Discover the Surprising Connection Between ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ and ‘Little House on the Prairie’!

At first glance, it’s hard to see any connection between “Little House on the Prairie” and “Malcolm in the Middle,” aside from both being iconic series that evoke nostalgia among viewers over 40. The former, a western series, aired in the 1970s and 1980s and has been rerun numerous times since then.

The latter, a hit comedy from the early 2000s, made a comeback 20 years after its finale with a four-episode miniseries titled “Malcolm in the Middle: Nothing’s Changed.” Yet, these two series share a little-known link related to Linwood Boomer, the creator of “Malcolm in the Middle.”

The Creator of Malcolm was an Ingalls Family Member!

No, he wasn’t the creator of “Little House on the Prairie” — that credit goes to Michael Landon, the main actor in the series. But before Linwood Boomer became known for creating one of the best comedies of the 2000s, he was an actor. And it was in this western series where he played one of his most significant roles!

At the end of the fourth season, Linwood Boomer made his first appearance on the show; he portrayed Adam Kendall, a young blind man who meets Mary (played by Melissa Sue Anderson) — one of the heroines of the series — at a specialized institute. Unsurprisingly, the two characters quickly fell in love.

Their marriage in the following season allowed Adam to become part of the Ingalls family. Overall, Linwood Boomer appeared in 35 episodes up to the seventh season and remains a memorable actor to fans of the western series. This role could have kickstarted his acting career, but it was ultimately as a writer that he achieved his greatest successes.

A Successful Career Behind the Camera!

After earning some prestigious credits (Red Dwarf and 3rd Rock from the Sun), he drew inspiration from his own family life to create “Malcolm in the Middle.” This story of a family of boys, told through the perspective of the third out of four children — who also happens to be a small genius — was a hit worldwide.

Remaining a cult favorite for several generations of viewers thanks to numerous reruns (try switching to Gulli, there’s a good chance you’ll find it), “Malcolm in the Middle” confirmed its success 20 years later with new episodes, setting viewership records on Disney+. And to think that all this success originated from “Little House on the Prairie”!

The complete series of “Malcolm in the Middle” is now available exclusively on Disney+.

Check out the list of series currently available on the platform!

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