The Middle (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Middle |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | |
| Created by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Narrated by | Patricia Heaton |
| Composer(s) | Joey Newman |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 9 |
| No. of episodes | 215 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
|
| Producer(s) |
|
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
|
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | September 30, 2009 – May 22, 2018 |
The Middle is a funny American TV show called a sitcom. It was shown on the ABC channel from September 30, 2009, to May 22, 2018. The show is about a family called the Hecks who live in Indiana. They are a regular family who face everyday challenges at home, at work, and while raising their three kids.
The main actors are Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn. The show was created by Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline. It was made by Warner Bros. Television and Blackie and Blondie Productions. Many TV critics liked the show, and it was nominated for many awards.
There was a plan for a spin-off show about Sue Heck, played by Eden Sher. It was supposed to start in 2019. But ABC decided not to make it. Other TV networks were asked, but none picked up the project.
Contents
Meet the Heck Family
The show is about Frances "Frankie" Heck, played by Patricia Heaton. She is a mom from the Midwest. Her husband is Mike, played by Neil Flynn. They live in a small made-up town called Orson, Indiana. This town is based on a real place called Jasper, Indiana.
Frankie and Mike have three children: Axl, Sue, and Brick. Frankie tells the story of the show. At first, she sells used cars, and later she works as a dental assistant. Mike is a quiet dad who manages a local quarry. He helps keep the family stable.
The kids are all very different. Axl is the oldest son. He is popular but can be lazy. He is good at sports but not always at school. Sue is the daughter. She is a very excited young teen but often has bad luck. She can also be a bit awkward with friends. Brick is the youngest son. He is very smart and quiet. He loves to read and has some unique habits.
Other characters in the show include Frankie's co-worker Bob. There is also Frankie's old Aunt Edie. Sue's first boyfriend was Brad. Mike's brother is Rusty. Axl's friends Sean and Darrin also appear. Both Sean and Darrin had a relationship with Sue at different times.
Main Actors and Characters
Here are the main actors and the characters they play in The Middle:
- Patricia Heaton as Frances Patricia "Frankie" Heck
- Neil Flynn as Michael Bartholomew "Mike" Heck Jr.
- Charlie McDermott as Axl Redford Heck
- Eden Sher as Sue Sue Heck
- Atticus Shaffer as Brick Ishmail Heck
- Chris Kattan as Bob Weaver (he was a main character in the first two seasons)
How the Show Was Made
The idea for The Middle started around 2006. At first, a different actress, Ricki Lake, was going to play Frankie. But only Atticus Shaffer, who plays Brick, kept his role when the show was re-developed. ABC then ordered a new pilot episode with Patricia Heaton as Frankie. The show was created by Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline.
The show was first planned to be in Jasper, Indiana. But lawyers suggested changing the name to the made-up town of Orson, Indiana. Still, Orson is based on and thought to be near Jasper. The show was filmed at the Warner Bros. Ranch. The outside of the Heck house and Elhert Motors were filmed there. The people who designed the sets bought things from stores like Target and Kohl's. This helped the show look like a real middle-class family's home.
The Middle was very popular. After only two episodes aired, ABC decided to order a full season of 24 episodes. The show was renewed many times and ran for nine seasons. The creators of the show decided it was time to end it after the ninth season. The last episode aired on May 22, 2018.
Where to Watch the Show
The Middle first aired in the United States on ABC. It also aired in other countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and the UK.
Later, other channels in the US also showed reruns of The Middle. These included Freeform and Hallmark Channel. The show has also been available to stream online. It was on HBO Max and later on Peacock in the United States.
You could also buy the show on DVD. The first four seasons were sold in stores. Later seasons were released as special DVD-R copies.
Spin-off Show Plans
After The Middle ended, there was talk about making a spin-off show. This new show would focus on Sue Heck, played by Eden Sher. It would show Sue as an adult, a few years after The Middle finished.
A pilot episode was filmed for this possible new series. It was first going to be called Sue Sue in the City, but then they decided not to give it a title yet.
Some actors were cast for this spin-off. Brock Ciarlelli, who played Brad Bottig in The Middle, was going to be a regular character. Kimberley Crossman was cast as Remi, a hotel chef. Finesse Mitchell was cast as Hudson, a kind bartender. Chris Diamantopoulos would play Sue's rich boss, Nick. And Aaron Branch would play Otis, a friendly bellhop.
However, in November 2018, it was announced that ABC would not pick up the spin-off. The show was offered to other networks, but none of them decided to make it. So, the spin-off never happened.
Images for kids
-
The official logo for The Middle TV show.
See also
In Spanish: The Middle (serie de televisión) para niños
