Malcolm in the Middle is an American sitcom created by Linwood Boomer on Fox Broadcasting Company. It has won seven Emmy Awards, one Grammy Award, and seven Golden Globe Award nominations. The series began airing on January 9, 2000, and ended on May 14, 2006 with a total of 6 and a half years. The protagonist of the series is Malcolm (played by Frankie Muniz), who is the third of four brothers (there are five brothers after Jimmy was born in the fifth season). His parents are Hal (played by Bryan Cranston) and Lois (played by Jane Kaczmarek). The eldest son Francis (Christopher Masterson) left home to attend military school, while Reese (Justin Bayfield), Malcolm and Dewey (Eric Per Sullivan) stayed at home. Malcolm was the middle of the three brothers, which is why the series got its name (Malcolm in the Middle). The early part of the series focused on how Malcolm, a gifted teenager, faced his eccentric life, while the later part gradually explored other characters in the series in more depth.