Editing Malcolm in the Middle (section)

==Production==
===Development===
The pilot's script was initially being developed by [[UPN]] until [[Regency Enterprises#Regency Television|Regency Television]] became involved.<ref name="Sitcom Savior" /> It was planned for the [[1998–99 United States network television schedule|1998–99]] television season. However, when UPN's enthusiasm for the project waned, [[Gail Berman]] managed to rescue the pilot by bringing the project to Fox.<ref name="Sitcom Savior" /> The show was then moved to the [[1999–2000 United States network television schedule|1999–2000]] cycle where it was picked up by Fox.<ref name="Fox pilot">{{Cite news |title=Freshman Contenders: ''Malcolm in the Middle'' |url=https://variety.com/2000/tv/news/freshman-contenders-malcolm-in-the-middle-1117782721/ |access-date=July 3, 2021 |publisher=Variety}}</ref>

===Opening title===
The show's opening title features short clips from cult films or television shows, with earlier seasons being edited together with clips from the pilot and early episodes of the show. It was updated in season 4 to include clips from later seasons, set to the song "[[Boss of Me]]" by [[They Might Be Giants]].

===Filming===
[[File:Malcolm in the Middle (maison de tournage) par Lunon.JPG|thumb|The house in Studio City as it appeared in 2009.]]
Much of the filming for ''Malcolm in the Middle'' was done [[location shooting|on location]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Finer |first=Abby |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z46yeRpalUYC&pg=PA234 |title=Starting Your Television Writing Career: The Warner Bros. Television Writers Workshop Guide |last2=Pearlman |first2=Deborah |date=January 2004 |publisher=Syracuse University Press |isbn=978-0-8156-0831-8 |page=234 |access-date=February 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627120434/http://books.google.com/books?id=Z46yeRpalUYC&pg=PA234 |archive-date=June 27, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> in various parts of the [[studio zone|thirty-mile zone]] around [[Los Angeles]]. A privately owned home, located in [[Studio City, Los Angeles|Studio City, California]], was rented for upwards of $3,000 a day to film as the exterior of Malcolm's house.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Tricia |date=July 5, 2001 |title=As seen on TV! |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,165987,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222061308/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,165987,00.html |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |access-date=February 4, 2014 |work=Entertainment Weekly |quote=They pay about $3,000 to $4,000 a day.}}</ref> Rebuilt in 2011, the property is no longer recognizable due to its modern two-floor design. However, the house directly to the left of it is nearly identical to what it looked like during filming, still making it a frequent stop for fans of the show. Some high school scenes were filmed at [[Walter Reed Middle School]],{{Citation needed|reason=Many other sources cite this school but without any real basis|date=November 2022}} and the Lucky Aide was represented by a [[Drug Emporium]] at 6020 [[Lankershim Boulevard]] in [[North Hollywood]]. In "Stock Car Races", when Hal and the boys are entering a race track, the billboard behind the entrance displays the place as [[Irwindale Speedway]], a real race track in Southern California. The last episode in the first season ("Water Park") was filmed at a water park called [[Wild Rivers (water park)|Wild Rivers]] located in [[Irvine, California]]. Though palm trees and desert scenery are seen in shots of the local region and town throughout the show, indicating a location in the Western United States, it is never revealed which state the show is set in (except for Francis' whereabouts in early seasons, such as his military school in Alabama and his job in Alaska. In Season 6 Episode 6 Hal's Christmas gift reveals a license plate showing it to be the "Cherokee state" or Oklahoma, during Lois' demo derby).

Studio filming for ''Malcolm in the Middle'' took place on Stage 21 at [[CBS Studio Center]] in Studio City, which included the interior of the home and the back yard.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Alleman |first=Richard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OPRKEpwjfLQC&pg=PA426 |title=Hollywood: The Movie Lover's Guide: The Ultimate Insider Tour of Movie L.A. |date=March 6, 2013 |publisher=Crown Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-8041-3777-5 |pages=424–426 |access-date=February 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627133514/http://books.google.com/books?id=OPRKEpwjfLQC&pg=PA426 |archive-date=June 27, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The middle school play yard was at the northern point of the CBS studio property at the end of Radford Avenue. It was redressed as the high school courtyard starting in season 4 and was demolished in 2006–2007.

Hallmarks of the series' filming and structure, many of which heavily influenced later programs, included the following:
* A [[cold open]] presenting one or more family members in an absurd situation that has little or nothing to do with the main plot of the episode.
* A split-second [[whip pan]] as a transition from one scene to another.
* Frequent [[piece to camera|pieces to camera]] delivered by Malcolm.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bland |first=Simon |date=September 3, 2020 |title=Malcolm in the Middle at 20: 'Everybody calls them dysfunctional – but it was a realistic family' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/malcolm-in-the-middle-interview-anniversary-bryan-cranston-frankie-muniz-a9701266.html |access-date=December 6, 2023 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>
* An abrupt [[cut (transition)|cut]] to black at the end of each segment, accompanied by the sound of a slamming door.

During the final two seasons, Christopher Masterson reduced his on-screen time in favor of writing and directing some episodes.

===Music===
The show's [[theme song]], "[[Boss of Me]]", was written and recorded by the alternative rock group [[They Might Be Giants]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=November 2002 |title=CMJ New Music Monthly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LyoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA63 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627120505/http://books.google.com/books?id=LyoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA63 |archive-date=June 27, 2014 |access-date=February 3, 2014 |magazine=CMJ New Music |page=63 |issn=1074-6978}}</ref> The song won the "Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media" award at the [[2002 Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 25, 2002 |title=They Might Be Giants Tell Kids 'No!' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/75673/they-might-be-giants-tell-kids-no |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005132616/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/75673/they-might-be-giants-tell-kids-no |archive-date=October 5, 2014 |access-date=February 4, 2014 |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> The band also performed nearly all of the [[incidental music]] for the show in its first two seasons.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=John |date=January 23, 2001 |title=Middle Tones |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2001-01-23/lifestyle/0101220333_1_john-flansburgh-theme-song-particle-man |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222033150/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2001-01-23/lifestyle/0101220333_1_john-flansburgh-theme-song-particle-man |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |access-date=February 4, 2014 |work=[[Sun-Sentinel]]}}</ref>

Mood-setting music is sprinkled throughout the series, in lieu of audience laughter, in a way that resembles feature film more than other TV sitcoms. Some examples of this highly varied music include [[ABBA]], [[Basement Jaxx]], [[Sum 41]], [[Kenny Rogers]], [[Lemon Jelly]], [[Lords of Acid]], [[The Getaway People]], [[En Vogue]], [[Electric Light Orchestra]], [[Fatboy Slim]], [[Phil Collins]], [[Claude Debussy]], [[Tears for Fears]], [[Slade]], [[Quiet Riot]], [[Queen (band)|Queen]], and [[Citizen King]], whose song "Better Days" is played at the end of both the pilot episode and the series finale. The Southern California pop-punk band [[Lit (band)|Lit]] have many of their songs featured in several episodes. Lit songs that were never released as singles were also used.

A soundtrack, ''[[Music from Malcolm in the Middle]]'', was released on November 21, 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2001 |title=Malcolm in the Middle SoundTrack |url=http://www.soundtrack.net/albums/database/?id=2648 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080301235228/http://www.soundtrack.net/albums/database/?id=2648 |archive-date=March 1, 2008 |access-date=February 22, 2008 |publisher=SoundTrackNet}}</ref>