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- [00:00]
Frankie Muniz
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:02]
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- [00:07]
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- [00:12]
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- [00:14]
Danielle Fishel
Mommy's walking.
- [00:14]
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- [00:16]
Danielle Fishel
Really? Autotrader? Buy your car online?
- [00:19]
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- [00:20]
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- [00:25]
Frankie Muniz
I can't stop scratching my downtown. Mm, yeah, but I'm not itching to go downtown and tell a reception. I'm here to talk about my downtown. Some things you'd rather type than say out loud.
- [00:39]
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- [00:49]
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- [01:26]
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- [02:23]
Frankie Muniz
Give me money for cigarettes. I'll never leave your cooking bed. I stay the night every one night.
- [02:44]
Danielle Fishel
Hello and welcome to Teen Beat. I am your host, Danielle Fishel, a former child actor who spent her formative teenage years on a family sitcom where, for some unexplained reason, our middle school teacher followed us all the way to college. But is that important to unpack right now? Absolutely not. And that's because my current focus is talking to interesting people about their own upbringings and the universal understanding that being a teenager is Both awkward and embarrassing no matter who you are. I gave you my childhood. It's time we hear yours. But this week I am joined by a fellow 40 something who traded in their traditional teenage years to punch a time card and mature in real time in front of millions of fans. But somehow for him, being the titular character on a hit TV show, in his case, Malcolm in the Middle is maybe the least interesting thing about him. Don't get me wrong, he was nominated for an Emmy and two Golden Globes for the role. And it led to movies like Big Fat Liar, Agent Cody Banks and Deuces Wild. Leading CBS News to call him at the time one of Hollywood's most bankable teens. Which I'm sure doesn't add any pressure to an already insane situation. But. But again, the guy is an onion when it comes to layers. In 2008, he put his acting career on hold to pursue a career in race car driving. You know, as one does, focusing on open wheel racing, then stock cars and now NASCAR trucks. Currently competing for Team Raum, he somehow turned what once looked like a vanity weekend warrior decision into a full on impressive career in sports. It's like if Keanu Reeves and dog star headlined Coachella. He also knew what to do with that Malcolm money. Becoming an entrepreneur and real estate investor. Purchasing and selling parking garages, buying olive oil and vinegar specialty shops, and in turn avoiding the pitfalls that trapped so many of our peers. And now, like someone else I know, he has been brought back to star as an adult in a revival of the show that made him famous as a kid. Malcolm in the Middle. Life's still unfair. A four episode event will premiere on Hulu on April 10th. But first, this uber famous kid star turned well adjusted parking garage connoisseur, olive oil expert and race car driver will sit with me to find the not so smooth off screen parts of his childhood because I'm sure they exist somehow. So welcome to Teen Beat. The iconic Frankie Muniz.
- [05:24]
Frankie Muniz
Hey. Hey.
- [05:25]
Danielle Fishel
How are you?
- [05:26]
Frankie Muniz
Good, how are you? Thanks for having me on.
- [05:27]
Danielle Fishel
Oh my gosh. Thank you for being here. Are you maybe the most interesting man in the world?
- [05:34]
Frankie Muniz
I don't, I don't feel like I am I. When I hear like the intro and of all the things I do and I'm reminded of all the things I do. I guess on paper it may seem that way, but like me and my life and my head, like I feel like I still have so many things that I want to do right? So like yeah, I've accomplished a lot but I feel like I haven't nearly accomplished as much as I want to, so I don't know. I still feel like I got a lot of unfinished businesses to handle.
- [06:00]
Danielle Fishel
So. You're endlessly curious. You just. There's like, you have. You're fascinated with lots of different things and you want to tackle them all.
- [06:07]
Frankie Muniz
Yeah. And I don't. I don't necessarily make a plan. Right. So, like, I'm not like, okay, I really want to get into this. It's kind of like a lot of the things I've done have been spur the moment decisions, but when I commit to something, I just dive in 100%. Like, I don't have hobbies. Like, there's no such thing as a hobby for me. Right.
- [06:24]
Danielle Fishel
Right.
- [06:24]
Frankie Muniz
No, no. I want to be the best, you know, like.
- [06:26]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [06:27]
Frankie Muniz
Like, I can't go bowling because then I don't want to be on the professional bowler, you know, league or whatever. Yeah. Yeah. So it's just kind of my personality. Like, I. I've always looked. I've always had this weird feeling. I remember literally being like 8, 9 years old and feeling like I was running out of time. I've always had this weird. Like, I've got to try to wake up early and do as much as I can during the day because, like, there's so much I want to do and it's kind of stuck with me forever. So there's good and bad of that. Right. Like, I'm a little neurotic, but at the same time, like, I've lived a full life and. But like I said, I still got a lot more I want to do.
- [07:02]
Danielle Fishel
Wow, that's. Have you ever thought about writing a memoir? Knowing that you feel like you have so much you want to do? You probably feel like you're way too young to write a memoir, but I feel like your memoir, if and when you choose to write it, will be fascinating.
- [07:15]
Frankie Muniz
I. I haven't actually thought about it. I. I don't think I'm a. I'm not a good writer. At least, like, my least favorite subject in school was English. Like, I hated writing essays. I didn't like writing. Like, I'm a math guy. You know what I mean? Although I hated math because they wanted me to show my work. I'm like, I just did in my head. Like, I just know the answer. I don't know how I got it, but I know it, you know?
- [07:36]
Danielle Fishel
And you're right.
- [07:37]
Frankie Muniz
And I was right. So, like, what does it matter?
- [07:39]
Danielle Fishel
I know. I. That is such a frustrating Feeling. I actually. This is a really stupid story, but in college, I got. I got a B in a math class. And in college, I was. I was very Topanga. I got all A's, and I got a B in a math class because on my final A, one of the ten point questions.
- [07:58]
Frankie Muniz
Yeah.
- [07:58]
Danielle Fishel
I got zero points for. Because I didn't show all my work, even though I got the answer right.
- [08:08]
Frankie Muniz
That is so frustrating.
- [08:09]
Danielle Fishel
I was furious.
- [08:11]
Frankie Muniz
I used to get mad because they're like, oh, you have to show your work. But it's like, well, it takes half a page or takes a whole page. Like, I don't want to waste all that paper. Like, I know the answer just by looking at it. Like, why do I need. You know what I mean? I'm trying to save the trees. What are you. What are you talking about?
- [08:23]
Danielle Fishel
Exactly? You were doing a good thing. Yeah, well, we are a part of a small, little, little sect of actors. A fraternity almost, where even decades later, our character name is constantly yelled at us in airports. We have to stick together, you know?
- [08:39]
Frankie Muniz
Yes. Yeah.
- [08:40]
Danielle Fishel
You were born in New Jersey, and then you moved to North Carolina shortly thereafter. Neither of those are big Hollywood feeder towns, so.
- [08:49]
Frankie Muniz
Yeah.
- [08:50]
Danielle Fishel
Were you always a little performer with big dreams?
- [08:54]
Frankie Muniz
No. You know, I think back, and I never. I never said I wanted to be an actor. It's one of, like, the many things I did, and it just kind of took over my life. Right. So, like, I. Yeah, I was from New Jersey. My dad worked for IBM, transferred us down to North Carolina when I was like, five or six. And I played every sport there was. I was a soccer player, football player, basketball. I did tap in jazz. I don't know why, but I did, like, I. I just did a little bit of everything. And it was my sister who actually. She signed up for, like, a summer arts camp. And they have Raleigh Memorial Auditorium there in Raleigh. It's a big. It's a big theater, like, 2500, 3000 theater. And they put on shows at the end of the summer. And I thought it was really cool, but it wasn't something I was like, I have to do that. I was like, that seems cool. So she was going to continue down the path of trying to act or acting and doing theater and stuff. And we were jumping on the trampoline in our backyard, and she was practicing the song that she was gonna sing, and she's like, you should audition. And I was like, sure. So she picked let's Go Fly a Kite from Mary Poppins. I learned it. I went in And I sang it for. It was for A Christmas Carol, and I got the part of Tiny Tin. And, like, the second or third rehearsal, an agent went up to my mom was like, there's something about him. Like, I'd love to represent him. We didn't even know what it was, but we're like, sure. So they started going on auditions and, like, from that moment until I kind of not stopped acting, but, like, took a break from acting, I never stopped acting, like, you know, so it just kind of took over and just kind of happened, if that makes sense.
- [10:34]
Danielle Fishel
Yes. Wow. I did not realize that. That's really. That's really impressive. Very few people, one, have it happen that quickly for them, but two, to never stop working that entire time until you made the choice. I'm going to put this on pause for a moment.
- [10:50]
Frankie Muniz
For sure, for sure.
- [10:51]
Danielle Fishel
So you do eventually then move to Burbank, which is a city where many child actor dreams do come true. Do you remember those first few days in L. A? Was there, like, any culture shock for you?
- [11:04]
Frankie Muniz
I remember actually, I came out before I got Malcolm. My first time to la, I was doing a screen test for my dog Skip.
- [11:13]
Danielle Fishel
Oh.
- [11:14]
Frankie Muniz
And I flew in and I didn't know it was the director, but he had picked me up at the airport and he was taking us around. I remember just being so wowed by la, right? Like, I. I've been in New York City, but, like, LA just seemed just so different. And seeing the Hollywood sign and he kind of took us through all, like, the little touristy things to kind of see it. And I don't know, I just remember being so afraid for my mom to get on the freeway because, like, maybe it was like in the movie Clueless, where, like, they get freaked out when they go on the freeway and, like, there's no. I was like, you're not gonna turn around, we're gonna get lost, you know, that was like, my memory of, like, the first time I was in la. But, yeah, no, I definitely had culture shock. It's definitely a different world than. Than what I. I kind of knew from New York City, you know what I mean? But for sure, yeah.
- [11:57]
Danielle Fishel
Well, you were 12 at the time, right when you first made your way out here. So that's obviously a very formative age. Was it hard to make friends and basically start a new life here?
- [12:09]
Frankie Muniz
Yes. No. I mean, I was. I was always. The word's not a loner. I wasn't a loner, but, like, I was always fine by myself, if that makes sense, you know, I mean, like, like, like my sister, you know, if I could talk about her, like, she wasn't. Like, she needed her friend group. She wanted her friend group. I was cool. Like, if I. If I had to go somewhere and leave and didn't see them, I would make friends or, or not. Even if I didn't. Like, I didn't necessarily care. But I don't know if you remember, like, the Oakwood apartments.
- [12:35]
Danielle Fishel
Oh, of course.
- [12:37]
Frankie Muniz
Right. So I think every person who comes out to LA probably stays at the Oakwood at some point, you know, like, you know, especially child actors and stuff like that. So we didn't live there, but the kid who played Dewey, Eric, he lived there, so we'd go hang out with him. And I met a lot of kids that were there.
- [12:55]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [12:56]
Frankie Muniz
So my mom was. I remember mom being so frustrated. She's like, wait, you didn't want to live at the Oakwoods, but you're there every day hanging out with these kids? Right. So I had, like, my little friend group and we would drive, like, ride little razor scooters all around the Oakwood Apartments and, hey, I'm hot tub, you know, whatever it was. So I felt like I had my little gang. Like, I didn't, you know, I didn't feel like I was missing out on. On friends for sure, you know?
- [13:15]
Danielle Fishel
Good, good.
- [13:16]
Frankie Muniz
They were all there for like a month or two trying to be an actor. Then they went back to Kansas or.
- [13:21]
Danielle Fishel
Right, a rotating cast of friends.
- [13:23]
Frankie Muniz
Exactly.
- [13:26]
Danielle Fishel
Do you remember meeting other similar age kids at auditions? Some of my best friends still to this day. I met at an audition.
- [13:34]
Frankie Muniz
Yeah, no, I, I, you know, because I. I did most of my auditioning in New York. Okay. And I remember there was. I never really became friends with him, I guess, but there was like, a few boys that you'd see, and we were like, oh, Michael's here. Great.
- [13:53]
Danielle Fishel
He always books the roles I want. Do you remember having to write your Social Security number down?
- [13:59]
Frankie Muniz
You did. Yeah, that's true. Yeah. You'd write the name, agent, Social Security. Why? Why what? Why do you need that for?
- [14:05]
Danielle Fishel
I audition.
- [14:06]
Frankie Muniz
That's true. That is a weird. I never thought about that. That is so weird.
- [14:10]
Danielle Fishel
I look back at that and I'm like, why were we just like, yeah, sure.
- [14:12]
Frankie Muniz
Are you in the union? I'm eligible. Okay.
- [14:16]
Danielle Fishel
And I'm with this agency. It's so funny. Okay, so you book some commercials, you do a movie, but then comes the big break. What was the Malcolm in the Middle audition like?
- [14:28]
Frankie Muniz
All right. It's a pretty it's actually a pretty fun story because when I was in New York, we were going on, I don't know, four or six auditions a day, right? Because I was doing everything from commercials, theater, print, movie, whatever it was, right? So we. We'd have our whole day booked out. And the day I was supposed to go on the Malcolm premiere, I booked a Pizza Hut commercial.
- [14:48]
Danielle Fishel
Oh.
- [14:49]
Frankie Muniz
And, like, it was filming in Brooklyn. And I was like, so, mom, we have to be at the. You know, I was kind of. I don't say the responsible one, but I. I was.
- [14:56]
Danielle Fishel
You were the scheduler.
- [14:57]
Frankie Muniz
I was. I. Like, I knew what time we had to leave. Like, I'm the one who knew what time the bus came for the New Jersey transit to get us to the Port Authority. I knew all the subway maps, how to get everywhere. And I was like, mom, there's no way that we can make it for the 10 o' clock pizza commercial if we go to this audition at 9. It was at, like, 15, 15 Broadway. I was like, there's no way. Like, we're not going. She's like, I think you should just go. Maybe we'll go early. We'll see if they can. They can. They can squeeze you in early, and if not, we'll leave. So I remember being really, really frustrated because I was like, you know, you're going to ruin my big Pizza Hut.
- [15:30]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [15:30]
Frankie Muniz
My big break. Okay. You know, I mean, I was one of 19 kids that was gonna be in this commercial. Okay.
- [15:35]
Danielle Fishel
This was massive. Pizza Hut is life.
- [15:37]
Frankie Muniz
Yeah. So we go in early, and the casting director wasn't even there yet. And I was like, mom, let's just go, please. Let's go. And right when we went to leave, the cast director came in. She's like, oh, you're early. I was like, I have to do this commercial. She goes, come in really quick. I'll put you on tape super quick. So I go to the audition, and I was just angry. Like, I was. I was just frustrated and angry. I read it as nonchalant quick as I could just to get through it, just to say I did it so we can get to my audition. So it was like two days later, we get a call and they're like, hey, they. They really liked your tape and they want you to come in and do more scenes. I was like, what? Like, I sucked.
- [16:18]
Danielle Fishel
I was terrible at that one. I didn't even try.
- [16:20]
Frankie Muniz
I really didn't try. But we hadn't even read the script because, like, back then, like, you very rarely got the Scripts, you just got, like, whatever the sides were. You didn't really know you had the breakdown, and you're like, I guess this is how you'd act. I don't know. You know what I mean? So we were sitting in the. In the waiting room, about to go do the more. The more scenes, and they gave us the script. And my mom and I were reading it, and we were just cracking up. Like, we loved it. But I realized how I did the audition. The initial, that was Malcolm, he was frustrated, he was angry. He thought the world was out to get him, you know what I mean? And, you know, just wanted to, like, move on. Right? So worked out pretty good. And, you know, here I am.
- [17:02]
Danielle Fishel
Thank God that your mom didn't care as much about the subway schedule as you did, because without that, would you have even had that angst and anger?
- [17:11]
Frankie Muniz
Exactly.
- [17:12]
Danielle Fishel
The pilot episode of Malcolm in The Middle had 23 million viewers. The second episode somehow bested that with 26 million. And then my dog Skip comes out at basically the same time. How long did take for things to drastically change in your life?
- [17:33]
Frankie Muniz
I have two stories there. One, before the show even started airing, there was billboards everywhere. Like, they had Bill, Malcolm, middle billboards all over the place. And I remember being so excited. There was one at the mall, like, that I. By the house I lived in in New Jersey. And, like, I stood next to it, like, and would, like, see if people would notice that it was me. You know what I mean? Like, way before the show came came on and. But I remember riding in the subway one day, and people were staring at me. The show hadn't aired yet. You know what I mean? And I remember going to my mom. I go, mom, like, why is everyone staring at me? Like, do I have something on my face? And finally, someone walked up to me and they were like, you're gonna be on that show. I saw you're the kid that's gonna be on that show. And I was like, whoa, the show hasn't even come out yet. But people already knew, which was kind of like a. A crazy feeling, right? Going from zero. And to add to that story, you know, we were in New York City every day, and my mom and I, we would always take the bus to Port Authority. And so we'd walk through Times Square, and we'd always be there around the time when TRL was being filmed, right? And so we would. We would be down in the crowd, and we'd wait to see what celebrity was going to come to the glass and wave down and then we'd get pictures or I, I'd also go. If we were up by where David Letterman filmed, we'd go there and like, I got a picture with Cindy Crawford, you know, like, you know, like, I, I was trying to get like, to see the celebrities. And it was like, I think two or three months later, I was waving down to the crowd. And that was a weird thing, right? Because, like, it just, it does, it happens quick, right?
- [19:08]
Danielle Fishel
Yes, it happens overnight.
- [19:10]
Frankie Muniz
Just being a kid trying to be an actor to all of a sudden, like, everyone knows who you are and, you know, it's, it's, it's really hard to explain.
- [19:18]
Danielle Fishel
I bet somewhere there is a photo of you in the crowd down below. Trl. You know what I mean?
- [19:25]
Frankie Muniz
Like, I was at my mom's house recently and she pulled out a photo album and we went. We stood outside of the Grammys one year. I think it was like 1997 or 1998. And we were out there for 15 hours waiting for like, the celebrity. Like, we had a really good spot, like, waiting for everyone to come out the cars. And I was a really big Hanson fan. Yes, of course, at the time. And like, they came out of their van and I have like, you know, I had like a 110, you know, film camera and all those photos were there. And it's weird because, like, I ended up becoming like, best friends with Zach Hansen. Like, I'm like, how weird is, like, life, you know, when you think about it, you know, of where you are and where your life takes you. But, wow, that's really cool. I'm sure there are. Or you can watch old episodes of trl. You'll see me, my mom, down in the crowd waving out. I know.
- [20:15]
Danielle Fishel
I love that. I think that's great. Great.
- [20:22]
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- [20:25]
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- [20:29]
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- [20:34]
Danielle Fishel
Really. Autotrader, buy your car online. Really?
- [20:37]
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- [21:34]
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- [23:13]
Danielle Fishel
I know you mentioned you don't really have hobbies. You really throw yourself into them. But as a teenager or as a kid, did you have hobbies? Were you able to throw yourself into things while you were also still working full time? I mean. Yeah, yeah, you've probably not had many days off.
- [23:29]
Frankie Muniz
Yeah, I didn't have many days off. But I. I loved basketball. I played in the NBA Entertainment league.
- [23:35]
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
- [23:35]
Frankie Muniz
It was like life to me you know, I. I thought I had a shot to make it in the NBA, you know, five foot four, you know, Frankie Muniz. But so. But I. I was actually really good at basketball, but that was. Was like my. My thing. And then I loved golf. I played golf all the time. And so those are. Those were my two. Like, if I had time, that's what I was. I was probably doing. I was always into cars. Like, not as a driver yet, but, like, just loved the idea of having cars and going to car shows and stuff like that. So I do that a little bit in la, but. But no, I mean, I think if I added up all the days off I had from 8 years old to 20 when the show ended, like, maybe I get 40 days off in that. In that span. You know what I mean? There wasn't a lot of time to, you know, because even on, like, the days where I didn't have anything, you would have tons of press, right. My mom would wake me up and be like, oh, you got, you know, five radio interviews they schedule that you have to do, and then you have this, and then we have to go here, and then we're flying here. So you're always doing something, you know, I mean, back then. And so it's hard to really dive into anything else. You know what I mean?
- [24:45]
Danielle Fishel
At that time, a lot of us kid actors or former kid actors talk about how we avoided burnout or whether or not we did experience burnout.
- [24:55]
Frankie Muniz
Yeah.
- [24:56]
Danielle Fishel
Did you ever feel like you experienced being really burnt out with the industry?
- [25:01]
Frankie Muniz
I think I did. I mean, I've never. I've never really talked about it. I just remember just being just tired in general. You know, I started saying no, which, like, I'm not a no person. Right. Like.
- [25:14]
Danielle Fishel
Right.
- [25:14]
Frankie Muniz
Meaning, like, you know, I. I'd be like, yeah, I really. I just don't want to, Like, I. I don't want to do that anymore.
- [25:21]
Danielle Fishel
Right.
- [25:21]
Frankie Muniz
And. But then I also knew, like, the. How great of an opportunity I had, right? So, like, there was a. There was a mix of, like, yeah, you're tired, but you got to fight through because, like, you don't know when it's gonna end. But also when you're in it, you don't think it's gonna end. That makes sense, Right? Like, you think that, like, it's gonna be forever like that where now I can look back at it and go, okay. I could see where I was getting pretty burned out at that point. You know what I mean?
- [25:48]
Danielle Fishel
Yes.
- [25:49]
Frankie Muniz
You know, but I have a greater appreciation for opportunity now because, you know, like, once you, you've had it, you step away from it for a little bit. And then when you get the opportunity again, like, like, you know, I'm diving in 100, you know what I mean? Because I, I know how lucky I am and I know it doesn't last forever. Right?
- [26:07]
Danielle Fishel
Exactly.
- [26:08]
Frankie Muniz
You know, take it while you have it, you know, like, and, and get to experience it. And I just have a different mindset in general for everything, like, for life in general. So, you know, having stepped away, I think was a positive for me in the sense that I've kind of said it saved my life because it just made me have a greater appreciation for the small things, if that makes sense. I don't know.
- [26:27]
Danielle Fishel
Totally understand. Couldn't relate more. I am exactly the same way. I think I definitely, I definitely took myself out of the industry, focused on something else, something else that I loved that was really good for me. And then now being back in it the way I am, I have just a totally different perspective on it all now. There's something about age also that just, you know, makes you appreciate things differently than you do when, when you're young and there's so much to think about when you're a kid, you know, and you've got a full time job and yeah, it's a little, it's a. Not that being an adult is this really any easier, but it's just different for sure. A lot of child stars from your class haven't been as lucky as you or I and weren't able to find balance in maybe when the jobs stop rolling in or when we start saying no to jobs, finding other things that we love. What do you think helped you survive? Is it that, that desire to just throw yourself into everything? A hundred percent?
- [27:28]
Frankie Muniz
I think so. You know, know, I, oddly, I never fully felt like I belonged in Hollywood.
- [27:36]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [27:37]
Frankie Muniz
Like, even when I was on the show, right. And I had people coming up to me or I was nominated for awards, I'd be at these award shows and I was like, how am I even invited here? You know, never mind. Like, associated with these people. Like, I felt like an outsider. I have this weird thing where I grew up and it's funny now because, like, you know, I've talked to my parents about it and like, I grew up thinking the only people who like did drugs were criminals. You know what I mean?
- [28:06]
Danielle Fishel
Yep.
- [28:07]
Frankie Muniz
Like, literally, like, like only bad guys somehow. And then like, you know, now I talked to my dad. My dad's like, I smoked pot. Every single day that you were alive. You know what I mean? Like, I had no idea, you know?
- [28:19]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [28:20]
Frankie Muniz
Your mom used to smoke cigarettes. I was like, what? Like, no way. You know, like, not mom, you know? Exactly. So, like, being in the Hollywood world, right, You. You are surrounded by it, but somehow I wasn't. Like, somehow I knew it was there, but, like, I. No one pushed anything on me. No one. I never experienced that. So I remember being, like, 18 or 19, you know, I'd been on Malcolm for a bunch of years. I was going to all the things, all the parties, blah, blah, and I finally really started to see it, like, to see kind of that I was like, oh, I'm the odd one, you know.
- [28:56]
Danielle Fishel
Right. Ears dabbling.
- [28:59]
Frankie Muniz
Yeah. I'm the one who's not doing it. And. But, you know, going back to, like I said when I was eight, where I always felt like I was running out of time. I felt like at 18, that I was 60 and I lived so many years that I was like, oh, if I haven't done it now, there's no reason for me to start. Right.
- [29:17]
Autotrader User Voice
Exactly.
- [29:18]
Frankie Muniz
You're smart. So it was. It was like. I know that's necessarily what the question was, but I feel like a lot of people kind of get sucked into that part of the world.
- [29:29]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [29:30]
Frankie Muniz
But even then, when the show ended and I had the opportunity to go racing, like, I wanted to commit to that. I wanted to do that. So I've always gone from, like, I've never not been busy.
- [29:44]
Danielle Fishel
Right, right.
- [29:45]
Frankie Muniz
I never really went through, like, a. A lull, if that makes sense, to where I was like, oh, wait. Oh, man. Where. I think a lot of child actors, especially where, like, you grow up in it and once you have some success, you have so many people coming up to you all the time, telling you how much they love your stuff or you. Or, you know, and you're getting all these things and, you know, thrown at you, and you're traveling all around the world and then it stops.
- [30:10]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [30:11]
Frankie Muniz
That probably is hard. Right? Like, to. To feel like you're here and then realize that, like, nobody cares. Nobody really cares in the end.
- [30:17]
Danielle Fishel
Yes.
- [30:18]
Frankie Muniz
So I feel like a lot of people go down a path of, like, looking for something to fill that void.
- [30:23]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [30:23]
Frankie Muniz
You know what I mean?
- [30:24]
Danielle Fishel
Or, you know, and going from being extremely busy to having a lot of time on your hands.
- [30:28]
Frankie Muniz
Yeah, yeah.
- [30:29]
Danielle Fishel
And if you have too much time on your hands and you allow access to the wrong people, there will be people who will come and tell you what you should fill Your time with.
- [30:35]
Frankie Muniz
Exactly. Yeah. So I just never. I never really necessarily went through that, I guess. I don't know. I don't know if I answered your question there. But you did. Roundabout way.
- [30:46]
Danielle Fishel
Where does Bryan Cranston fall into this equation? What was he like as a TV dad and possibly mentor over the years?
- [30:54]
Frankie Muniz
I mean, Brian, I've always said, like, when people ask me who my favorite actor I worked with is, I always say Brian for a number of reasons. A, I've never seen someone commit a hundred percent to every single moment that they're on set. Right. So, like, I always admired that because, you know, like, when you're doing a show for a long time, like, eventually you're like, I'm kind of tired, you
- [31:18]
Danielle Fishel
know, like, I'm phoning it in.
- [31:19]
Frankie Muniz
You sure we're not done.
- [31:20]
Danielle Fishel
We got it.
- [31:21]
Frankie Muniz
You know what I mean?
- [31:22]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [31:23]
Frankie Muniz
Like, Ryan never said that. Right. He was always, like, gave it if he was off camera, you know what I mean? Gave the same performance as he did, if it was his close up, like, gave it his all to every single person on set. He was always just so nice and genuine and cared. And that's something that's even like, followed over the last 20 years. Like, no matter what it is I've been doing, he's always reached out, he's always supported it, right. When I owned an olive oil company, he bought the olive oil. If I was in a band, he came to the show, right. Like, you know what I mean? He's always kind of been like that. And I've always admired him a for that, but also just his work ethic, you know, I want what the way I look at him, like, as an actor or as a professional or whatever it is as a. As a person, I feel like everyone who works with him has the same thing to say about him. And I want that for me, right. I want people to think that way. Like, I want to have that kind of impression on. On people. So, like in the new Malcolm episodes, Malcolm has a daughter, right? So, like, I wanted to be that influence to her, to the actress, you know what I mean? To where maybe she says the same thing about me in 20 years? I don't know.
- [32:29]
Danielle Fishel
Absolutely. I'll probably still be doing this podcast and I'll interview her and I'll let you know. I'll report back what she says. You no longer live in la, right?
- [32:38]
Frankie Muniz
No, yeah, I live in Scottsdale, Arizona.
- [32:41]
Danielle Fishel
Okay. Was there a specific instance or a final straw that helped you realize that moving out of LA was Vital for you.
- [32:48]
Frankie Muniz
I. I was never an LA fan.
- [32:52]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [32:54]
Frankie Muniz
I don't know, maybe being that I was more like a New York guy, you know, like, you know, just like opposite coat, like, just different. It's a different world. The traffic, I always felt like it was difficult to live, if that makes sense. Like, to go to the store is hard, I know. Packed and you probably have to valet and, you know, you know what I mean? Like, I just. I don't know. And when. So when the show ended and I started racing, I finally realized that I'm on the road every week anyway, going to different racetracks around the country. Like, I could be based anywhere, right?
- [33:24]
Danielle Fishel
Home base, could be anywhere.
- [33:26]
Frankie Muniz
And there was not necessarily a reason for me to stay in la. So I actually remember I was with my ex girlfriend and we were at a store about to buy a barbecue from a house in la. And I was like, before I buy this barbecue, I go, would you ever want to move to Scottsdale? And she's like, yeah, we left the line, got in our car, drove to Scottsdale, went into an open house that afternoon, bought it and closed nine days later. And I've been there for 18 years.
- [33:54]
Danielle Fishel
My gosh, you literally said it that day and then went and bought the place that you saw.
- [34:01]
Frankie Muniz
Yeah, so. But I, you know, I say leaving la, same, you know, thing. Like, it made me just. I started looking up, like, I started enjoying the small things of life. Life, you know, like I go hiking, I ride mountain bikes, I. I do things that I just, I'm sure is here. They have it here, but, like, I just didn't want to leave my house. Like, I didn't want to do it. I know people love la and, yeah, nothing against, you know, it's. I'm sure it's a great place. It just wasn't for me, Right. And when I'm home, like when I'm in Scottsdale, which is rare these days because I'm on the road 300 plus days a year with the racing, but I truly feel like that's where I'm supposed to be. And it feels good to feel like you're where you're supposed to be, if that makes sense.
- [34:42]
Danielle Fishel
Totally. Okay, very serious question here. What type of person do you think you would have been had you gone by Frank Muniz instead of Frankie? Who's Frank? Who do you think Frank is?
- [34:58]
Frankie Muniz
Oh, man, that's a funny one. Because, you know, I just turned 40, right, and I'm still Frankie Muniz. Like, I was like, you know, people I sometimes get a little, like, crap for it. They're like, are you still Frankie? But my dad. Dad, I'm the fourth. I'm Francisco Muniz the fourth. Right.
- [35:12]
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
- [35:13]
Frankie Muniz
So my dad has always been Frank to me.
- [35:15]
Danielle Fishel
Okay. Right.
- [35:16]
Frankie Muniz
But Frank just seems so old and, like, kind of boring. You know what I mean?
- [35:20]
Bowen Yang
Yeah.
- [35:21]
Danielle Fishel
You don't want to be Frank. That's Pops.
- [35:24]
Frankie Muniz
Yeah. Yeah. So I don't know. I've just. I've never really. I've never fully thought about being Frank. Who would Frank Muniz be? Well, you know, I know like, Rick. Ricky Schroeder became Rick Schroeder. Yeah. You know, didn't really do much for his.
- [35:39]
Danielle Fishel
Didn't change much. Oh, yeah. No, not career wise. I don't even mean career. I just mean, would you be a totally different person had you been Frank?
- [35:45]
Frankie Muniz
Oh, man, I don't. I don't know. You know, my real name is Francisco.
- [35:49]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [35:49]
Frankie Muniz
And I was joking with my wife, you know, she's like. You know, because someone had. Someone had literally said, like, why are you still Frankie? And I was like, is it weird that, like. Like, I'm 40 and I'm Frankie? I don't know. It's just my name. I don't know. I didn't think that. And she's like, maybe you should go by Francisco. And I was like, oh, hell no. Like, you know, that's my name, but, like, it's so not my name.
- [36:10]
Danielle Fishel
Right.
- [36:10]
Frankie Muniz
And I was like, what about. What if I just came out as, like, Cisco Muniz? Cisco.
- [36:14]
Danielle Fishel
From now on, I now only go by Cisco.
- [36:17]
Frankie Muniz
That's it. You only. Only can call me Cisco.
- [36:20]
Danielle Fishel
You'd be the only person to move to Scottsdale and then become more Hollywood.
- [36:27]
Frankie Muniz
I don't know. I don't. I, like, not. I don't want to say I like boring jobs, because don't get me wrong. But, like, I love, like, bookkeeping and accounting. So I think Frank Muniz would be, like. Would work at H and R Block and he would do your taxes really quick and get you that, you know, 200 refund, and you'd be thrilled.
- [36:44]
Danielle Fishel
And you'd also get to put all those skills of like, of organization and, you know, planning. You'd get to put all that to. I think this is just a great thing for you to know that that's
- [36:54]
Frankie Muniz
probably what the future has in store for me. Like, when I'm done racing. It's like, yeah, I'm probably just gonna open a accounting firm.
- [37:01]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, you're still too young and athletic to be frank. Frankie is young and athletic and like super busy and I think Frank is eventually when you need to settle down, when your knees hurt or something and you need to go, I'm close because
- [37:14]
Frankie Muniz
my knees are aching. That's for sure.
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- [39:51]
Danielle Fishel
What age did racing become an interest for you? You said you were always interested in cars, but when did the idea of racing them?
- [39:59]
Frankie Muniz
I, I, I same thing. I remember being a kid, I, My family did not like racing, so it's not like I went to races with my dad or they didn't watch it on TV, but I always woke up at like 4 or 5 in the morning, even when I was 5, 6 years old.
- [40:13]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [40:13]
Frankie Muniz
And, you know, I'd go in the living room and I put on the TV. And on the weekends, the Formula One races would be on at like 5am because it's, you know, they're in Europe or whatever. And I remember watching those and I watched the IndyCar races and I watched NASCAR races and I remember loving it. But, like, it never crossed my mind that I ever would be a race car driver because, like, it's like saying you want to be an astronaut. Like, yeah, it's a dream. But, like, how do you, how do you do that? Like, right. You know, no one really does that, you know. So I actually, I thought about this the other day and I, and it was the first time I had thought about it. The reason why I'm a race car driver is actually because of Bryan Cranston. And I don't think I've ever said this out loud to, like, on an interview.
- [40:53]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [40:53]
Frankie Muniz
So he did. He and Chris Masterson, who played Francis on Malcolm, they got invited to do the Toyota Grand Prix of Long beach pro celebrity race. And this was like 2002 or 2003. And Brian came back from that and he goes, it was the most incredible thing I've ever done in my life. And if you, because you knew I loved cars, if they ever ask you, you have to say, yes, he's a. But you have to be 18. I think I was 17 at the time. So the following year they asked me, yeah, I'm gonna do it. And they send you out to, like, Palmdale and you, like, train at Willow Springs Raceway for a few weeks. And it is a very serious. It's a pro celebrity race. But, like, it's very serious. You're still going.
- [41:36]
Danielle Fishel
There's still a risk of death.
- [41:38]
Frankie Muniz
Yes, 100%. Like, yeah. And I just remember loving it, but I didn't think I'd be good at it. But I ended up winning the race.
- [41:46]
Danielle Fishel
Oh, my gosh.
- [41:48]
Frankie Muniz
But that feeling, I mean, I've experienced a lot of cool things in my life. That feeling of crossing the finish line first is unlike anything I've ever experienced because, like, as an actor, I could dedicate my life to a role or to a job and put in what I think is the best performance I've ever done in my life. And people see it and they're like, like, eh, it was okay, right? Some people love it, some people hate it. So you know where in racing if you're the best, you win and if you're not, you don't, you know, it's right there. Like, you know, and I've never had something that I've been a part of that. That's the case.
- [42:26]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [42:26]
Frankie Muniz
So winning, that was amazing. A pro team approached me after that race and was like, hey, we'd love to just put you in the car just for fun. Like, just for a test. Just come down, fly to Houston, we'll put you in the race car. You can have two fun days and that'll be it. I was like, okay. And I remember sitting in the race car, they were molding my seat because, like, they molded your body and I was trembling. I was so scared because I was like, I don't know what I'm doing. Like, I have no idea what I'm doing. And cut to the end of the two days, I was faster than their like, professional driver. And they were like, we didn't really, really think anything of this. But like, you, you should do this. Like, what's your experience? I go the pro celebrity race in Long beach, you know, and so they signed me to a two year development deal. And the next thing I knew, like a month later, not knowing the rules of what the race, of the racing or what I was doing, I was racing against some of the top drivers in the world and was a professional driver. So like, it just kind of happened.
- [43:25]
Danielle Fishel
You know what I mean? Yes.
- [43:26]
Frankie Muniz
But that was the same year, that was 2006 and that was the year that Malcolm ended. So I had made the conscious decision when the show ended to say hey to my agents and managers. I was like, I don't care what comes in. Like, I'm gonna, I'm gonna try to focus on this. You know, I really want to try to be a race car driver because if you're competing against guys that, that's their lives, right? That's all they do, that's all they think about. They're in the shop, they're in the simulator, they're working at you can't just show up and kind of do it, you know?
- [43:55]
Danielle Fishel
Exactly.
- [43:56]
Frankie Muniz
So I wanted to do that. And. And that's what I did. And here I am now, you know, 20, 22 years later, racing NASCAR. And I love it.
- [44:05]
Bowen Yang
Wow.
- [44:06]
Danielle Fishel
I mean, while researching you, I was amazed to see that when I googled Frankie Muniz, your racing information comes up first.
- [44:14]
Frankie Muniz
Nice.
- [44:14]
Danielle Fishel
Did you ever. Did you ever think that could actually happen?
- [44:18]
Frankie Muniz
No. You know, look, I've been a cool thing. Like, I've been recognized since I was 12 years old. Right. So for the past 30 years.
- [44:27]
Danielle Fishel
Right.
- [44:28]
Frankie Muniz
And the coolest thing I've ever experienced is when people started coming up to me as fans of the racing. I don't know why, like, yeah, I don't know why it meant so much to me, you know, because, you know, I'm doing something that is different, that is unexpected. But, like, the fact that people do like it and appreciate it or they're rooting for me. Like, I love that, that when I'm at the races and people come up to me with Frankie muniz, like, number 33 shirts on, like, I don't know why it's so cool to me because, I don't know, I really, really love it.
- [45:02]
Danielle Fishel
Probably I can relate to it in the sense that when people all, you know, again, since I was 12 as well. Boy Meets World, I was 12, 12 to 19, when people would come up to me and they recognize me as Topanga. I love it. It means a great deal to me. But now that we have Pod meets World and people come up to me and recognize me for the pod, and it feels totally different to be appreciated for something that's you being you, you showing you know you're you. The race car driver is not playing a character. It's. It's an accomplishment that you really own. And I don't know why we don't recognize that we also own the acting side too. It just feels like more of different. Yeah, it's just different. So I. I totally understand. Well, now in 2026, you have said yes, much like I did for Girl Meets world back in 2014. You have. Have decided to return to the character that will be named first in our obituaries. Malcolm in the Middle is back for a four episode special event. Take me through your thought process when you first got the call.
- [46:06]
Frankie Muniz
I mean, obviously I was thrilled. This. This was a long time coming. Right. I think I'd watched all the episodes for the first time in maybe 2014 or 2015. I'd never seen It.
- [46:19]
Danielle Fishel
Yep.
- [46:20]
Frankie Muniz
And at the very end of it, I ended up tweeting something like, man, I just finished watching the show. Like, I have so many thoughts.
- [46:26]
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- [46:26]
Frankie Muniz
It was such a different show than I even thought we were making. Like, the comedy, everything about it, like, I had. I just. I. I enjoyed it as a fan, but I. I said something like, man, I would love to know what Malcolm and his family are up to now, because, like, the last episode is left so not. Not vague, but, like, they expect Malcolm to become President of the United States. And.
- [46:46]
Autotrader Ad Voice
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- [46:46]
Frankie Muniz
You know, like, where. Where is he? And I tweeted it, and that went, like, everywhere. Like, everyone picked it up, and it kind of went viral, and I couldn't believe the, like, the fan reaction of the excitement of the potential of seeing more episodes. So I think that day I had. Or later that week, I called the creator, Linwood Boomer, and I hadn't talked to him since the last episode of filming. And the first thing I did was thank you. Him. Right. Because I don't think I'd ever done that. You know, I was like, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be on the show. Like, you know, like, it obviously changed my life, but, you know, I go, I don't know if you saw the tweet I put out. He's like, I saw it. Everyone wrote stories about it. And I. Have you ever thought about potentially doing something like that? And he was like, yeah, Nope, I have no interest at all. You know what I mean? Like, nope, we're good. You know, we're good.
- [47:35]
Danielle Fishel
Finish that.
- [47:36]
Frankie Muniz
Yeah. So I ended up having dinner with Bryan Cranston, like, a few weeks later, and we were talking about it, and he was like. Like, there is not a role that I've ever played that I want the chance to revisit more than how, like, this is now post Breaking Bad and all the other things he's done. And I thought that was the coolest thing that, like, he was really into it, you know, because obviously his career went insane after the show, and he really took the lead from that moment. And this was 10 years ago, and he kind of. He got Linwood on board. He came up with an idea. He's the one who went in with the networks, and he really kind of pushed it. So. So we knew there was a possibility for the last, like, eight years that it could happen. Like, they kept saying, oh, it might happen. It might happen. We'll see. And so when I got the official call that it was happening, obviously, I was absolutely thrilled it was not the best timing for me because I just signed like a two year deal with Ford and with the NASCAR and you know, we raced 30 something weekends a year. You know what I mean? Wow. But they were so gracious, like the show, they really worked around my racing schedule. So we filmed Sunday through Thursdays. So I filmed Sunday, I'd leave Thursday, fly to Tennessee, race Friday, fly back Saturday, film Sunday through Thursday. So it was a lot. But you know, I. Going back to the opportunity thing that we're talking, I was talking about earlier. Like I knew that I was so lucky a to get to race full time but then also get to do the show again. I was like, I'm gonna be tired, but I got it, I gotta do it and give it 100% and. And it was awesome. We had a great time.
- [49:09]
Danielle Fishel
Oh, that's so great. Were you surprised by how easy it was to slide right back into character or was it not so easy?
- [49:15]
Frankie Muniz
It was the simplest thing I've ever done in my life. Like, you know, we hadn't really seen each other, most of us, in 20 years, you know, 19 years, whatever. And it was as if not a single second had gone by. Like personally, like even just like off camera camera, but then even more like on camera, like playing the characters being Malcolm, like, you know, Justin playing Reese. It was as if like we'd been doing it non stop for 20 years. I had, I had a lot of fun because I realized as a kid when I was on the show originally, not that I didn't care, but like I didn't prepare.
- [49:50]
Danielle Fishel
Right?
- [49:50]
Frankie Muniz
Right. I read the words and they were really good. There was good writing and I said the words like that was my I prep as an actor, you know, just knowing the words, you know what I mean? And so it was fun as an adult where now I do care. Right. I don't care, but I didn't care, you know, like I, I wanted to really make sure I was getting everything out of the scenes and the emotion. Because in this four episodes there's a lot of emotion, highs and lows and, and I had such an amazing time with it. Like just even getting the act with Brian again and AKA Chain again. But it was the first time in my life in the. How long have I been an actor? Since 1994. I don't know.
- [50:31]
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
- [50:31]
Frankie Muniz
You know that I. We finished the show, I was happy to have the label actor oh like next to my name. Like, I honestly been like, oh, I act but I'm not an actor. Right. Like it's one of the things I do, you know what I mean? But I was, I, I was so genuinely proud to get to do that and had such a good time that I, I, yeah, I loved it. I had a, I had a blast.
- [50:54]
Danielle Fishel
Oh, I love that. Well, congratulations to you on that. Thanks. Frankie and I are just getting started. This Friday he will be back on Teen Beat for a bonus episode where we will listen to one of your voice memos and learn more about the world's most famous race car driving actor. And you can join in on the fun as well. Just send your own embarrassing story from childhood recorded on a 1 to 2 minute voice memo to teenbeatpodmail.com and I would love to play it on a future episode. And don't forget Malcolm in the Middle Life Still Unfair premieres on Hulu and Disney April 10th. I am excited and you should be too. Teen Beat is an Iheart podcast produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel, executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Sugarman, Executive in charge of production Danielle Romo, Producer and editor Tara Sudbaksh. The theme song is by Mark Hoppus. Yes, that Mark Hoppus. Follow us on Instagram teenbeatpod In our household, my husband and I have both been diagnosed with varying degrees of ocd. So raising awareness of its related struggles and knowing help does exist is important to us. And that's why I'm happy to talk about nocd. It's the world's leading OCD treatment provider consisting of licensed therapists specializing in exposure response prevention, which has proven to be the most effective treatment for OCD. Therapy is 100% virtual, covered by insurance for over 138 million Americans and they provide support even between sessions so you're never facing OCD alone again. Book a free 15 minute call@nocd.com that's nocd.com
- [52:39]
Kalpen (Kal Penn)
hey everyone, it's Kalpen. I'm inviting you to join the best sounding book club you've ever heard with my podcast, ear the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. Every episode I nerd out with amazing guests and dive into the best new audiobooks available on Audible. It's the book club for your ears. Listen to Earsay the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [53:08]
Bowen Yang
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- [54:07]
Sean Duffy
I'm U.S. transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The Sound of a Seatbelt it's one of the most important sounds in our car. It means everyone is ready and everyone is safe. The more our kids see us put on our seatbelts, the more natural it is for them to put theirs on too. Make it a priority. Buckle up every time. Hear the sound. Make it a habit.
- [54:33]
Frankie Muniz
Paid for by NHTSA this is an iHeart podcast.
- [54:39]
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