Bryan Cranston reveals mid-interview he stole “GMA” merchandise from previous 'Deals and Steals' segment

Mekishana PierreTue, April 7, 2026 at 4:00 PM UTC

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Bryan Cranston on 'Good Morning America' on Apr. 7, 2026Credit: ABC(2)

Bryan Cranston still has a little bit of that Breaking Bad spirit in him.

The actor sent the Good Morning America crew into pearls of laughter during his Tuesday interview, alongside Malcolm in the Middle costars Jane Kaczmarek and Frankie Muniz, when it was revealed that the actor had stolen a displayed item from the show's previous "Deals and Steals" segment.

Cranston made the reveal while answering a question about the threesome's upcoming four-episode revival miniseries, Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair, which will premiere on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ on April 10. The 70-year-old was explaining how the revival came about through years-long persuading of Emmy-winning creator and executive producer Linwood Boomer.

Jane Kaczmarek, Bryan Cranston, and Frankie Muniz on 'Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair''Credit: David Bukach/Disney

"For years people have been coming up [to me] and asking me, 'What happened to Malcolm?...' So I took that to Linwood Boomer, and he said absolutely not," Cranston recalled. "Years went by and then I asked him again, and he said, 'I don't think so.' I said oooh, there's a fish line there. There's a crack — it was definitive and then it was not."

Then, seemingly distracted by something in his pocket, the actor told hosts Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, and Michael Strahan that he had to check something — revealing the stolen display holding two electronic devices from the previous segment.

"What is that!?" Roberts cried out as the studio broke out into laughter. Putting on a confused facade, Cranston held up the display, noting, "I thought it was Deals or Steals," to which Roberts responded, "Well you stole it!"

As Cranston set the display aside, saying he'll "grab that later," Roberts told the actor to "never change," as the studio laughter teetered out.

Cranston shared a similar story for Entertainment Weekly's March cover story previewing what to expect from the revival.

"I was like that water torture test, dripping on [his] forehead," Cranston said of his efforts to convince Boomer to revive the series that originally concluded in May 2006. "Eventually, he just wanted the torture to stop."

"It started out as nudging," Boomer added, the affection for Cranston clear in his voice. "Then built into pestering, and then finally tipped over into bullying."

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The Emmy winner noted that it didn't help matters that Boomer's wife, Tracy Katsky Boomer, whom he met on the set of the original series and who serves as an executive producer on the revival, took Cranston's side. "She was like, 'Why don't you at least give your friend the courtesy of thinking about it seriously?' I was just like, 'Goddamnit,'" Boomer recalled.

And it was Katsky Boomer that provided the idea for a story idea that felt worthy of getting the gang back together. Her idea? Malcolm raises a daughter who's just like him. "I was like, 'Oh s---, that's really good,'" Boomer admitted.

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Thus, Life's Still Unfair was born. Muniz is back as the titular Malcolm, the only sane voice in a particularly wacky family led by Kaczmarek (Lois) and Cranston (Hal). Also back in the mix are Christopher Kennedy Masterson and Justin Berfield (older brothers Francis and Reese) and Emy Coligado (as Piama, Francis's wife). Youngest brother Dewey is played by a different actor, with Caleb Ellsworth-Clark replacing Erik Per Sullivan, as sometimes happens in these situations (c.f. Fake Ginger on those Gilligan's Island specials.)

The good people at Hulu describe the four-episode miniseries thusly: "After shielding himself and his daughter from his family for over a decade, Malcolm is dragged back into their orbit when Hal and Lois demand his presence at their 40th anniversary party."

Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek on 'Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair'Credit: David Bukach/Disney

That's right — Malcolm has a child now, and she is played by Keeley Karsten, who was also one of the younger sisters in The Fabelmans. Malcolm has a girlfriend, too, played by Kiana Madeira, who was in Netflix's Fear Street films.

With the fans' enthusiastic response to the four-episode revival — and the pure delight its cast took in making it — the obvious question is: Could a full-fledged reboot be next? Considering Malcolm's daughter is seemingly a chip off the old block, a Gen Alpha, gender-swapped spinoff practically writes itself.

If nothing else, the Boomers definitely think Karsten has the potential for it. "She could absolutely hold a show," Katsky told EW.

"Keeley is an undiscovered star," Boomer agrees. "As a performer, she has this crazy potential that would be silly for show business not to use."

Fans can decide for themselves when Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair premieres on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ on April 10.

on Entertainment Weekly

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