Bowling (Malcolm in the Middle)
| "Bowling" | |
|---|---|
| Malcolm in the Middle episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 20 |
| Directed by | Todd Holland |
| Written by | Alex Reid |
| Production code | 06-00-223 |
| Original air date | April 1, 2001 |
"Bowling" is the twentieth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Malcolm in the Middle and the show's 36th episode overall. The episode originally aired on Fox in the United States on April 1, 2001. The episode was written by Alex Reid and was directed by Todd Holland. The plot serves as a parody of the 1998 film Sliding Doors.
"Bowling" has received positive reviews from critics since airing. Reid and Holland later received Emmy Awards for their work on the episode.
Malcolm and Reese are getting ready to go to a friend's bowling party, but need to be driven there by Lois or Hal. Dewey is being punished for killing a neighbor's parakeet, and one parent must stay home with him. When Lois and Hal are asked who will take Malcolm and Reese, the screen splits, with Hal offering to take them on one side, and Lois offering on the other. From this point forward, the episode alternates between the two realities: one in which Lois takes Malcolm and Reese while Hal stays home with Dewey, and another in which Hal drives Malcolm and Reese while Lois stays home.
When Lois takes Malcolm and Reese, she warns the boys to behave themselves if they want to avoid spending one of their evenings at the laundromat. They immediately arrive at the bowling alley. However when she tries to buy two pairs of shoes, she only has enough money for one pair of shoes and forces them to share. Right away, both Malcolm and Reese notice a pretty girl named Beth (Alex McKenna) at the party, whom they assumed was responsible for getting Mr. Thomas fired. Lois soon learns that there aren't any adults chaperoning the party and demands to know where their parents are. Much to the boys' dismay, she decides to stay and chaperone it herself. Reese impresses Beth, but is constantly interrupted by Lois just before he can tell her a joke. Malcolm sucks at bowling, and is ridiculed when he gets a ball with "Connie" engraved on it. Lois's overbearing cheering isn't helping him any and only makes the ridiculing worse. When he finally stands up to her, he embarrasses himself and is further ridiculed, and Beth has had enough of Reese and her classmates. Malcolm gets a kiss from her, but Lois breaks it up and takes everyone home. Meanwhile, Dewey tricks Hal into reading him a bedtime story, which puts Hal to sleep. Now free to do whatever he wants, Dewey orders pizza and ends up watching R-rated movies on television.
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