season of Malcolm in the Middle premiered on November 3, 2002, on Fox, and ended on May 18, 2003, with a total of 22 episodes. Frankie Muniz stars as the title character Malcolm, and he is joined by Jane Kaczmarek, Bryan Cranston, Christopher Kennedy Masterson, Justin Berfield and Erik Per Sullivan.
Cast and characters
Main Jane Kaczmarek as Lois (18 episodes) Bryan Cranston as Hal (22 episodes) Christopher Kennedy Masterson as Francis (21 episodes) Justin Berfield as Reese (22 episodes) Erik Per Sullivan as Dewey (22 episodes) Frankie Muniz as Malcolm (21 episodes)
Recurring Kenneth Mars as Otto Emy Coligado as Piama David Anthony Higgins as Craig Feldspar Craig Lamar Traylor as Stevie Kenarban Reagan Dale Neis as Nikki Evan Matthew Cohen as Lloyd Cloris Leachman as Ida Meagen Fay as Gretchen Kyle Sullivan as Dabney Brittany Finamore as Alison
Guest stars Tim DeKay as Matt ("Zoo") Daniel Roebuck as Zoo Worker Randy ("Zoo") Theo Rossi as Senior ("Humilithon") Jordan Masterson as Student #2 ("Humilithon") Vanessa Lee Chester as Student #3 ("Humilithon") Christopher Lloyd as Walter ("Family Reunion") Brenda Strong as Amelia ("Family Reunion") Mehcad Brooks as Big Kid ("Stupid Girl") Timm Sharp as Dean ("Forbidden Girlfriend") Oscar Nunez as Ranch Hand ("Forbidden Girlfriend" & "Academic Octathalon") Michael Shamus Wiles as Boyd ("Forbidden Girlfriend" & "Kicked Out") Blue Deckert as Earl ("Forbidden Girlfriend") Jack McGee as Coach Oleski ("Malcolm Holds His Tongue") David Rasche as Lawyer ("Grandma Sues") Lisa Foiles as Mallory ("If Boys Were Girls") Jennette McCurdy as Daisy ("If Boys Were Girls") Lester "Rasta" Speight as Samuel ("Long Drive") Dan Martin as Malik ("Long Drive" & "Baby: Parts 1 & 2") Sam Lerner as Patrick ("Kicked Out") Hayden Panettiere as Jessica ("Stereo Store") Gregg Binkley as Randy ("Stereo Store") Jeremy Howard as Ethan ("Stereo Store") Joel Murray as Larry ("Hal's Friend") Beth Grant as Dorene Hooper ("Hal's Friend") Tucker Smallwood as Baffert ("Academic Octathalon") Nick Wechsler as Donnie ("Reese's Party") Danielle Panabaker as Kathy McCulskey ("Reese's Party") Jason Alexander as Leonard ("Future Malcolm") Vernee Watson-Johnson as Gloria ("Future Malcolm") Brian Stepanek as Stan ("Baby: Part 1") Nancy Lenehan as Helen ("Day Care")
Episodes
Production Main cast members Frankie Muniz, Jane Kaczmarek, Bryan Cranston, Christopher Kennedy Masterson, Justin Berfield and Erik Per Sullivan return as Malcolm, Lois, Hal, Francis, Reese and Dewey respectively. The season introduces Jamie, the fifth child of Hal and Lois, although the baby's gender would not be revealed until the fifth season. The series' parallel storylines involving Francis shifts in this season from the previous season's Alaska to a cattle ranch. The storyline of "If Boys Were Girls" was developed by costume designer Heidi Kaczenski's then 11-year old niece Alexandra. Since Kaczmarek was pregnant before the season began filming, she was written out of some episodes, while her pregnancy was incorporated into the story later in the season. The episode "Clip Show 2" is the series' second clip show after the third season's 19th episode.
Release
Broadcast history The season premiered on November 3, 2002, on Fox, and ended on May 18, 2003, with a total of 22 episodes. According to Ned Martel of The New York Times, showrunner Linwood Boomer "chose to take a hard look at Malcolm's adolescence. That and a later time slot meant a 19 percent decline in the key demographic of viewers 18 to 49 in its fourth season's ratings."
Home media The season was released on Region 2 DVD on March 4, 2013, and on Region 4 DVD on September 4, 2013.
Reception Mark Sachs of Los Angeles Times said on May 10, 2003, "This well-written, solidly performed series is as close to a live-action cartoon as you can get, and when it’s clicking on all cylinders as in Sunday’s episode, it’s a joy to behold." At the 55th Primetime Emmy Awards, "If Boys Were Girls" won in the category Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series, while Kaczmarek and Cranston received nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series and Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series respectively. Cloris Leachman, who portrays Lois' mother Ida, won in the category Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series.
References