Bryan Cranston drops naked truth on 'Malcolm in the Middle' back shave

Bryan Alexander, USA TODAYFri, April 10, 2026 at 1:15 PM UTC

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Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek knew they had hairy times ahead in Hulu's "Malcolm in the Middle" revival "Life's Still Not Fair."

Loving TV wife Lois (Kaczmarek) was set to open the new series by removing all-over body hair from Hal (Cranston) with the electric clippers − a replay of the infamous back-shaving scene from the first "Malcolm" episode in 2000.

Still, both 70-year-old stars, with Cranston wearing little more than a smile, happily came to play in the TMI TV family's rebuilt living room.

The deforestation moment kicks off "Life's Still Unfair" (all four episodes streaming now) and is featured in the trailer.

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It got hairy for Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek in "Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair."

"We loved every minute of it," Kaczmarek insists to USA TODAY as Cranston nods.

"It was fantastic," he adds, graciously giving credit to his scene partner. "I can't shave my own back."

The original scene kicked off 'Malcolm' madness in 2000

Lois and Hal's kitchen back shaving in the first episode of "Malcolm in the Middle" wasn't just any sitcom comedy sketch; it was a statement of intent for the madcap TV family. Viewers were dropped into this bizarre, hilarious household during the opening credits.

With middle child Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) speaking to the camera over breakfast, while avoiding the unfortunate view of his parents, American viewers immediately understood his plight. They couldn't turn away for seven seasons before the Emmy-winning series ended in 2006.

The story behind the scene is similarly funny. Cranston, Kaczmarek and series creator Linwood Boomer (who starred as Adam Kendall in the original "Little House on the Prairie") still laugh about covering new-hire Cranston in yak hair with spirit gum, a three-hour process.

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Jane Kaczmarek again wields hair clippers like a pro in "Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair."

"When it came time to shave, they couldn't cut through the glue," says Cranston. "I am not particularly hirsute. They had to find a substitute."

Producers polled the TV crew on the spot to find a hairy member willing to show off for the camera, setting the stage for the rarely used backside body-hair double.

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"They went to the Teamsters and asked if anybody wanted to make 100 bucks, take off your shirts, and turn around," says Kaczmarek. "They picked the hairy back that they wanted."

The other moments with Kaczmarek fake-shaving Cranston required a bounteous amount of yak hair taped to her game costar's posterior.

"So I could take fluffs of (yak hair) and throw it as if I just 'shaved' it off," says Kaczmarek, laughing. "So there was gaffer's tape on his rear end for me to throw."

"It's a very glamorous life," says Cranston.

The back-shaving scene is a metaphor for the passage of time

The scene works in "Life's Still Unfair" on many levels, including illustrating time's relentless march forward. We get a glimpse of the shaving from the original series (dark hair), which then transitions to Hal's gray-haired back, 26 years later.

Boomer learned his lesson: A stand-in with dyed gray hair on his back was ready to be shaved for the camera.

Lois ingeniously provides needed exposition by speaking to grossed-out family members like newcomer Kelly, the couple's sixth child (played by non-binary actor Vaughan Murrae).

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Bryan Cranston was key to 'Malcolm in the Middle' return

We still see too much of Hal, even if we're spared the full monty by a well-placed computer. "It took many takes and a lot of careful positioning of that computer to make it work," says Boomer.

Cranston might not be hirsute, but the "Breaking Bad" star is the 800-pound gorilla who kicked the world of "Malcolm in the Middle" back into orbit, continually haranguing Boomer to bring the family together.

"I missed these people," says Cranston, who started his campaign during his "Breaking Bad" days. "The first time I asked him, it was 'Absolutely not!' But I just kept poking, knowing he wouldn't do it unless there was a really tight idea."

The concept of a follow-up movie around Lois and Hal's 40th wedding anniversary bash became a four-episode season. Almost the entire cast returned, with the notable exception of Erik Per Sullivan, who declined to return as sibling Dewey (lookalike Caleb Ellsworth-Clark takes the role).

Cranston is content with leaving the return to four episodes, which culminate in the big party.

"It has a beginning, middle and end, and that's great. We're very proud of it," Cranston says. "We'll leave it at that and see what comes of it."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bryan Cranston bares all on Jane Kaczmarek's epic 'Malcolm' back shave

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