MIDDLE, THE: AVERAGE RULES {FIRST SEASON FINALE} (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about an "average" middle-aged wife in a small Indiana town who struggles with her husband, an often-frustrating job, and the raising of three children.
In this episode, end-of-year parent/teacher conferences reveal some startling facts about the Heck children: underachieving Axl scores very high on an aptitude test, leading Frankie and Mike to believe that he has great untapped potential. Sue finds herself excluded from the yearbook, and Frankie schemes to get her involved with any club in which perseverance is the chief factor. In addition, Brick squares off against a no-nonsense librarian who threatens to hold him back in school if he does not return the thirty-one books that he borrowed over the year.
Frankie learns that Sue is eligible for the “no-cut” cross-country team, which excites Sue until a freak accident leaves her on crutches. When the coach dismisses her efforts, Sue stands up for herself and pushes to extremes to finally make the team. Axl attempts to study for a big test with Mike’s help, but finds the last-minute challenge difficult. Once complications about the aptitude test are cleared up, however, the family acknowledges that Axl is simply living up to his own imperfect standards. Meanwhile, Brick manages to prove his love of literature and returns all of the books to the library, although not without some eleventh-hour trickery. Commercials deleted.
Frankie and Mike eventually accept that they are flawed but well-meaning parents, and celebrate their children’s various accomplishments. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: May 19, 2010 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 00:21:33
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 102968
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Families; Intelligence tests
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2009-2018
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Eileen Heisler … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- DeAnn Heline … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Jana Hunter … Co-Executive Producer
- Mitch Hunter … Co-Executive Producer
- Rob Ulin … Co-Executive Producer
- Bruce Rasmussen … Co-Executive Producer
- Alex Reid … Co-Executive Producer
- Werner Walian … Producer
- Vijal Patel … Co-Producer
- Korby Siamis … Consulting Producer
- Kim Hamberg … Associate Producer
- Wendey Stanzler … Director
- Joey Newman … Music by
- Patricia Heaton … Cast, Frankie Heck
- Neil Flynn … Cast, Mike Heck
- Charlie McDermott … Cast, Axl Heck
- Eden Sher … Cast, Sue Heck
- Atticus Shaffer … Cast, Brick Heck
- Chris Kattan … Cast, Bob
- Betty White … Cast, Mrs. Nethercott
- Andy Milder … Cast, Principal Sholin
- Greg Cromer … Cast, Coach Emerson
- Mary Passeri … Cast, Mrs. Seabrook
- Kiva Jump … Cast, Mrs. Thomas
- Blaine Saunders … Cast, Carly
- Dale Raoul … Cast, Guidance Counselor
- Adrienne Berry … Cast, Cross Country Girl