Sunday

Malcolm in the Middle

Fear not! Reese (Justin Berfield) is returning from Afghanistan. ''We decided that it wasn't that funny to leave him in a battle zone for the rest of the season,'' reasons exec producer Linwood Boomer. Francis (Christopher Masterson) is also coming home for some episodes in season 6 -- we'll see no more of the ranch -- and Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan) decides to stay in the ''emotionally disturbed'' class. ''One of the things we missed [with an older Malcolm] was being able to do really smart stuff with little kids in school,'' Boomer says. ''We're able to do it again with Dewey.'' As for Malcolm (Frankie Muniz), he may get a love interest. Or just...an interest. Says Boomer: ''We're trying to get him a girl who is a friend. The character's far too annoying to be in a healthy relationship.''