The sixth season of Malcolm in the Middle premiered on November 7, 2004, on Fox, and ended on May 15, 2005, 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 (22 episodes) Bryan Cranston as Hal (22 episodes) Christopher Kennedy Masterson as Francis (7 episodes) Justin Berfield as Reese (22 episodes) Erik Per Sullivan as Dewey (22 episodes) Frankie Muniz as Malcolm (22 episodes)
Recurring Craig Lamar Traylor as Stevie Kenarban Amy Bruckner as Zoe Cameron Monaghan as Chad Danny McCarthy as Hanson David Anthony Higgins as Craig Feldspar Emy Coligado as Piama Cloris Leachman as Ida
Guest stars Caroline Aaron as Nurse Peterson ("Reese Comes Home") Tricia O'Kelley as Mrs. Walsh ("Buseys Run Away") Dan Martin as Malik ("Standee") Kathy Lamkin as Customer ("Standee") Carol Mansell as Customer ("Standee") Hayden Panettiere as Jessica ("Pearl Harbor") Merrin Dungey as Kitty Kenarban ("Kitty's Back") Henry Gibson as Frank Ralston ("Kitty's Back") Jeanette Miller as Elderly Woman ("Kitty's Back") Derek Waters as Waiter ("Kitty's Back") Mitch Silpa as Bartender ("Kitty's Back") Art LaFleur as Fred ("Malcolm's Car") Bob Koherr as Mike ("Malcolm's Car") Rose Abdoo as Margie ("Malcolm's Car") Heather McDonald as Nancy ("Malcolm's Car") Fredric Lehne as Officer Ridley ("Billboard") Sam Anderson as Police Commissioner ("Billboard") Ashley Gardner as Wendy ("Billboard") Raven Goodwin as Busey #2 ("Dewey's Opera" & "Buseys Take a Hostage") Brad Bufanda as Lugar Bob ("Dewey's Opera") Thomas Kopache as Vic Feldspar ("Living Will") John Ducey as Peter Rubin ("Living Will") Mike McShane as Dr. Phelps ("Living Will") Travis Van Winkle as Phillip ("Tiki Lounge") Leah Pipes as Stephanie Wright ("Tiki Lounge") Patrick Bristow as Lloyd ("Chad's Sleepover") Mary Gross as Evelyn ("Chad's Sleepover") Carla Jimenez as Attendant ("No Motorcycles") Dan Butler as Norm ("Butterflies") Bess Meisler as Gorga ("Ida's Dance") Lorna Raver as Big Kathy ("Ida's Dance") Lilyan Chauvin as Marica ("Ida's Dance") Markus Flanagan as Frank ("Motivational Speaker") Michael Kagan as Cop ("Motivational Speaker") Bob Glouberman as Gerry ("Motivational Speaker") Dee Dee Rescher as Flora ("Motivational Speaker") Timothy Stack as Sam ("Stilts") Sam Lloyd as Jim ("Buseys Take a Hostage") Jennette McCurdy as Penelope ("Buseys Take a Hostage") Julia Campbell as Donna ("Mrs. Tri-County") Fred Applegate as Dr. Dave ("Mrs. Tri-County") Cindy Ambuehl as Darlene Fisher ("Mrs. Tri-County") Carolyn Seymour as Nina ("Mrs. Tri-County") Deborah May as Betty ("Mrs. Tri-County") Kirsten Nelson as Jeanie ("Mrs. Tri-County")
Episodes
Production In April 2004, Fox renewed Malcolm in the Middle for a sixth season. 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. Masterson made fewer appearances in the season, and it was written into the storyline that he has been fired from the ranch he joined in season four.
Release Broadcast history The season premiered on November 7, 2004, on Fox, and ended on May 15, 2005, with a total of 22 episodes.
Home media The season was released on Region 2 DVD on May 27, 2013, and on Region 4 DVD on September 4, 2013.
Reception John Leonard of New York wrote, "[T]hose of you who have followed Malcolm to a military academy, a dude ranch, and Afghanistan, through jury duty, hangovers, shoplifting, book clubs, hot tubs, and Oliver North, ought to know better than to doubt for a second the savage savvy of Lois in her solitary splendor. All in one, she is Mother Jones, Mother Courage, Mother Goose, Mother Superior—and Pol Pot." At the 57th Primetime Emmy Awards, the song "The Marriage Bed" that was written by Eric Kaplan and composed by Charles Sydnor for the episode "Dewey's Opera" was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics. In the same ceremony, Kaczmarek was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, and Cloris Leachman for Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series.
In 2019, Angelo Delos Trinos of Screen Rant included the episode "Pearl Harbor" in his list, "10 Episodes Of Malcolm in the Middle That Aged Poorly". He wrote, "It’s not the show’s worst foray into risqué territory, but Pearl Harbor really belongs in 2004 when it first aired." In 2020, Ricky Fernandes da Conceição of Goomba Stomp named "Reese Comes Home", "Pearl Harbor", "Dewey’s Opera" and "Billboard" as among the "30 Best Episodes of Malcolm in the Middle".
References