Talk:Malcolm in the Middle
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A Wikipedian removed Malcolm in the Middle from the good article list. There are suggestions below for improving areas to satisfy the good article criteria. Once the objections are addressed, renominate the article as a good article. If you disagree with the objections, you can seek a review. |
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I removed the statement "Although, in one episode Reese successfully managed to get all the answers wrong in that school year's final exams, so he wouldn't have to graduate and leave school for yet another year. This also means that he could have had a perfect score if he had wanted to, hinting at an above-average IQ" from Reese's section. This does not follow logically at all; just because Reese could produce obviously incorrect answers does not at all imply he could have arrived at the correct ones. Chris1435 21:26, 7 June 2006 (UTC)
About the things in the opening sequence, I know where the head being assembeled came from. It was a thing about robots that was hosted by Scully from X-Files that I watched in school once, but I don't know what it was called. ???
It says there are 5 children, but only 4 are listed in the cast. What gives? [[User:Meelar|Meelar (talk)]] 19:18, 2004 Jul 26 (UTC)
I don't know, but there are definitely five children.
Francis (oldest brother, works on a farm) Reese (second oldest, is in the army) Malcom (is a genius) Dewey (is actually the middle child now) Jamie (the baby)--FarQPwnsJoo 03:50, 2 Sep 2004 (UTC)
[edit] show descriptions incomplete
This article really doesnt say what the show is about. As a fan of the show i find this article very inadequate. I think the overview should make it more clear it is essentially about how the interesting characters of the family deal with everyday events. The humor of the show tends to be driven by the traits and realtionships of the main characters more so then because any "action" is happening plotwise. For this reason I think the sections describing the characters need to be really improved and detail thier essential personality traits instead of telling what happens to them plotwise like it does now. For example Lois's never ending desire to always do what she believes is right despite if the unintended consequences end up being more substantial then what was corrected is a recuring theme in at least half the episodes of the series. This is key to understanding the concept of whole show and is much more important then to mention things like specific plot points or what her employment is which frankly are inconsequential spoilers which should be deleted. Not understanding this focus on the characters is the explanation for comments like below were people say the show isnt funny.
The focus on characters with the plot sometimes seemingly about nothing important to me really is reminiscient of Seinfeld - except it is a family not adults. I borrowed this from Wikipedia on Seinfeld. I think this can almost word for word describe Malcolm in the Middle as well:
"Another attribute that makes Seinfeld exceptional is that in almost every episode, several story threads are presented at the beginning, generally involving the various characters in separate and unrelated situations, which then converge and are interwoven towards the end of the episode in an ironic fashion. Due to the densely-plotted construction of the storylines, attempts to summarize the action in a given script are generally more verbose than one would expect for a sitcom. Despite any separate plot strands, the narratives show "consistent efforts to maintain [the] intimacy" between the small cast of characters. "Much of Seinfeld's plot and humor hinge on outside personalities threatening—and ultimately failing—to invade the foursome, ... especially where Jerry and George are concerned." (Gantz 2000"
I also disagree with some other posters below that the family is disfunctional and I think that description should be removed from the article. Compared to so many other TV familys it is practically a model - thier are 2 parents who both have jobs and actually give a damn. I think people confuse thier individual disfunctional personalities (which is basically what the show is about) with saying it is a disfunctional family. It isnt the same.
[edit] Name that episode!
I'm not sure if this is the proper forum to ask, but I have tried looking everywhere else and can't figure it out. Does anyone know the name of the episod where Malcolm takes on a teacher who is giving the students grades for names, and malcolm ends the experiment by pushing all of the students over the edge by making them recite prime numbers? that stuck with me somehow, and I can't find the name.
Episode 302 (second episode of season 3) "Emancipation" is the episode that introduced ex-Krelboyne Lionel Herkabe (played by Chris Eigeman), who tried to create class competition by calling on the kids by a dynamically-changing class rank, posted in front of the class together with their grades.
[edit] Family Name
I could swear they called the whole family the "Hies" (in the German syndicated episode where all the neighbours are celebrating a big street party because the "Hies" were absent).
I've never heard that name applied to them (did I miss an episode?). I always assumed they were nameless (just as their town and state is). -- Yossarian
- The family name is the subject of much lengthy debate. Check out the discussion page for MitM on [www.imdb.com/ IMDb]
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- AH! Gracias. -- Yossarian 23:57, Nov 11, 2004 (UTC)
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- The name is indeed "Wilkerson" - Francis wears the name on his school uniform on the pilot episode. You can see it best in the scenes where he is on the phone with the family.
- --EmiOfBrie 23:23, October 3, 2005 (CDT)
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- Yeah, just because the one scene where it was said was cut, doesn't mean they refuse to say the name. Maybe they just did not like the scene. Is there any proof that they removed it from 'fraid of typecasting? or is that just a theory? and is there any proof that they just hoped re-run viewers will miss the name-tag? or is that a theory too? I honestly think they just did not like the Wilkerson Joke scene, and did not remove it to hide the last name, but then that is now my theory. I will wait to see the truth. -- AlexTheMartian | Talk 22:31, 5 December 2005 (UTC)
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- The name is infact Wilkerson and i know this becuase SKY ONE referenced it in one of their adverts for the show.
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- Officially, they don't have a last name. Linwood originally wrote it as Wilkerson, but then decided he didn't want them to have a name after shooting the Pilot. Nonetheless, sources such as BBC have picked up the unofficial Wilkerson name. (Source: Season 1 DVD commentary) On the set, the actors actually say their last name is Nolastname as a joke. (Source: BryanCranston.com)
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- In the episode Company Picnic (season three), his new boss calls Hal Mister Lanson (I don't know how that is spelled)... --kauan 14:09, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
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- Haven't sky one show a documentary about the making of Malcolm in the Middle where the crew and castmembers talk about the family - reffering to them as Wilkersons? --Alan Frize 19:14, 6 August 2006 (UTC)
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I remember them using the name wilkerson elsewhere in the show so I am not sure that it is as secret as this article makes it appear-mfair4d
[edit] Driving Permit age
While 15 may be the "typical" minimum age, it is not universal. My daughter is 14, and will be getting her permit next week. This is North Dakota, and I know that, in some states, you have to be 16.
Actually 16 is the normal minimum age, only a few states(I think less than 5) have it lower than that. So 15 is not typical, 16 is. Spyke 01:07, 15 May 2006 (UTC)
16 is the normal minimum age for a DRIVER'S LICENSE. 15 is typical for a learner's permit. TeamGoon 012:43, 02 August 2006 (UTC)
i recived my learners permit in IL at 15, but couldn't get my full liscence till i was 16.
[edit] where they are from
I think the family is from Minneapolis because on an episode called "monkey," after Reese batted a home intruder, he was honored with a cap that has the acronym MPD. I searched it that lead me to the Minneapolis Police Department. The family must then be from Minneapolis. However this does damage the claim that Hal had driven four hours to get to Francais' military school after refusing to be his alibi in other episode because Minnesota that state where Minneapolis is is up north while Alabama is way down south making that trip impossible. Also being from Minneapolis, Minnesota does diminish the other claim that it takes Francais eight hours to visit them from Texas. So maybe where the family is from is as fictional and non-existing as the family. Another possibility on where the family is from is they might from Montgomery, Alabama since the police department also uses MPD. It also fit the traveling time frame diffrence. This however does take away from show's satire of the south especially in that episode where Francais volunteered at a beauty pageant.
"MPD" means they could be from any city that starts with "M". Doesn't have to be Minniapolis or Montgomery, but literally any "M" city. --Omninode 10:53, 18 August 2005 (UTC)
- Yeah, Los Angeles County itself contains 6-7 cities that start with the letter "M". and most of the proof it is in California. it is like The Simpsons, you dont know where it is, but there are hints. -- AlexTheMartian | Talk 22:20, 5 December 2005 (UTC).
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- The M stands for Milbrook--we find out that the area they live is in a series of three counties because there's many episodes with various landmarks named "Tri-county this" and Tri-County that. In Reese Joins the Army, Hal tells the cop that he's from the Milbrook bomb squad.
On that note, the reference about the Arizona Cardinals water bottle probably shouldn't be a reference - many times, we've seen American football pennants and other merchandise in the boys' room.
Um, hasn't there been more than one episode that showed a California license plate on Hal's car? I know the one where the bee was coming after him for revenge after Hal destroyed his nest showed the plate fairly clearly.
Whoops. On reviewing that episode, Hal's is actually a license plate from a ficticious state. I can't make out the second work in the fake state, but the first one is "Cherokee."
There is an episode where the family drives to Burning Man, in an RV borrowed from one of Hal's co-workers. The license plate is Californian.
--- you can't really count license plates as proof since the show is shot in california they are going to have californian license plates.
[edit] Prosthetic face
Just like to say this (and I will edit the page, correcting this error) the prosthetic face wasn't a prosthetic face being constructed. It was in an episode where the people at Francis's military school found out his was birthday and traditionally shaved all the hair of his body. He had a date that night so he started to use a marker to draw hair. So while I see where you could easily mistake that I thought you would like to know why I'm editing this page.
The person who wrote the above text must have a screw loose, when the guy is referencing a prosthetic face he is talking about the opening credits where two hands push two parts of a head upwards and together, this clip is ovbiously a clip from a sci-film or TV show.
Its never going to be said where they live. Their just going to give clues that contradict with eachother.
Hey! After spending a good solid weekend researching all the sources of information for the Opening Title sequence almost a year ago, Ive returned to see if any discsussion has arose from my hard work. Reading the above, I have replace the mistake of the Prosthetic Face thingy (i had no idea how to describe it) back into the article in hope that one day someone will come across and fill in the blank, as well as for the skiing dude on fire - the best sample ever!
[edit] The show is just not funny!
Why was this such a popular show? My parents and I watched the pilot because FOX had hyped it so much but none of us laughed once! The show just isn't funny, God-damnit! I suggest inserting a "Criticisms" heading in the article and mentioning that in a NPOV way. I'm obviously not qualified for that so could someone else do that, maybe? Thanks. 134.114.59.41 06:25, 5 December 2005 (UTC)
- there is better episodes then the pilot, and that was like 6 or 7 years ago, are you are claiming all 6 or 7 years of the show is not funny after seeing the very first episode? And maybe it was not funny to you because the show has no laugh track? well you are not the only one that do not like the show, two of my friends hate the show and two of my friends, and me, love the show. -- AlexTheMartian | Talk 22:16, 5 December 2005 (UTC)
Anyway, first let me address the laugh track issue: I wish EVERY sitcom didn't have a laugh track, I hate laugh tracks! Even if it would have had a laugh track I still wouldn't have thought the show was funny. Secondly, I did watch another three episodes of Malcolm from the later seasons: the one where "Reese" ends up getting dragged half-naked across an ice rink by a zamboni as punishment for betraying his hockey team (don't remember what the rest of the episode was about, though I do remember that the rest also wasn't funny) and that wasn't funny whatsoever. That episode where a porn flick was being filmed in that German/Austrian old couple's house that Reese worked at or something--that episode also wasn't funny. And I also saw that episode where Malcolm touches poison ivy or something while on a scavenger hunt in some park and then rubs his eyes causing them to swell up like hell (that was the only reason I watched that episode: to see that happen to him--I hate Malcolm, especially when he turns his freaky face to the viewer). I have also seen bits and pieces of other episodes and they also weren't funny. Basically every episode consists of Malcolm talking to the camera, his mom screaming like an insane person, his dad acting strange, and his stupid brothers. What's so funny about that? Nothing! As for your friends' reactions, I guess this show is like the later Matrix movies or the new Star Wars films: half the people who see it love it, and the other half hate it. 134.114.59.41 03:20, 8 December 2005 (UTC)
- You're obviously taking Francis for Reese. You don't seem to know the show very well. You only saw a handful of episodes and didn't like it. Why do you even want to talk about the show? I guess the main criticism on "Malcolm" could be on parenting issues. But I don't think there was that much controversy on it, so we shouldn't talk about it.
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- It's FOX, not one comedy on it has good parenting, it is a disfunctional family, just like "Married With Children", "Famil Guy", "The Simpsons", "The Bernie Mac Show", and "Arrested Development". And to 134.114.59.41, you obviously would hate all of FOX's sitcoms from those reasons you say why you hate the show, becuase all the disfunctional familt sitcoms I listed above have stuff just like Malcolm In The Middle does. -- AlexTheMartian | Talk 22:27, 29 May 2006 (UTC)
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- Hey, I don't think you should make fun of FOX. What if they have disfunctional families. Also I like to watch some of FOX's shows like the simpsons even through they have disfunctional families and bad parenting.--Taida 02:09, 1 July 2006 (UTC)
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- Watch that one episode where Hal has the mysterious disease that is never named, and watch the scene where reese and malcolm sneak out to a part and Hal comes into the room to talk to them while they are asleep, and THEN tell me the show isn't funny.
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Discussion pages should be used for discussing possible improvements to the article - not for general discussion about the show. Georgeryall 19:45, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Award Winning Episode?
Didn't one of the episodes win a certain award? I thought it was the bowling episode were the screen is split in half throughout, displaying what would happen if Malcom went bowling with his mum or dad. I couldn't see any information about it in the artcile. Zooba 14:16, 18 December 2005 (UTC)
Yep. The bowling episode won an Emmy
If Boys Were Girls also won an Emmy.
[edit] Characters missing from episodes?
"Bryan Cranston (Hal), Justin Berfield (Reese) and Erik Per Sullivan (Dewey) are the only actors to appear in every episode."
What? Has there been any episodes that Malcolm himself wasn't in? Elaborate? LR
- I think I remember watching eppisodes that Malcolm was not in it -- AlexTheMartian | Talk 01:53, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
- Technically, it was the Season 4 episode "Clip Show II". Malcolm himself didn't appear; only clips of Malcolm were shown.--UltimatePyro 02:01, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
He was in that episode, but only for a few seconds right at the end
[edit] Good Article?
This article has no references, so why is it listed as a good article? One of the criteria for a Good article is references --ChessManXI 11:27, 27 December 2005 (UTC)
God Damn it! There must be references! REFERENCES!!!!!
[edit] Grand total: 150 or 151?
How many episodes will there be when Malcolm in the Middle ends? 150 or 151?--PsychoJason 02:18, 18 January 2006 (UTC)
Its 151. NO! Its 150. NO! Its 151. NO! Its 150. NO! Its 151. NO! Its 150. NO! Its 151. NO! Its 150. NO! Its 151. NO! Its 150. NO! Its 151. NO! Its 150.
Maybe it is 152 :)
According to tv.com it's 151 episodes. Spyke 01:10, 15 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Article removed from Wikipedia:Good articles
This article was formerly listed as a good article, but was removed from the listing because it does not cite its sources. Extraordinary Machine 16:41, 7 February 2006 (UTC)
- I believe I've removed the controversial/unconfirmable "facts" listed in the article page now. The remainder should be able to be found by watching the show itself.
[edit] Answers.com
I just signed up being interested in the wikipedia project. So, please be gentile. Why does answers.com have this exact article posted on their website? Isn't this wikipedia unique content? http://www.answers.com/topic/malcolm-in-the-middle —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Ausme0 (talk • contribs) 08:12, March 1, 2006 (UTC)
- Hi Asume0, welcome to Wikipedia. All of the text in the articles is available under a licensing scheme called "GFDL", or "GNU Free Documentation License". This means that the text is available for anyone to copy, free of charge, as long as Wikipedia is identified as the source of the material and that the copied text remains under the GFDL. So it's OK if answers.com copies this article verbatim on their website, as long as they abide by the GFDL. So no, the Wikipedia content is not necessarily "unique", as it can be copied by anyone else. — EagleOne\Talk 18:32, 1 March 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Similarites to The Wonder Years
This shows seems similiar to the Wonder Years. A suburban boy who's character started the show in middle school. He talks to the audience (similar to the voice overs with "older Kevin" in the Wonder Years. His best friend Stevie is similar to Kevin's best friend in that Kevin's best friend was allergic to so much and very smart, just as stevie is very smart (though moved to second place in the smart class when Malcolm was added) and has problems breathing and is in a wheelchair. I think there are probably other similiarites also.I remember thinking about how similar the show was to the Wonder Years when I first saw it, and I think I rember others talking about it, too. Anyway, do you think it is appropiate to make a section about the similarities? User:Crd721
this show is not like the Wonder Years whatsoever so please don't —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Tonetare (talk • contribs) .
[edit] Malcolm is very funny
I'm so sad to know that "Malcolm" will say goodbye to us."Malcolm" is very funny,i don't know why someones said "The show is just not funny!" and don't know why it was making it FOX's lowest-rated show.I like "malcolm in the middle" and i watched all episodes of this series.It's very very very funny.I will build a website to commemorate it.I support "malcolm in the middle",malcolm-fans of all countries unite!!!! And....Is anybody know where can i download the script of this show? --RiverString
- I agree with you. Malcolm is very funny.--Taida 02:03, 1 July 2006 (UTC)
Malcolm whines over everything. I like the show and idid find it funny and very entertaining but Malcolm isnt that funny. He's acomplainer as seen in many episodes. Also isnt Malcolm and his brothers all geniuses in away, Malcolm academically, Reese culinary, Dewey musically,and Francis a born leader often taking control when things escalade to far(a creative thinker who works well in tough situations) Hope. 03:29, 2 August 2006 (UTC)hope.
Hope, learn to spell!--Centurion Ry 19:21, 5 August 2006 (UTC)
I'm foreign! English is hard
Malcolm isn't the funniest character, I find the family as a whole happy, I've always loved Malcolm exept for those few episodes with that girl with the huge blonde hair as their babysitter. i hated her.
[edit] Krelboyne
Should this link specifically redirect here? The word is a lot older than this series. The 1960 film The Little Shop of Horrors has a character surnamed Krelboyne (according to the IMDb, the naming of the Krelboynes on this series is a reference to the film), and the article on that film says that the surname is also a slang term for a nerd or dweeb. (Ibaranoff24 23:19, 7 June 2006 (UTC))
What is a krelboyne? why would they use that name from a movie for a this show? and just... I never heard this. could someone explain the whole usage of krelboyne to me please. Tonetare 22:57, 15 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Sections on Hal & Victor and Ida
These sections need an extensive rewrite. There are numerous errors and it is generally poorly written. The ridiculously long sentences need to be changed also. Someone with a good knowledge of the show should rewrite these to an acceptable standard. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 86.41.213.150 (talk • contribs) 19:07, 18 June 2006.
- I took a couple of whacks at them (you're right, they were in pretty awful shape). I'm not at all familiar with the show, however, so someone who's actually watched an episode of it should probably do some further work there. Still, they read a little better now, and I dumped some of the more confused bits entirely. -- Captain Disdain 19:27, 18 June 2006 (UTC)
[edit] TMBG
I know that the song "Older" was indeed in the show somewhere, but I can't remember where. If anybody could help me by telling me which episode and part of the episode the song older was in that would be great. User:Slipp
- According to this list [1], the song appears on the soundtrack, but is never played in an episode. --kauan 22:14, 23 July 2006 (UTC)
[edit] tmi
seriously.
[edit] Victor and Ida
Ukraine? do we care?
Also, some wikipedia adict left the final paragraph reading:
"Not much is known about Victor, except that he left his home at a young age and that he was in the war. Victor had another family, but kept it a secret from Ida. This family was introduced dur"
Not even "dur......Aaaaagh!"
Can the previous be restored? Not to mention that it says "this family." They're all related!--24.27.26.179 00:56, 26 July 2006 (UTC)Carlos
I don't like the fact that Ida was racist on the show. Wasn't her personality bad enough without having to have her be racist. A person can be only so hateful Tonetare 22:58, 15 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Opening credits
im pretty sure the animated guy on the hoverboard in the opening credits is from the flash gordan animated TV series, but im not 100% sure. "In 1996, Hearst Entertainment premiered a Flash Gordon (TV Series) animated television series. This version turned Flash and Dale into skateboarding teen-agers" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_Gordon, also i think the dude on fire running into the tree is from the "Wide World of Sports" TV show from australia. see http://www.jumptheshark.com/w/wideworldofsports.htm first note. i think also Ask Yahoo did a thing on it. http://ask.yahoo.com/20060213.html, is that the same thing?
[edit] Mysteries
There is a mystery section in the article. Right after it, there is another section explaining how the location of the family is a mystery. WTF? Wouldn't it make more sense for the location to be a subsection of the former? Lgrinberg 02:18, 11 August 2006 (UTC)
Also- the mystery over Jamies gender is actually pretty stupid as it clearly states in some episodes that he is a boy and in the article itself it contradicts it. Conor 16:47, 17 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Location of The Grotto Ranch?
The main article lists it as being in Texas. Can anyone confirm that? There was an episode in either season 4 or 5, in which The Grotto has to lay off a bunch of workers because tourists are flocking to nearby Roswell. Wouldn't that indicate that the ranch is in New Mexico?
- I always got the impression that it was New Mexico, and I only heard it was in Texas from this article... so it might need verification. If it is southwest Texas, Roswell can be pretty close, they are neighboring states --AlexTheMartian | Talk 20:04, 26 August 2006 (UTC)
- I've noticed that too. I remember in one epoisode Francis saying something about mexican culture, and not being able to fit in.
[edit] Why did this show end?
I do not know the reason why "Malcolm in the Middle" ended. Low ratings? Because they decided to call it quits? Why was this show taken off the air? Could someone who knows the story please give me an answer? This is very sad. Especially since there do not seem to be plans to release the other seasons on DVD. C&R 19:35, 11 September 2006 (UTC)
Concerning Dewey's age: I remember an episode where Dewey started his first day of school, in which he also learns how to play the piano (in 15 minutes a day). I'm pretty sure they mentioned it was his first day of first grade, except I am almost positive that this occurs at least in season 3 or after. It appears to contradict the fact that Dewey started his first day of first grade in the first season. I don't remember the details very well, but what are your opinions on Dewey's age?
hangfromthefloor 21:13, 26 September 2006 (UTC)
--Short answer: The show was supposed to be about kids, and they aren't kids anymore. --Long answer: The show ended because it was about Malcolm being in the middle of his family. They kept finding ways to keep Francis a part of the show and, in the last two seasons, reasons to keep Reese around, but once Malcolm graduated high school it simply wouldn't make sense to continue. The dynamic of the show was heavily based on the relationships of adolescent siblings. If they are all working or in college the basis of the show no longer exists. Remember Boy Meets World...somehow Mr. Feeny manages to to stay with the group from elementary school all the way past college...it gets a little stale after a while. I was a big fan of Malcolm but I agree that this was the perfect time to end it. How can we be told Malcolm is a genius for 7 years and then not see him go off to a prestigous college after graduation? It had to end.
[edit] Toner?
In the trivia part of the article, it says that the character Jason Alexander played in friends sold toner over the phone when infact, it was pheobe who was selling toner . Earl was the 'office supplies manager' and did not sell toner, merely he was the customer18:02, 22 December 2006 (UTC)
- someone hasn't deleted the mistake, they've just elaborated on it and made some words bolder. the entire section of the trivia bit needs to be deleted or even longer to explain the 'joke' if someone got the wrong end of the stick EARL DOESN'T SELL TONER, PHEOBE DOES
20:28, 23 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Reference in Pokémon
In the English version of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, there is a double battle with a YOUNG COUPLE named Lois & Hal. Coincidence? --Raijinili 17:57, 16 January 2007 (UTC)
- Probably, Lois and Hal are common names. --Mike 10:21, 25 January 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Babysitter
Which episode has the pretty babysitter and Malcolm and Reese get locked out?67.175.138.202 00:03, 25 January 2007 (UTC)
