I LOVE The Middle, so I was thrilled to be able to visit the set, meet the stars, and screen the Season 8 premiere episode while I was in Los Angeles last month for the #QueenOfKatweEvent and #ABCTVEvent. All travel expenses were covered, but all thoughts are my own.
THE MIDDLE – ABC’s “The Middle” stars Patricia Heaton as Frankie, Charlie McDermott as Axl, Atticus Shaffer as Brick, Eden Sher as Sue and Neil Flynn as Mike. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
Have you heard? The Middle has moved to a new night!
I love The Middle – it’s a show that my whole family can enjoy with a few of my favorite actors – I’ve loved Patricia Heaton (Frankie Heck) for years, and my husband is a huge fan of Neil Flynn (Mike Heck). The Heck family is quirky and hilarious and so relatable!
Part of our blogger group on the set of The Middle. Photo credit: Deanna of HoneyAndLime.Co
One of the things that struck me on our quick visit to the set of The Middle (just as they were about to film an episode for the new season, in fact!) was that the Heck house looks like a real, lived in, middle-of-America, middle-income house. There are old family pictures on the walls, books and magazines lying around, and junk in the corners. So real!
I also loved that both Patricia Heaton (Frankie) and Neil Flynn (Mike) were wearing pajamas when we met them, since the scene they were about to shoot was in their pjs. Again, if you’re a fan of The Middle, the fact that they were wearing pajamas on set won’t come as a surprise.
We were also able to stop by wardrobe and see the clothes for the entire Heck family – from past seasons and upcoming episodes as well. I had to laugh when we were told that they do a lot of shopping for the show’s wardrobe at stores like Kmart.
It was cool to see the racks full of clothes for each of the characters. It was easy to spot Mike’s rows and rows of flannel (my daughter would be jealous!) and Brick’s rows of stripes. It was easy to spot which clothes belonged to which actors because the show’s characters are so recognizable.
Are you ready to hear about the Season 8 Premiere episode, airing tonight??
THE MIDDLE SEASON PREMIERE – The Core Group (10/11/2016)
THE MIDDLE – “The Core Group” (ABC/Michael Ansell)
CHARLIE MCDERMOTT, GREER GRAMMER, ATTICUS SHAFFER, PATRICIA HEATON, CASEY BURKE, NEIL FLYNN, WILL GREEN, EDEN SHER
On the season premiere episode, “The Core Group,” Frankie and Mike are excited to meet April (Greer Grammer) – the love of Axl’s life – but discover that love may indeed be blind when April reveals a quirky personality trait. Meanwhile, after getting bit by the acting bug while working at Dollywood over the summer, Sue wants to change her major to theater, and Brick is starting high school and making it his mission to try for a fresh start and not be considered one of the weird kids.
THE MIDDLE – “The Core Group” (ABC/Michael Ansell) EDEN SHER
My favorite quote from the season premiere episode was something that Frankie said at the end: “Maybe we shouldn’t plan at all. Maybe we should just be in the moment we’re in. Enjoy the time we have with the people we love.”
That is some good advice!
THE MIDDLE – “The Core Group” (ABC/Michael Ansell)
PATRICIA HEATON, NEIL FLYNN, EDEN SHER, ATTICUS SHAFFER, CHARLIE MCDERMOTT
As a mom to whose oldest daughter recently got married, with another daughter who is a high school senior this year….and my baby just graduated from elementary school last year, I can really relate to Frankie’s desire in “The Core Group” to hang on to the moments we have as a family. It’s rare that we’re all together anymore, and I often think about the special family moments that will never happen again. It’s interesting to see the Heck family going through some of the same things (although it’s much more fun to laugh with (and at) the Hecks!
THE MIDDLE – “The Core Group” (ABC/Michael Ansell)
GREER GRAMMER, CHARLIE MCDERMOTT
“The Middle” stars Patricia Heaton as Frankie, Neil Flynn as Mike, Charlie McDermott as Axl, Eden Sher as Sue and Atticus Shaffer as Brick.
“The Core Group” guest stars Greer Grammer as April, Casey Burke as Cindy, Will Green as Jeremy, Brock Ciarlelli as Brad Bottig, Matt Cornett as Duncan, Crystal Shannon as freshman girl, Ted Stavros as freshman boy and Martha Thatcher as girl.
About The Middle
Middle-aged, middle class and living in the middle of the country in Orson, Indiana, Frankie Heck is a harried wife and mother of three who uses her wry wit and sense of humor to get her family through each day intact. Frankie works as a dental assistant, and her unflappable husband, Mike, is manager at the local quarry and her sardonic partner in the daily grind that is raising their average – yes, most definitely average – family.
This year, the kids will find themselves breaking out of their comfort zones and navigating new situations than what they’re used to – which may or may not be very comforting to Frankie and Mike.
How cool is it that I met the family? Sadly, Sue wasn’t there, but the boys made up for it in friendliness.
Be sure to check out the rest of the Tuesday night lineup on ABC tonight!
The Middle at 8:00/7:00C
American Housewife at 8:30/7:30C
Fresh Off the Boat at 9:00/8:00C
The Real O’Neals at 9:30/8:30C!
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