It’s possible, just possible, that your role as the wise man’s camel in this year’s Christmas play could lead to bigger things. Don’t believe us? Ask “Malcolm in the Middle’ star Frankie Muniz. He tells KidNews that he may never have gotten into acting if not for his first role in a community production of “A Christmas Carol.’
His sister was auditioning for the play, so he figured he’d try for a role too. “I played Tiny Tim. I was about 8 years old,’ Muniz, now 16, says.
Of course, Muniz’s Tiny start in acting has since snowballed into bigger and better roles. This year, Muniz earned an Emmy nomination for his lead role as the brainy geek with the wacky family on “Malcolm.’ He also has starred in hit movies such as “My Dog Skip,’ and he even provided a voice for “The Simpsons’ last season.
So what’s it like to be famous? That’s one question Muniz says bugs him a little. “I don’t like it when people say, ‘Oh, you’re famous.’ I’m the same person I always was. I just get to do awesome things now and meet other famous people.’
Surprisingly, though, bumping shoulders with well-dressed celebs at award ceremonies doesn’t rate a mention on Muniz’s most-awesome list. Instead, he says he likes the same sort of stuff that most teen guys do –basketball, golf, fast-food hamburgers and putting the pedal to the metal. Muniz celebrated his 16th birthday on Dec. 5 and has been a driving fool ever since.
“I got my license, and I’ve put in 700 miles already. I just love to drive,’ he says. “I don’t even know where I go. I just can’t be a passenger anymore. I need to be in control.’
However, Muniz gladly puts it in park to watch pros behind the wheel. “I’m a huge NASCAR fan. I was at the Daytona 500 this year when Dale Earnhardt was killed, so that was pretty sad. But racing is just exciting.’
Basketball is another passion, and unlike most L.A. residents, his favorite team is the Clippers. “I’ve liked the Clippers since I was little. I mean, with the Lakers you pay triple the price and you know they’re going to win, so how fun could that be? With the Clippers, it’s exciting and it’s fun to hope they’ll pull it out in the end.’
Muniz says he wasn’t kidding when he told “Tonight Show’ host Jay Leno last month that he’d like to own the Clippers someday. “I’d love to play basketball but that’s not going to happen, so if I owned a team I would sit there and watch them win championships.’
Would Muniz be interested in coaching his own team? Definitely … not. Muniz explains: “Coaching is hard. It’s easier to sit there and watch them win.’
Not that Muniz has had a lot of time to sit around lately. Between starring in “Malcolm’ and in the big-screen flick “Big Fat Liar,’ out in February, Muniz has been a busy guy. In the film, Muniz’s character plays a junior high school student who stretches the truth to get out of schoolwork and other things. When a school paper he actually did write accidentally falls into the hands of a Hollywood producer and becomes a hit film, the fibber travels to L.A. to prove the idea was his.
“Making the film was awesome,’ Muniz says. “I really liked going to work everyday. It’s a very good movie.’
And how do we know he’s telling the truth?
“You’ll have to go see it.’
Watch “Malcolm in the Middle’ at 7:30 p.m. Central Time Sundays on Fox.
Stressed?
Tackle the holidays with relative ease
It’s that time of year again: carolers sing, sleigh bells ring and — watch out! — mobs of relatives take over your house, talk all at once and bombard you with embarrassing questions.
Surviving the holidays with the family can be tough — as “Malcolm in the Middle’ star Frankie Muniz understands from his own crazy TV family.
He jokingly told KidNews: “My advice is just go open your presents and then go in your room and hide. That’s the best way to survive.’
But seriously, spending the day holed up in your room will probably make you miserable and your parents fuming mad. So, we’ve turned to some experts for tips on how to beat the holiday blahs. Here’s what they have to say:
If you’re annoyed by a creepy cousin or nosy aunt, it sounds obvious … but be nice. “Be polite. You’ll only ruin your own day if you respond in an ugly tone of voice,’ says Caroljean Ellis, author of the “Tales of Little Angels’ book series.
Ellis says that doesn’t mean you have to spill all when your aunt asks you who you’re crushing on or blurts out, “You used to be so good in math. What happened?’ “You can answer politely without answering directly,’ she says.
For example, you could say, “My social life’s going great, but there’ s no one special I’d like to talk about,’ or “Don’t worry. I’m still studying hard this semester.’
Susan Mackey, a clinical psychologist at the Family Institute of Northwestern University, says taking the opposite strategy may work too. “Most relatives, particularly adults, are put off if you just deal with them,’ she says. Respond to your aunt’s rude question about your math grade with a lengthy explanation about logarithms and your aunt is likely to get bored in seconds and move on.
But maybe it’s not your family that’s getting you down. Maybe you didn’t get the one gift you really wanted or maybe Christmas doesn’t seem as magical as when you were a younger kid. Don’t hide your disappointment, especially to yourself, Mackey says.
Instead, try to first put things into perspective. “If you don’t always get what you want, in the long run, when you do get what you want, you’ll appreciate it,’ Mackey says.
Then, “think of things to do to make your holiday better,’ Mackey adds. Come up with an activity that you’d enjoy and other family members can do, too, like a game or movie.
Ellis adds: “Be creative and come up with ways to correct the day. Let your anxiety out without pouting or getting ugly.’
If there is something you really want, negotiate later with Mom or Dad and work toward it, Mackey says. For example, if it’s a computer, agree to pay a percentage of its cost by earning money baby-sitting or doing extra chores.
— Carol Monaghan and Maggie Welter
Say thanks write now
Click in an attitude of gratitude and thank the cool kin and fab friends who gave you holiday gifts. Or extend your circle of thanks and tell President Bush or New York City firefighters that you appreciate their hard work. It’s a snap with Picture of Thanks photo cards at www.bolt.com.
Here’s how it works: Log onto the Web site and go to Bolt’s photo channel. Click on the Picture of Thanks link. You can either upload a photo of your own (send Grandma a pic of you in the sweater she gave you) or take it easy and choose a pretty photo from the site (most convey messages of peace). Choose a border and a greeting, then write a message of your own. Once you’re ready to send your postcard, type in your friend’s or relative’s e-mail address. Or if you’re sending a message of thanks to a leader, the site allows you to click on the e-mail addresses of everyone from U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
So what are you waiting for? Take a moment to thank someone who has made a difference in your life.
Got a story to share? Keep it in the family, and you may win a bike
Sure, your family may bug you sometimes. And sure, there are days when you may be convinced that you were switched at birth and your real family will show up anytime to claim you.
But truth is, nobody knows you better or shares more history with you than your family does. That’s why KidNews is launching a “It’s a Tradition’ Contest.
Share a winning family tradition with KidNews and you could be cruising the streets on a new Micro Monkey Bike by Huffy. These cool, compact bikes look baby-sized but are geared for big kids. We had Tim B., 8 (left), of Lincolnwood test-drive the bikes for KidNews, and after getting the hang of how to balance (“You’re low to the ground so it’s tricky,’ Tim told us), he said they were a blast. The bikes come in three models — Hear No Evil, See No Evil and Speak No Evil, which Tim is riding — and KidNews has one of each to give away.
If you’re age 8-15 and have a funky, funny, sweet or sappy family tradition to share, fill out the form below and attach it to a sheet of paper describing your tradition. If your entry is one of our favorites, you could be one of three lucky kids to win a bike. Entries must be received by Jan. 8. Send them to: KidNews It’s A Tradition Contest, Chicago Tribune, 5th Floor, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.
First name
Last initial
Age
Hometown
Phone number and area code
Describe a family tradition and why it’s important to you. (Keep it to 100 words or less, please.)
