Edit
Storyline
Following a woman named Frankie, and her boisterous family, the Hecks. Her husband, Mike, her daughter, Sue, and her two sons, Axl, and Brick go on what you might call family adventures as they explore life and its meaning. Mike and Frankie Heck watch their three crazy children grow up into young adults.
Written by
melissa mctague
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Taglines:
Just like your family...kind of. Not really. Well, maybe.
Edit
Did You Know?
Trivia
Patricia Heaton's character Frankie Heck on this show is almost the complete opposite of her character Brie in the movie
Beethoven (1992) (1992). In that film, Brie and her husband Brad (
David Duchovny) were a yuppie childless couple who thrived in their careers as venture capitalists, drove BMW cars, and wore expensive clothing. On this show, Frankie Heck and her husband Mike (
Neil Flynn) have 3 kids, work in mid to low level jobs (with the most career success being Mike's job as a quarry foreman), often struggle to pay the bills, occasionally work second jobs, drive old domestic cars that need upkeep, and wear moderately-priced clothing.
See more »
Goofs
The interior layout of the house differs from the outside plan of the house. Standing out front of the house there is the family room on the left, then the front door and dining room in the center, then the garage on the right. The inside floorplan has a hall going to the right leading to the bedrooms. To the right is the garage, so the bedrooms for Sue, Axl, and Brick would have to be in the garage. Some scenes do show a small extension on the right side of the house, but it is too small to be the boys room and could not include Sue's room at all. Additionally, the floor level of the house is at least 4' higher than the garage floor level, yet there is no step down going from the front room into the hallway, plus when the door from the garage to the house is open the hallway and the garage floor are at the same level.
See more »
Connections
Referenced in
Family Guy: Vestigial Peter (2013)
See more »
Soundtracks
The Middle
(uncredited)
Written by
Jim Adkins,
Tom Linton,
Rick Burch and
Zach Lind
Performed by
Jimmy Eat World See more »
I'm guessing the family portrayed in 'The Middle' is not the norm but they certainly are closer to 'real' people than most sitcom characters or, for that matter, most 'reality' show contestants. The children are not perfect nor are they drug addicted or sex-crazed or alcoholic or parent-hating brats. The oldest son hanging out in boxer shorts? My son did that. The middle child, the daughter, trying to find her place in the school social order but often coming up short? Who hasn't failed at something in life? And the youngest child, the little boy who often repeats things in a whisper, is sweet and loves his parents. These kids make you laugh both from their unintentional humor and from recognition. And I especially like the fact that each episode ends on an upbeat note. The family members, no matter what crazy circumstances they may find themselves in, love each other and accept their lot in life without bitterness and anger. Far removed from the pop culture norms we've been fed lately, people living in 'The Middle' may actually exist after all.