The Middle - US [**Spoilers**]

J-blk

Just watched the pilot for "The Middle" and it was much better than I thought it would be. I've never liked Patricia Heaton much (in Raymond and especially in the awful Back to You) but she was pretty good here. Neill Flynn is essentially still the janitor from Scrubs (but at home) but I've always enjoyed his kind of aloof attitude in that role so it works here too.

The kids all have potential to have some pretty funny story lines, especially the young weird one. Really reminds me of early Malcolm in the Middle though the entire family seems to be made of losers really...

Not a bad start.

Basq

Yeah, gonna watch this later.

Definitely seems to have gotten better reviews than most other new comedies this season.

J-blk

It's worth a watch IMO. Just saw the Hank thread there and I'm debating if I should even bother with it now... doesn't sound good...

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Yeah really enoyed this. The youngest kid is hilarious and really reminds me of Dewey in Malcolm in the Middle in regards to his acting skills, which were excellent.
Neil Flynn - very good in the scenes he was in - just hope he gets some big storylines so that he can deliver some more quality lines.
It's already my #2 new show of the season, after Modern Family.

Richard Dower

Heaton impressed, very rapid fire editing though. Weird weird family.....daughter is like an absolute moron and space cadet. I did enjoy it....very few new comedies impress this year though.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Second episode delivered as well, I think. It's very like Malcolm In The Middle, which was a fantastic show, so I really hope it continues this way.

J-blk

Yep - this and Modern Family are delivering - I just hope they are not dragged down by the crap that surrounds them, like "Hank" and "Cougar Town". It does indeed remind me very much of Malcolm in the Middle (like I mentioned for the pilot) and I loved that show.

It's still a bit too much of the Patricia Heaton show for my liking but Neil Flynn had more to do in this episode (the opening, where he "tells it how it is" was pretty funny and the "5 feet rule" with his son ). The youngest kid ("Brick" - WTF kinda name is that?!) is brilliant - love his "out there" style...

J-blk

Both this and "Modern Family" have been picked up for a full season:

While there's been no word on the horrid Hank, ABC has ordered full season pick-ups for the rest of their Wednesday comedy block.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/09/abc-orders-full-seasons-of-the-middle-modern-family-and-cougar/

But seriously, "Cougar Town" has also made the cut? Yikes...

I'd say "Hank" is most definitely dead in the water though...

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Very happy that The Middle and Modern Family are getting a full season. Happy days.

Bottleopener

Really enjoyable show. Delighted with it and I hope it keeps going strong

EdgarAllenPoo

J-blk wrote: »

It's still a bit too much of the Patricia Heaton show for my liking

I'd have to agree, it's like Malcolm in the Middle if Lois had been the main focus, bit formulaic dysfunctional family type comedy but it's still worth a look.

Liking it better than Modern Family but that might only be because I can't stand Phil.

JP Liz

might have a look

J-blk

Well, after watching the third episode, "The Floating Anniversary" this has really cemented its' position as my favorite new comedy of the season (probably holding an equal place to "Modern Family" which is also very good).

It's already going into some pretty ridiculous gags (the sick dog - which needed to be rolled, rather than walked ) but they're pretty funny. And the kids are getting more to do now too. The daughter really is a complete space cadet, how she could ever think announcing her crush over the P.A was a good idea (or her original t-shirt idea) is beyond me... The eldest son is also starting to get funnier too.

Richard Dower

They've changed the format!!!!!!!!...it's NOT the same show, it's got a totally different feel and editing....execs interference!!!!!!

Musta been!, they had the two part pilot, and big wigs told them to change the show...not for the better, still loving the geeky daughter though...Joker mouth :-)

J-blk

WTF are you on about? Pilot wasn't a two-part episode and the "format" is no different for this episode from the other two.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Yeah defo up there with Modern Family... the two best new shows of the season...

J-blk

Another solid episode tonight with "The Trip" and a strong focus on Sue. I really find her character very funny and I'm glad to see the show focus on the kids more too. Brick's little girlfriend story had its' moments too. No clunkers yet, hope they can keep it up.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Thought that episode was great... Mike arguing with Brick's girlfriend was classic.

Richard Dower

Agree, very good episode....Sue is wonderful, my fave character. Watching it for her alone. Very funny ep.

I have stopped watching Modern Family/Hank/Community.....meh.

User45701

4th episode was nowhere near as good as the first 3. no lol's from anyone watcing it! We had a few lol's for the first 3 episodes. they have toned down DR JanItor's charactor or else he just was not in this enough

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Season 2 has been confirmed...

Richard Dower

I watched the last two, Eden Sher is great!....Brooke Shields did a FANTASIC job playing a white trash mom, excellent stuff...she got everything bang on!

They even did a mickey take about Patricia Heatons height (5 ft. nothing) and gaint Sheilds....twas funny!

J-blk

Richard Dower wrote: »

I watched the last two, Eden Sher is great!....Brooke Shields did a FANTASIC job playing a white trash mom, excellent stuff...she got everything bang on!

Yep, she did a great job - her delinquent sons were like the "Malcolm in the Middle" boys too, which this show gets compared to sometimes (but the Hecks are nowhere near as mean ).

Sue was indeed great in the jeans episode, though I think all the kids do a great job, Brick being the highlight, but Axel is great too as the perpetually bored teenager.

Does anyone know if the ratings are improving now that it does not have that stinker, "Hank" as its' lead-in?

Also Starring LeVar Burton

J-blk wrote: »

Does anyone know if the ratings are improving now that it does not have that stinker, "Hank" as its' lead-in?

Dunno if they've improved or not, but I know they've been consistently good for that time slot...
Hopefully it'll have a strong lead in show for the second season...

Richard Dower

Season 2 kicked off tonight, i won't be watching though...after watching all of season 1 and really giving it a chance i decided to bow out this season.

pickarooney

I kind of gave up on this half way through season one, intending to watch the rest later. I don't think I ever will though.

JP Liz V1

I watched a few episodes on TV3 and found it enjoyable and funny

Overheal

The whole thing stinks of a Malcom in the Middle rehash. The characters even appear to look and dress and act the same, more or less, according to the trailers. And the kid's name is Frankie [Muniz]? Not even trying to hide it are they :pac:

Probably will wind up watching one or two on hulu for appreciation of The Janitor, but am not expecting more than a twice-baked potato.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Overheal wrote: »

The whole thing stinks of a Malcom in the Middle rehash. The characters even appear to look and dress and act the same, more or less, according to the trailers. And the kid's name is Frankie [Muniz]? Not even trying to hide it are they :pac:

Probably will wind up watching one or two on hulu for appreciation of The Janitor, but am not expecting more than a twice-baked potato.

Well its obvious you haven't watched the show. Frankie is the mother and while similarities can be drawn to Malcolm in the Middle, that can be said for any sitcom about a dysfunctional family.

Basq

I don't get the 'Malcolm In The Middle' comparison at all..

.. 'Malcolm' was about a slightly eccentric (at times, "unhinged") family with the son being the focus of the show.

'The Middle' is about a normal enough family - one of the kids is reminiscent of Dewey from Malcolm alright - but the focus point is the mother.

The only real similarity is it revolves around a family.

Basq

I don't get the 'Malcolm In The Middle' comparison at all..

.. 'Malcolm' was about a slightly eccentric (at times, "unhinged") family with the son being the focus of the show.

'The Middle' is about a normal enough family - one of the kids is reminiscent of Dewey from Malcolm alright - but the focal point is the mother.

The only real similarity is it revolves around a family.

Richard Dower

Season 3 opener now out, i gave up after watching all of season 1...it's not a bad show just not exactly my taste.

Richard Dower

Sold into syndication: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/syndication-community-comedy-central-the-middle-hallmark-300123

The Hallmark pickup comes less than two weeks after ABC Family picked up rights to the Warner Bros. Television comedy with plans to begin airing syndicated episodes in the fall of 2013.

Richard Dower

Season 4 kicks off tonight.

I really don't know why I keep watching this show. The laughs are thin on the ground and it does nothing a dozen others didn't but there's a sweetness to it that's hard not to embrace. Its trite, cliched, wholesome and unoriginal as hell but you it's sweetness does win you over.

Basq

Gave up early in season 3.

Just too formulaic.

Dozen Wicked Words

My daughter is the younger, Irish version of Sue Heck, so I feel I have to keep watching to plan ahead.

squonk

Ah I like it too. The thing with it is that it's like an old, comfy sweater now that I like to put on at times. It's sweet and I genuinely love the family. They're normal, a little eccentric at times and have moments when they're not the brightest bunch but in the end they're a great family, like all our families really I guess.

It's not laugh out loud funny, more quiet chuckle funny but I like that.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

I did have a few laugh out loud moments during that season opener - when Sue broke the swing and Axel spilled the milk on himself... I know that's slapstick, but it still works...
I agree there's far better comedies, but I do find The Middle endearing and I don't think I'd give up on it anytime soon. Also, who doesn't love Neil Flynn?

Jellybaby1

I loved the series from the start. I still enjoy watching the re-runs. Its reminiscent of Malcolm in the Middle. Series 8 has had a couple of duds though. Every character is quirky and they are all main characters in their own right. What I don't understand is that the media and TV guides all describe it as a 'middle class family'. From what I see, they are a lot less than middle class even though the dad is a manager at a quarry. If the manager can't pay his bills I don't know how his staff survive! Or does middle class mean something entirely different in the US? I always thought 'The Middle' referred to Sue who is the middle child and/or the fact that they live in 'Middle America', which Frankie often refers to in her introductions i.e. 'out here in the middle'. I'm not worried about any of the characters except Axl, life is gonna kick him in the teeth if he doesn't get some sense.

lertsnim

The youngest child always repeating himself was enough for me. I always thought if that was considered comedy then the writers will be awful.

Lorelli!

Maybe like the struggling middle? Yea it is very like Malcolm in the Middle too with very likeable characters.

I love Sue

ThisRegard

The middle is for middle America as far as I know.

pickarooney

lertsnim wrote: »

The youngest child always repeating himself was enough for me. I always thought if that was considered comedy then the writers will be awful.

Yeah, I couldn't get past the first episode. It's apparently very good but..

squonk

Yup, Middle for middle America. Good question OP. I wouldn't describe the Hecks as middle class. Lower-Middle really. I'm wondering if it's just a thing that, as two parents with unskilled jobs in a backwater part of the US, they wouldn't be rolling in the cash, and that might make them middle class. Live the show though.

_Whimsical_

They're definitely working class I would say. They go to pains to illustrate it, how long is their sink broken now? They still manage to send two kids to college which isn't very typical of working class families in the US.

It's a nice series, not very funny, I wouldn't compare it to Malcom in the Middle at alll other than the name. Innocence and middle America family values always seem to be at the core. I think it's intended to fill a niche for people who want a family show not hurling progressive values and politically correct life lessons at them.

Jellybaby1

I've no idea who the series is targeting but it makes me laugh, though I know its not everyone's taste. It has a lot of family values in it which has been discarded by a lot of more recent shows. When it ends I wonder if they will make a spin off with Brick? Just an idea.

Guy:Incognito

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

They're definitely working class I would say. They go to pains to illustrate it, how long is their sink broken now? They still manage to send two kids to college which isn't very typical of working class families in the US.

It's a nice series, not very funny, I wouldn't compare it to Malcom in the Middle at alll other than the name. Innocence and middle America family values always seem to be at the core. I think it's intended to fill a niche for people who want a family show not hurling progressive values and politically correct life lessons at them.

Did axl not go on a football scholarship? Think sue might have a full or partial scholarship too or else when Mike sold his business it covered the whole cost of hers.

LLMMLL

I think it's one of the best comedies out there. I used to see it out of the corner of my eye when someone else was watching it and think it was a lame lazy family values American sitcom. But it really couldn't be further from that. I think it pretty uniquely captures the comedy of a.famiky that are trying but mostly failing and is superior to Malcolm in the middle (which it's always compared to) and it's aged far better than modern family which started at the same time and got all the awards love.

squonk

Yup. It's one of those shows fir me that I don't laugh out loud at but I do find funny. The bigger draw is the family values Angie and all the main characters are slightly annoying at times, but mainly lovable. It shouldn't be my kind of show but I liked it from the get go and I'm still watching all these years later. I like that it pushes no particular agenda and isn't falling over itself to make a statement or be 'cool'. There are plenty of shows I doing those things and I like they some of these agendas are pushed but there's always a time when you just want to sit down and watch something easy and fun, that's The Middle.

Jellybaby1

squonk wrote: »

Yup. It's one of those shows fir me that I don't laugh out loud at but I do find funny. The bigger draw is the family values Angie and all the main characters are slightly annoying at times, but mainly lovable. It shouldn't be my kind of show but I liked it from the get go and I'm still watching all these years later. I like that it pushes no particular agenda and isn't falling over itself to make a statement or be 'cool'. There are plenty of shows I doing those things and I like they some of these agendas are pushed but there's always a time when you just want to sit down and watch something easy and fun, that's The Middle.

Yep, me too. Maybe I shouldn't mention this but heck, (no pun intended) what age group are you here that watch it? I'll fess up first, I'm 60-something!