Tyler Labine is a funny guy and he was funny as the lead character in this awful attempt at reviving the Malcolm in the Middle franchise. It was produced by Justin Berfield (Reese in Malcolm) who is a talented young guy but he should have hired Linwood Boomer to run this show. Boomer, who created Malcolm, knows how to balance delicate subject matter with comedy, clearly Berfield has not yet learned this trick.
I watched all 13 episodes on Netflix and can see why FOX pulled the plug after just 4 showings. Aside from a talentless supporting cast (the kids were just plain bad actors) the show suffered from very unfunny plot lines. In one episode, the 11-year old has a long scene dancing in nothing but his tight white briefs in front of a web cam. It was disturbing and very creepy and not in the least funny. I'm sure every pedophile in America appreciated it.
In another episode the 6-year old is smuggled inside a sex industry convention and makes friends with a variety of porn stars and walks away with a gift bag containing "adult novelties." A first grader playing with a dildo and fruit scented lube. Funny, huh? Later episodes ridiculed a child with a speech problem, implied sexual conduct between very young children and pulled out every racial and ethnic stereotype in the book.
I can see why Labine jumped ship. As for Justin Berfield, I don't hold this show against him and assume it was a learning experience for him. He has produced some remarkable projects for someone so young and expect great things from him.
