Dan’s comments:
I NEVER watch Malcolm in the Middle, but it happened to be on tonight. It was a hilarious episode in which the family goes to Burning Man and the episode caught the event pretty hilariously. I believe that the episode originally aired in late September 2005. The father from the family (I don’t know their names) cooks hot dogs and hamburgers on the astroturf in front of his RV event, and his BM neighborhood thinks he is performance art. Meanwhile, the wife rides in “Critical Tits” but they didn’t call it that, and one of the other sons wears body make up and wears nothing but a sarong for the episode. Malcolm has a tantric sexual experience with one of the Arquettes (I think it was Rosanna) in her geodesic dome. The writers captured the “participant, no spectators allowed” mode so it was obvious that someone on the show had attended the event. The sets, costumes, and outdoor setting (filmed somewhere in the Mojave Desert since Malcolm steps in a cactus in one scene) caught the event quite well. It was funny to see a sit com shot in the Burning Man context (lots of art cars, discreet nudity - including Malcolm’s mom - and the mom and war-painted son claiming they were returning the next year). In the last scene, the father’s RV accidently burns instead of the Man himself. By the way, is it me or are the kids all old now? And Frankie Munoz is getting more creepy looking. I think that in real life he is dating a porn star or something?
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I really liked this episode review from
Living the Wally Lifestyle :
Malcolm in the Middle at Burning Man
October 03, 2005
The cast of Malcolm in the Middle went to Burning Man for their season opener. Once again, the truth is weirder than the fiction.
Here is a rundown of a few points from the show which were not like Burning Man:
The Couple Dressed as a Nun and a Bishop
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are far weirder and way, way more fun.
Moop on the ground
There is straw laying all over the ground. This would never be allowed since hay bales are banned.
Cactus
There is nothing alive on the dry lake bed.
Larry Harvey (the guy spraying Stanley)
This unnamed Larry Harvey is way more like Larry Harvey should be than Larry Harvey is. I blame this on the 5,000 people who come up to Larry every year to tell him how Burning Man changed their lives. Do they leave it at that? No, they tell the whole story about the first time they did acid, the person they met, the child that resulted, the life change. Good gravy people, leave him alone! You’re cutting into his drinking time.
Bowling Ball Sized Rocks
There are no bowling ball sized rocks on the Playa. They were all used by catapults last year.
Guy in the Cow Skull
Java Cow is way cooler than this guy, because he serves coffee.
The Shaman Woman
There are far weirder and more fun people than this woman. Although amazingly enough, a lot of them look exactly like Roseanne Arquette.
Malcolm Gets Laid at Burning Man
Anyone can get laid at Burning Man and most relationships last almost as long.
Dumping Center
There is no RV dumping center at Burning Man. You have to pack out your potty.
Only Losers Go to Burning Man with your Parents
Most of the kids Burning Man are more responsible than their parents.
Random Strangers are Chosen to Light the Man
The truth is, people pay to be in the Inner Circle. One person who buys a $300.00 ticket is chosen at random to light the man.
Reese Doesn’t Want to Light the Man
Camaan, Reese would do anything to light the Man. And an RV, now that I think about it.
Trumpet Strumpets
Critical Tits is far more impressive and fun.
I’ll Keep the RV Clean
Never has a sentiment been heavily expressed and never accomplished.
In Conclusion:
In all, I think the show did a good job. This show is consistently funny and I hope it has a good run on Fox.