Here's who was recast for “Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair” from original series

Caleb Ellsworth-Clark stepped in after Erik Per Sullivan declined to play Dewey in Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair.

Key points

• Anthony Timpano replaced James and Lukas Rodriguez as the family's youngest son Jamie in the revival.

• Vaughan Murrae, Kiana Madeira, and Keeley Karsten portray new members of the family.

TheMalcolm in the MiddlerevivalLife's Still Unfairbrings back tons of familiar faces — but a few of the stars of the original show declined to return.

AlthoughFrankie Muniz,Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek,Christopher Masterson, andJustin Berfieldall returned to reprise their respective members of the surname-less central family, the latest iteration of the show swapped out two of the series' younger siblings.

Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey on the originalMalcolm in the Middle, declined multiple offers to reunite with his on-screen family. The actor hasn't appeared on screen in over 15 years, so the production tried to make the role as attractive as possible to coax Sullivan out of retirement.

"I tried, I did everything,"Malcolmcreator Linwood Boomer tellsEntertainment Weekly. "You know, that's why Dewey is on Zoom all the time. I said, 'Listen, I worked it out so that we can go to your house if you want, and we can shoot it with a green screen. We can do it in half a day, that's all it would be.'"

Despite the relatively low level of commitment required for the part, Sullivan still opted out, soWynonna Earpalum Caleb Ellsworth-Clark is taking his place as Dewey. "He was like, 'I don't wanna be an actor anymore,'" Boomer says of Sullivan. The showrunner, who began his career as an actor on shows likeLittle House on the Prairiebefore pivoting to behind-the-camera work, recalls Sullivan flipping the line of questioning to underline his point.

"I kept pushing him, and then he said, 'Doyouwanna be an actor anymore?'" Boomer remembers. "And I was like, 'No.' And he was like, 'Okay then, yeah... leave me alone [about it]."

Though he had steady success as a child actor in films likeThe Cider House RulesandChristmas with the Kranks, Sullivan stepped away from screen acting while he was still a teenager, with his final performance arriving in 2010'sTwelve.

Cranstonpreviously saidthat he chatted with Sullivan about a potentialMalcolmreturn.  "I talked to Erik and I said, 'Hey, we got the show! It's going to come back.' He goes, 'Oh, that's fantastic!'" theBreaking Badactor toldFly on the Walllast year. "And I go, 'Yeah, so we're looking forward to having you back.' He goes, 'Oh, no, no, I don't want to do it. But it's fantastic.'"

Cranston noted that Sullivan is exploring a new career trajectory. "He's actually going to Harvard," theTrumbostar explained. "He's really, really smart, and he's getting his master's at Harvard right now. He said, 'Oh God, no, I haven't acted since I was nine or something. So I'm not into it.'"

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Kaczmarekshared similar sentimentswithThe Guardian. "He's studying Dickens and is an incredible student," the actress explained. "They offered him buckets of money to come back, and he just said: 'No thank you.'"

Dewey isn't the only member of the family played by a new actor.Life's Still Unfairalso recast Jamie, the family's youngest brother who was played by twins James and Lukas Rodriguez in the last four seasons of the original show. Like Sullivan, the Rodriguezes have not appeared on screen in over 15 years, with their only credit outside ofMalcolmcoming in a 2009 episode ofWithout a Trace.

As a result, Anthony Timpano has stepped into the role of Jamie inLife's Still Unfair. He has previously appeared in episodes ofRiverdale,Nancy Drew,DC's Legends of Tomorrow, andFire Country.

There are a couple of other new faces joining the family inLife's Still Unfair, too. Vaughan Murrae portrays Hal and Lois' youngest child, Kelly, on the revival. Kelly didn't appear in the original series, but Kaczmarek's character discovered she was pregnant again in the show's series finale in 2006.

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Additionally, Kiana Madeira boarded the series as Malcolm's girlfriend, Tristan, while Keeley Karsten portrays the couple's daughter, Leah. Boomer is particularly enthusiastic to introduce the world to the latter actress, who previously appeared in Steven Spielberg'sThe Fabelmansand Prime Video'sHunters.

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

Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfairis now streaming on Hulu.

Reporting by Amy Wilkinson.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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April 11, 2026

Here's who was recast for “Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair” from original series

Caleb Ellsworth-Clark stepped in after Erik Per Sullivan declined to play Dewey in Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair . ...

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North Korean leader Kim backs China's push for ‘multipolar world’ in talks with foreign minister

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leaderKim Jong Unvoiced support for China’s push to build a “multipolar world” and called for deeper ties between the traditional allies during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, state media said Saturday.

North Korea China

During the meeting Friday, Kim said his government will fully support Chinese efforts to achieve territorial integrity based on its“one-China principle,”a reference to Beijing’s official position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, according to North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency.

Kim also outlinedNorth Korea’sposition on unspecified regional and international issues of “mutual concern” and said sustained development of ties between the two countries has become more crucial in the current geopolitical environment, KCNA said.

Wang, on a two-day trip to North Korea, said the countries’ relations were entering a “new phase” following asummitlast year between Kim and Chinese PresidentXi Jinping.

Embracing the ideas of a “new Cold War” and a “multipolarized world,” Kim has sought to break out of international isolation and push a more assertive foreign policy by expanding ties with governments locked in confrontations with the United States.

While Russia has been Kim’s top foreign policy priority in recent years, sending thousands of troops and large weapons shipments to support its war against Ukraine, he has also been cozying up to China, the North’s traditional main ally and economic lifeline.

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Kim joined Russian President Vladimir Putin at a World War II ceremony in Beijing in September and held his first summit with Xi Jinping in six years, moves that supported his efforts to portray North Korea as part of a united front against Washington.

North Korea and China last month resumed directflight and passenger train services, which had been suspended since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Wang arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday in his first visit to North Korea in seven years. He earlier met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Sun Hui and discussed ways to facilitate further cooperation and exchanges and holding “in-depth” talks on international issues, state media from both countries said.

The state media outlets did not mention whether Wang and North Korean officials discussed issues related to the U.S. or the ongoingwar in the Middle East.

Wang’s trip to North Korea came before U.S. President Donald Trump travels to Beijing for arescheduled summitwith Xi Jinping in May. Some South Korean officials have expressed hope the Trump-Xi meeting could provide a diplomatic opening with Pyongyang.

Kim has suspended all meaningful dialogue with the U.S. and South Korea since the collapse of his diplomacy with Trump in 2019 during the American president’s first term. Kim has since taken a hard-line stance toward South Korea, which he now defines as his “most hostile” adversary, and rejected U.S. offers to resume talks, calling on Washington to drop its demand for North Korea’s denuclearization as a precondition.

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North Korean leader Kim backs China's push for ‘multipolar world’ in talks with foreign minister

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leaderKim Jong Unvoiced support for China’s push to build a “multipolar world” and called for de...

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Jamie Ding wins again! See where he ranks on 'Jeopardy!' leader board

"Jeopardy!" contestant Jamie Dinghas done it again and won his 20th game in a row.

Ding, a Lawrenceville, New Jersey, resident, is now tied for seventh place in most consecutive games won, according to USA TODAY's previous reporting.

On the episode that premiered on Thursday, April 9, Ding won $33,027, increasing his total winnings to $572,600, and putting him at sixth place on the "Jeopardy!" regular-season money list,according to NorthJersey.com, a part of the USA TODAY Network.

In total, the Detroit-area native has answered a total of 649 questions correctly and 46 incorrectly, according toTheJeopardyFan.com.

Here's what to know about Thursday night's episode.

Who did Ding play against?

His opponents on Thursday night were Alexandra Leith, a national account manager originally from Dedham, Massachusetts, and Prithish David, a financial advisory consultant from Washington, D.C.

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David scored $6,600, and Leith scored $6,000.

Watch a clip of the game

What was the 'Final Jeopardy'?

The "Final Jeopardy" was: "In 1759 he purchased Ferney, the French home where he lived for 2 decades, largely because of the proximity to the Swiss border."

Ding risked only $827 and was the only contestant who knew the correct response: "Who is Voltaire?"

Leaderboard for most consecutive 'Jeopardy!' wins

1. Ken Jennings, 74 games, 2004

2. Amy Schneider, 40 games, 2022

3. Matt Amodio, 38 games, 2021

4. James Holzhauer, 32 games, 2019

5. Mattea Roach, 23 games, 2022

6. Cris Pannullo, 21 games, 2022

7. Jamie Ding, 20 games, current

8. Julia Collins, 20 games, 2014

9. Jason Zuffranieri, 19 games, 2019

10. David Madden, 19 games, 2005

How to watch 'Jeopardy!'

"Jeopardy!" airs as a syndicated television show and streams on Hulu and Peacock. To find your local station and air time,visit Jeopardy.com.

Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, space phenomena, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her onLinkedIn,X,Instagram, andTikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.

Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kperez@usatodayco.com or on X @katecperez_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Jeopardy!' contestant Jamie Bing wins 20th game in a row

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Jamie Ding wins again! See where he ranks on 'Jeopardy!' leader board

"Jeopardy!" contestant Jamie Dinghas done it again and won his 20th game in a row. Ding, a Lawrenceville, New Jersey, re...

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Exclusive-Chinese firm hired lobbyists with ties to Don Jr, then scored a win in Washington

By Alexandra Alper

WASHINGTON, April 9 (Reuters) - A lobbying firm led by one of Donald Trump Jr.'s hunting buddies helped a Chinese company make its case to a U.S. national security watchdog against a U.S. startup that was seeking to have the Chinese firm removed as one of its investors, public filings show.

The watchdog rejected the U.S. firm's request for a national security review of the Chinese firm's investment, according to a document seen by Reuters, handing a rare win to a Chinese company in Washington. The decision has not previously been ‌reported.

The lobbying firm, Checkmate, helped a lawyer for China's Grand Pharmaceutical Group clinch a meeting with the head of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) in early January, according to two people familiar with the matter. During the meeting, the lawyer argued that the case was a ‌commercial disagreement with no national security implications, one of the people said.

At the end of January, the watchdog rejected the filing by Minnesota-based startup FastWave for reasons unrelated to national security, effectively siding with the Chinese firm, according to a document seen by Reuters.

FastWave, which had been granted calls with CFIUS staffers rather than senior officials that month, has been brought to the brink of bankruptcy, the company ​told CFIUS.

Reuters could not determine if the meeting Checkmate set up played a role in the CFIUS decision. There was no indication that Donald Trump Jr., President Donald Trump's eldest son, was involved. A representative for Don Jr. did not respond to requests for comment.

Such lobbying, by foreign or domestic companies is "very typical," according to Tim LaPira, a professor of political science at James Madison University. "If you want to speak to the party in power, you are going to need to hire somebody that has those partisan connections," he added.

Six China experts and three Democratic lawmakers who were informed of the situation by Reuters said the case raised concerns that Chinese companies could gain influence over the Trump administration by hiring lobbyists close to his orbit.

Michael Sobolik, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank, said that if a Chinese company can lobby the U.S. government into siding with it against an American firm on a national security matter, "that is the height of the swamp."

The White House rejected the criticism.

"Nothing has changed with CFIUS’s diligence, investigation, ‌or enforcement operations, which continue to robustly and vigilantly safeguard America’s national security interests," said Kush Desai, a White ⁠House spokesman, adding that any implication that the Trump administration would weaken CFIUS at the behest of special interests was "categorically false."

COMMERCIAL DISPUTE OR NATIONAL SECURITY RISK

Checkmate is led by Ches McDowell, who appears in social media posts hunting with Don Jr. and co-owns a property with him. A spokesperson for Checkmate said McDowell, though listed on Grand Pharma's lobbying disclosure, did not personally work on the matter. Reuters found no evidence to the contrary.

Grand Pharma hired Checkmate in December, and paid the firm $30,000 for two ⁠weeks of work on CFIUS matters that month, filings show.

The CFIUS rejection came weeks after the early January meeting that Checkmate secured for Jeff Bialos, Grand Pharma's lawyer, with Chris Pilkerton, newly confirmed by the Senate at the time to lead CFIUS, according to the two sources.

FastWave's counsel sought a call with Pilkerton on two occasions in January, but it was only able to arrange calls with CFIUS staffers, according to documents seen by Reuters.

Bialos and Checkmate acknowledged Checkmate arranged a meeting with senior Treasury officials, but declined to say with whom. In an interview with Reuters, Bialos said he could have arranged the meeting himself. Treasury did not respond to questions about Pilkerton.

Bialos described the process as "a lengthy fact-based investigation" whose outcome was not "politically ​driven.” ​He said the case amounted to "a private commercial dispute... being squeezed into the CFIUS box."

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FastWave CEO Scott Nelson told Reuters "the opaque and highly irregular procedural decisions" from CFIUS made it difficult ​for his company to protect its critical technology from a Chinese investor.

A spokesperson for Treasury, which leads CFIUS, said CFIUS ‌could not comment on individual cases. The Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to comment.

LASER SHIPMENTS REGULATED

In 2021, Grand Pharma invested $12 million in FastWave, which later started manufacturing a special catheter to treat calcium build-up in arteries using a laser.

U.S. shipments of that laser to China are regulated because they could also be used to enhance the Chinese military's warfare capabilities, according to U.S. rules.

FastWave, which initially welcomed Grand Pharma's investment, asked CFIUS in 2025 to review it. Fastwave hoped the committee would force Grand Pharma to divest its 40% stake or make it a passive investor, fearing that the Chinese firm could be seeking to steal its intellectual property and was blocking its attempts to raise money, according to the documents seen by Reuters.

In its 2021 agreement, Grand Pharma gained veto rights over future capital raises, a common investor request to avoid diluting its position.

FastWave became concerned about potential theft of its intellectual property after it saw a press release on Grand Pharma's website disclosing a new partnership with Jiangsu Zhenyi Medical Technology Co., Ltd, a Chinese rival to FastWave, FastWave said.

Jiangsu Zhenyi Medical Technology could not be reached for comment. Bialos said Grand Pharma was merely distributing the device for it and that the relationship did not violate Grand Pharma's commitments to FastWave. Reuters could not independently establish whether the relationship violated FastWave ‌and Grand Pharma's agreements.

CFIUS in January rejected FastWave's filing in the case, stating that FastWave's responses included "material misstatements," according to a letter CFIUS sent to FastWave and seen by Reuters. For example, ​one of the alleged misstatements concerned the extent to which Grand Pharma engaged in negotiations with FastWave over its efforts to raise capital.

In its letter, CFIUS accused FastWave of contradicting itself by ​telling the committee in July 2025 that Grand Pharma had not provided "substantive feedback" on a financing round, while in August saying that Grand Pharma had ​in fact engaged in "substantive discussion." FastWave, in its response to CFIUS in February 2026, countered that Grand Pharma's feedback -- edits on a termsheet -- was not substantive and came only after FastWave's July statement to CFIUS.

In its rejection, CFIUS did not address any potential national ‌security risks posed by the deal.

In a statement to Reuters, Treasury emphasized that CFIUS may reject any filing for "material ​misstatements."

FastWave could technically file a fresh petition to CFIUS but the company's "significant financial distress" ​means such a filing would not be feasible, FastWave said in a response to CFIUS in February.

Tatiana Sullivan, a lawyer who works on CFIUS cases, said the committee's letter was unusual. She said CFIUS normally works with companies to address any misunderstandings, only rejecting filings outright over "serious inaccuracies" tied to national security.

Nelson, the FastWave CEO, said the rejection came "months after the underlying statements were made," and that CFIUS "never informed us of these concerns, and gave us no opportunity to clarify or correct them before rejecting the filing on the very last day of an extensive review period that lasted over 200 ​days and included 29 question sets." Treasury did not respond to questions about the timing or process.

McDowell is a North ‌Carolina lobbyist who met Trump Jr. at a conservative gala in 2016 and won his friendship by offering him a hunting trip better than the one Trump had just bid on, Checkmate confirmed. The two have owned a North Carolina property together since 2021, according to ​a deed seen by Reuters.

In one of Don Jr.'s Instagram posts from October 2024, McDowell stands beside Don Jr. and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy as they hold live falcons. In a January 2024 post on Facebook, Don Jr., his brother, Eric Trump, and McDowell pose ​with rifles on a dock above 12 dead birds.

(Reporting by Alexandra Alper; additional reporting by Andy Sullivan and Michael Martina; editing by Chris Sanders and Claudia Parsons)

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April 10, 2026

Exclusive-Chinese firm hired lobbyists with ties to Don Jr, then scored a win in Washington

By Alexandra Alper WASHINGTON, April 9 (Reuters) - A lobbying firm led by one of Donald Trump Jr.'s hunting buddies helped a ...

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