ABC's "The Middle"

"The Middle" is Patricia Heaton's most recent and best shot at replicating the "Everybody Loves Raymond" success. This time, as the star. She plays Frankie, an everyday, working mom with a husband and three kids. Frankie faces typical struggles of tight finances in a bad economy, school projects, caring for elderly relatives, work, household chores, etc. etc. etc. Her schedule is full and familiar. What's different is how the producers decided to portray her husband Mike and the odd to oddest kids.

Mike (Neil Flynn) is not like typical TV dads. He is in touch, present, and a hard worker. He wants to have a unified front with Frankie both in child rearing and in life. Like real husbands, he just doesn't always understand what to do to support Frankie.

Charlie Mcdermott (Frozen River) is the brave actor who plays their oldest child Axl, usually wearing only boxer shorts. A lot of girls will find him interesting to watch. If they take the time to look up from his torso to his face, they will notice an actor who has a grasp on the difficult task of communicating with speaking. Charlie's facial reactions add a great deal to the way he plays this silly teen.


Sometimes it takes a pretty girl to play plain and ABC has done it again with the casting of the easy on the eyes Eden Sher as teen aged Sue. Eden sharply plays the accident prone, metal-mouth, who just can't win. Repeatedly trying out for various clubs and teams, trying to be noticed by boys she likes, or just be noticed in general. When she finally does get a boyfriend, it is a guy who is "as queer as a three dollar bill" and everyone knows it. Except her....and her boyfriend.

Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is in elementary school and is the oddest duck of the three. He'd rather read books than play. He whispers words aloud to himself in a way that the other characters can hear and be made throat clearing-ly uncomfortable.

Chris Kattan (Saturday Night Live) is Bob, Frankie's work buddy with his own baggage of oddity. He brings more laughter and talent to a show that already has plenty of both.

The Middle airs Wednesday nights on ABC.