tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post7181483983408916640..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: THE MIDDLE series finaleBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85078117488264822732018-05-30T07:53:22.729-07:002018-05-30T07:53:22.729-07:00Sue Heck and Tina Belcher are the best and most th...Sue Heck and Tina Belcher are the best and most three dimensional teenage girls on television. Sad to see Sue go, but they did have a good run. Victor Catanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08424398263872654599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24841303286320752782018-05-29T09:46:24.832-07:002018-05-29T09:46:24.832-07:00We never watched it because ... from the trailers ...We never watched it because ... from the trailers (Sky in the UK) it looked like it was a rehash/copy of Malcolm in the Middle. Family life, kid-centric stories, same timeslot, etc etc. The title seemed to confirm it. <br /><br />Glad to hear it was worthwhile - we'll have to give it a go. But ... man, it does feel like someone screwed up the marketing strategy. I mean, MitM was ace, but this looked to me and the wife like a cynical cash-in now the Malcolm kids had grown to old to carry on.<br /><br />I wonder why they went for that name, rather than something that may have distanced itself just a wee bit...hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08086225668986442247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75957691192846206552018-05-28T14:56:46.850-07:002018-05-28T14:56:46.850-07:00I have always enjoyed The Middle. Very funny. So...I have always enjoyed The Middle. Very funny. Someone should tell Modern Family that they jumped the shark a few seasons ago.<br />Michael Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06203229143934557616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-68728570063043622762018-05-27T23:49:25.136-07:002018-05-27T23:49:25.136-07:00I agree with James Jones- it's very weird that...I agree with James Jones- it's very weird that Patricia Heaton has been working for so long and isn't even really a "name". I have a lot of suspicions about it -- her openly-campaigning for conservative causes (I'm liberal myself, but I can see that this would bias many people against her), she was "too old" (she was gorgeous on RAYMOND, but TV is more into 20-somethings), THE MIDDLE was like Ken said a sleeper hit with "the wrong audience", etc.<br /><br />Part of it may have been how well she played Debra as a snarky, bitchy, "Mean Wife" on RAYMOND, which got more prominent as time went on. Most of the people I know who watched the show found her character pretty rotten by the end, though I was still a fan.Jabronivillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07318218102203693195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55752350644777006252018-05-27T11:23:28.966-07:002018-05-27T11:23:28.966-07:00Eric -- Thank you!
JMEric -- Thank you!<br /><br />JMJeff Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708037522976667642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21602359172159364812018-05-27T11:23:28.092-07:002018-05-27T11:23:28.092-07:00Eric -- Thank you!
JMEric -- Thank you!<br /><br />JMJeff Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708037522976667642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24107301571577026312018-05-27T06:13:39.725-07:002018-05-27T06:13:39.725-07:00A month or two back, Norman Lear did a podcast wit...A month or two back, Norman Lear did a podcast with the creators of THE MIDDLE, who talked, among other things, about ending the show.<br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76365321970773092622018-05-26T16:46:55.269-07:002018-05-26T16:46:55.269-07:00Patricia Heaton was a sitcom star for 19 out of th...Patricia Heaton was a sitcom star for 19 out of the last 22 years, one short of her former co-star Kelsey Grammer.<br /><br />While their Back to You only lasted one year, remnants of it can be seen in Modern Family.ScarletNumbernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24767660881749589492018-05-26T15:12:06.963-07:002018-05-26T15:12:06.963-07:00I hope you're right as this was a wonderful sh...I hope you're right as this was a wonderful show and the relationships between the family members are truly timeless. It deserves a long life in reruns. Sadly, I thought the same thing about "Newhart" -- another show relatively ignored, certainly by the Emmys, when it was on -- but Newhart has seemingly disappeared from history. It isn't even fully available to purchase. Here's hoping for a better fate for the Hecks and I can't wait to see what Patricia Heaton does next.Mike Moodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11973643901495588545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11942335747227924782018-05-25T09:59:47.755-07:002018-05-25T09:59:47.755-07:00Jeff Maxwell- Th finale is on Hulu. Get a 30 day t...Jeff Maxwell- Th finale is on Hulu. Get a 30 day trial if you don't already have it. I don't know how long it'll be up there though.Eric Lydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09787174730867647969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66695159008850980022018-05-25T09:38:54.084-07:002018-05-25T09:38:54.084-07:00Has another actor with as much success as Patricia...Has another actor with as much success as Patricia Heaton had a lower profile?<br /><br />She was the female lead on an all-timer, Everybody Loves Raymond, that went for 210 episodes. Then she was the lead on The Middle, which actually made more episodes! <br /><br />That's pretty impressive stuff. James Jonesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8802916486433519722018-05-25T08:57:41.282-07:002018-05-25T08:57:41.282-07:00I must admit I never gave it a try beyond the firs...I must admit I never gave it a try beyond the first couple of episodes. I think I was put off by Patricia Heaton in another 'Mom' role relatively quickly after Everybody Loves Raymond and that the family seemed to resemble Malcolm in the Middle. Sounds like I missed out so I'll try and catch up with it later on.M Rocknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20238970225013688352018-05-24T19:06:45.598-07:002018-05-24T19:06:45.598-07:00Watch the very end of the finale again as the answ...Watch the very end of the finale again as the answer (and character) is there. 😉 I don't want to type it in this reply as some here have said they haven't yet watched the finale.quadaunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05945152529884358431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70640443093470212612018-05-24T13:15:21.964-07:002018-05-24T13:15:21.964-07:00Ken, I have to thank you for introducing me to The...Ken, I have to thank you for introducing me to The Middle. It really has what is lacking on most SitComs nowadays: jokes!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76296858746502102352018-05-24T10:35:10.521-07:002018-05-24T10:35:10.521-07:00Depressed. I missed the finale episode. Help. Is t...Depressed. I missed the finale episode. Help. Is there anywhere to watch it? Hulu, Zulu, Lulu?<br /><br />Thank you.Jeff Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708037522976667642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44701571494071228432018-05-24T05:50:02.804-07:002018-05-24T05:50:02.804-07:00But now we can binge watchBut now we can binge watchAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9915448769058730252018-05-24T05:14:48.807-07:002018-05-24T05:14:48.807-07:00My wife's favorite. I came to appreciate it ov...My wife's favorite. I came to appreciate it over time. Terrific writing. Great characters. First-rate acting. One of the best sitcoms in a long time. Kudos to The Middle team!Gene Pinderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10635340116305651342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56659581577015158832018-05-23T20:29:18.500-07:002018-05-23T20:29:18.500-07:00@Mike Bloodworth: The show starts to pick up after...@Mike Bloodworth: The show starts to pick up after they got rid of Chris Kattan. (Not necessarily saying those two things are related, it's just a fact.) So if you tune in to a random episode and see Chris Kattan, skip it.<br /><br />In addition to everything that's already been said, I liked how they kept all of the set gags that built up over the years. When they had to get rid of their dishwasher, that hole stayed in their kitchen for the next two years until they could finally afford a new one. In one mid-series episode, they replaced their broken computer by permanently "borrowing" a school laptop. And sure enough, all the way to the end, that laptop still had a "Property of Orson High School" sticker on it. The awkwardly patched dining room wallpaper, the quilts stored in the oven, Brick's lawn chair... they all remained for years.Andy Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18393282596336251972018-05-23T19:00:01.340-07:002018-05-23T19:00:01.340-07:00I loved this series and the finale (adult Axl gets...I loved this series and the finale (adult Axl gets saddled with three versions of himself!). Many thanks to Will Harris for all the great recaps and to Matt Roush (TV Guide) and Robert Bianco (formerly of USA Today) for championing it from the beginning. <br /><br />If ABC is now looking for working-class sitcoms they still have the great Speechless, which should have followed The Middle from day one. I hope it holds up on Fridays.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />71dudenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60108777900649848412018-05-23T18:48:49.365-07:002018-05-23T18:48:49.365-07:00Farewell Heck family. We will miss you.Farewell Heck family. We will miss you.Leilaninoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1434375317883220262018-05-23T18:40:51.041-07:002018-05-23T18:40:51.041-07:00Speaking as someone who only started watching THE ...Speaking as someone who only started watching THE MIDDLE because it was repeatedly praised in comments on this blog, I think the show forfeited a lot of potential viewers by lacking an intriguing and informative title. Even a cheap pun such as (off the top of my head) MOWTOWN or ORSON WELLS would have conveyed more of the show's premise to potential viewers and awards nominators. <br /><br />Just my opinion.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />Powerhouse Salternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47338104553837128702018-05-23T16:54:37.189-07:002018-05-23T16:54:37.189-07:00I didn't watch The Middle until it was a few y...I didn't watch The Middle until it was a few years into its run ... alerted to it by reading this here blog, if I recall. So thanks for that and for the fitting tribute.Al in PDXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835073077514498840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37809989101409656672018-05-23T15:33:36.980-07:002018-05-23T15:33:36.980-07:00The Middle has been a great show and the finale wa...The Middle has been a great show and the finale was a terrific wrap up, but I need to know....Did Axl end up with Lexie or Weird Ashley??<br /><br />PortlandJillAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45117357429256064702018-05-23T15:30:28.017-07:002018-05-23T15:30:28.017-07:00I always felt this show would have made a ton more...I always felt this show would have made a ton more money long-term if it had been a multi-cam.Steve B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60410635407950064902018-05-23T15:11:32.889-07:002018-05-23T15:11:32.889-07:00Hey, Mike:
I would never presume that I could ch...Hey, Mike: <br /><br />I would never presume that I could change your mind on the series, but if you ever want to reinvestigate beyond that first season, during which I think just about everyone involved with the show would agree that they were still finding their footing, I put together a list a few years ago that featured my picks for the 10 episodes most representative of the series:<br /><br />https://tv.avclub.com/what-made-the-middle-one-of-the-best-family-comedies-in-1798238245<br /><br />Right around the same time, I also asked the cast to pick their favorite episodes:<br /><br />http://blog.bullz-eye.com/2013/05/21/the-light-from-the-tv-shows-the-cast-of-the-middleand-their-10-favorite-episodes/<br /><br />As noted, I’m not saying I can change your mind, but if you *want*’your mind changed, then there’s probably at least one episode in the bunch that’s capable of doing it. (My bet would be on “The Map,” but that’s just me.)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02943251890983311542noreply@blogger.com