Almost 25 years after the beloved sitcom first appeared on the small screen, Disney+ will host a revival of Malcolm in the Middle featuring much of the original cast. Debuting in 2000, the early Aughts staple concerns a dysfunctional family and the trials and tribulations of their child prodigy middle son, Malcolm (Frankie Muniz). Taking all the tropes of its genre and exaggerating them for humorous results, Malcolm in the Middle used pitch-black comedy for laughs in a way that helped it stand apart from a bevy of other sitcoms that dotted the TV landscape at the time.

With its clever use of post-production techniques, fourth-wall-breaking asides, and unusual gags that weren't found in other sitcoms, Malcolm in the Middle snagged an elusive Peabody Award along with the usual TV accolades. The series also helped to make a household name out of star Bryan Cranston, and it went off the air a...