The Middle-related stories
Posted Nov 26th 2009 4:00PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Reality-Free
There was something refreshingly pedestrian about last night's episode of
The Middle. It wasn't about abundance and excess, because as a middle-class situation comedy, the current economic state doesn't reflect having plenty and living beyond your means. Frankie and Mike are doing their best to get by. But they're not bitching about it. That's part of the reason why I'm enjoying this show so much. Like me,
Jason also liked this episode quite a bit.
Frankie had to work on Thanksgiving, that's true, and she did protest about that, but not the fact that the family has to plot out their Black Friday shopping at the mall to get every bargain imaginable. They don't complain about being strapped. They accept that they have to cut coupons and be thrifty.
Like the remnant carpet for the bedroom as an anniversary gift, The Hecks are accepting of their middle class.
Continue reading The Middle Thanksgiving was an instant classic
Posted Nov 26th 2009 1:00PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S01E09) While I'm not ready to declare that
The Middle is a superior sitcom to
Modern Family, if this episode is any indication, I'm ready to say that it's every bit as good. And funny! Man, was this a brilliant holiday episode. I don't know how Thanksgivings go at your house, but ours have gone very much like this one at times. With everyone busy, and family members having to work because they have terrible bosses.
I swear, it's like these writers haven't set this in Indiana, but rather in my own Midwestern backyard. And while things were traditionally set up, as we'd expect, for the traditional "sweet comedy" outcomes,
The Middle turned some of those conventions on their head.
They also showed us a new way to cook a turkey, though I'm not really sure if it would work all that well. And there's nothing wrong with Axl loving the can-shaped cranberry sauce. That's my favorite, too! Just slice it up and you're good to go.
Continue reading Review: The Middle - Thanksgiving
Posted Nov 25th 2009 4:04PM by Joel Keller
Filed under: OpEd, How I Met Your Mother, Reality-Free, Mad Men, Community, Cougar Town, Modern Family
You know, it's funny. When I started here I was a lowly IT guy with no girlfriend and lots of time on his hands to watch TV, even on Thanksgiving. Now I'm engaged, the editor of this site, and have to run around to so many family and friend-related events this weekend my head's already spinning just thinking about it. So I have a lot to be thankful for (and I just realized how friggin' long I've been here... wow).
But TV has always been a part of that equation, and it had no less of a role for me this year. So, in the TV world, here is what will make me thankful as I dive into the turkey tomorrow:
ABC's Wednesday comedy line-up: Against all trends, ABC rolled the dice and started a whole new night of comedy on Wednesdays. And while
Hank flamed out,
The Middle, Modern Family, and
Cougar Town look like they have staying power, both from a quality and a ratings standpoint.
Continue reading What Joel is thankful for
Posted Nov 25th 2009 12:10PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
- At 7, Cartoon Network has the movie Ben 10: Alien Swarm (repeated at 8:30).
- At 8, CBS has a new Old Christine, followed by new episodes of Gary Unmarried, Criminal Minds, and CSI: NY.
- NBC has a new, two-hour "Where Are They Now?" episode of The Biggest Loser, then a new Jay Leno Show.
- FOX has a new So You Think you Can Dance at 8, followed by a new Glee.
- Fine Living has Martha Stewart's Thanksgiving Special at 8, followed by Martha Stewart's Thanksgiving Desserts.
- At 8:30, ABC has a new episode of The Middle, then new episodes of Modern Family, Cougar Town, and Eastwick.
- At 9, Discovery has a new Mythbusters.
- ABC Family has the movie The Christmas List at 9.
- Also at 9: Showtime has a new Inside the NFL.
- At 10, FX has a new Nip/Tuck.
- TBS has two new episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne.
- Syfy has a new Ghost Hunters Academy at 10.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Ben 10, Old Christine, Modern Family, Ghost Hunters Academy
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 4:03PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Programming, OpEd, The Closer, Friday Night Lights, Breaking Bad, Reality-Free, Mad Men, Burn Notice, Glee
Thanksgiving is coming and for many of us it's time to eat, drink and watch football. It's also a time to reflect on the things you're grateful for and since TV Squad is all about television, here's what I'm grateful for this holiday season, with regard to the tube.
Mad Men season finale
There was really nothing as satisfying in the entire year for me. Matt Weiner promised a game-changing episode and he delivered it with a whopper of a wrap up. Actually, nothing was really wrapped; it was more like the cards have been dealt and we're still waiting to see how the hands are played.
Continue reading What Allison is thankful for
Posted Nov 21st 2009 2:09PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Video, Commercials, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free
You know how sometimes you see an actor or actress and they look so familiar, but you can't remember where you saw him or her, or what the TV show was? That's how I've been with the little boy who plays Brick on
The Middle. His name is
Atticus Shaffer, and since the ABC sitcom began this fall, I've been scratching my head over him. Where did I see him before?
Turns out that it was on a commercial for AIG. Yes, AIG, that huge insurance company that was a big part of the economic collapse. The company that was too big for America to let fail.
Continue reading That's why I recognize Brick from The Middle!
Posted Nov 19th 2009 11:15AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S01E07) Right from the beginning,
The Middle had me in familiar territory. I remember rushing around the house gathering trash and trying to get it out to the curb before the trash truck finished at the neighbor's house. And I remember just missing it; what a horrible feeling that was.
From there, while I was still able to enjoy the episode for the laughs it offered, I was just as equally terrified. As a parent, I've often wondered just how close we are to having the state take our children away. How innocent a comment or statement would it take before these agencies swoop down on our lives with all their self-righteous glory and scare the living crap out of us that they're going to tear our families apart?
From the moment when the police officer told Mike he wasn't even allowed to touch Brick in the principal's office, to the social worker refusing to tell Frankie and Mike how the evaluation went until she filed her report, it just seems like way too much power for some outside entities to have over our families.
Continue reading Review: The Middle - The Scratch
Posted Nov 18th 2009 9:00PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free
When you think of
Brooke Shields, you think glamor and fashion and high style... Well, I do anyway. She's
Suddenly Susan and one of the hot ladies on
Lipstick Jungle. I do not think of her as a suburban mother of four in Orson, Indiana. However, that's exactly what she's going to be on an upcoming episode of ABC's sitcom
The Middle.
As oxymoronic as it seems, I love the idea of
Brooke on The Middle. She'll be going deep into the heart of the heartland to play a character who's supposed to be like Fran Heck,
Patricia Heaton's character on The Middle. There's nothing as liberating for an actor as the chance to let loose and break the mold.
Continue reading Brooke Shields is getting in The Middle
Posted Nov 18th 2009 12:13PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, CBS has a new Old Christine, followed by new episodes of Gary Unmarried, Criminal Minds, and CSI: NY.- NBC has a new Mercy at 8, then new episodes of Law and Order: SVU and The Jay Leno Show.
- FOX has a new So You Think You Can Dance at 8, followed by a new Glee.
- The CW has the season finale of America's Next Top Model at 8, then a new behind the scenes episode of America's Next Top Model.
- Cartoon Network has a new Destroy Build Destroy at 8.
- At 8:30, ABC has a new episode of The Middle, then new episodes of Modern Family, Cougar Town, and In The Spotlight with Robin Roberts.
- At 9, DirecTV 101 has a new Friday Night Lights.
- Discovery has a new Mythbusters at 9.
- History Channel has two new episodes of WWII in HD at 9.
- Syfy has a new Ghost Hunters at 9, followed by a new Ghost Academy.
- Fine Living has a new Whatever, Martha at 9.
- Showtime has a new Inside the NFL at 9.
- At 10, FX has a new Nip/Tuck.
- Comedy Central has the season finale of South Park at 10.
- There's a new Top Chef: Las Vegas on Bravo at 10.
- TBS has two new episodes of Meet the Browns at 10.
- Food Network has a new Dinner: Impossible at 10.
- Current has a new Vanguard at 10.
- Also at 10: Travel Channel has a new Man vs. Food.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: America's Next Top Model, Mythbusters, Cougar Town, Nip/Tuck
Posted Nov 5th 2009 1:22AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S01E06) Something big is going to happen with Axl, and I can't wait for it. Yes, he's doing the same bored, sleeping, lazy teenager act that we've seen a million times before, but I like the way he works off of both Neil Flynn and Patricia Heaton. And I think there's real potential for him to break out into something unique; like when he put his clothes on for the bus in two seconds.
The writers have already crafted both Brick and Sue into wholly unique, and bizarre, children. By comparison the only thing odd about Axl so far is his name. He's just so ... ordinary! Ordinary was enough, though, for him to be part of a pretty funny storyline that pitted him at odds with his father.
It also makes me terrified of the upcoming teen years. Maybe I'll just ship mine out to some other family to deal with. Maybe he can move to Orson, Indiana and I'll just let Mike and Frankie take care of him. Better send him with an extra coat. You never know when a door might go missing.
Continue reading Review: The Middle - The Front Door
Posted Nov 4th 2009 12:09PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 7:30, FOX has Game 6 of The World Series.- At 8, ABC has a new Hank, followed by new episodes of The Middle, Modern Family, Cougar Town, and Eastwick.
- CBS has a new Old Christine at 8, then new episodes of Gary Unmarried, Criminal Minds, and CSI: NY.
- NBC has new episodes of Mercy, Law and Order: SVU, and The Jay Leno Show.
- The CW has a new America's Next Top Model at 8.
- PBS has Bill Cosby: The Mark Twain Prize 2009 at 8.
- At 9, TBS has two new episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne, then two new episodes of Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns.
- Food Network has a new Throwdown with Bobby Flay at 9.
- History Channel has a new episode of The Nostradamus Effect at 9, followed by a new MysteryQuest.
- Syfy has a new Ghost Hunters at 9, then a new Destination: Truth.
- Fine Living has Martha Stewart's Thanksgiving Desserts at 9, then a new Whatever, Martha!
- Also at 9: Showtime has a new Inside The NFL.
- At 10, Bravo has the Top Chef All-Stars Dinner.
- Comedy Central has a new South Park, then a new Secret Girlfriend at 10.
- FX has a new Nip/Tuck at 10.
- Food Network has a new Dinner: Impossible at 10.
- Spike has a new Ultimate Fighter at 10.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: World Series, Hank, Mercy, South Park
Posted Oct 31st 2009 10:00AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Reality-Free, The Big Bang Theory
Like a stray dog that works his way into your heart, I think I've fallen in love with
The Middle. I didn't want to get so attached, because -- quite frankly -- ABC's track record for sticking with quality shows isn't so great. I'm still mourning
Pushing Daisies. But
The Middle is nothing like
Pushing Daisies, nor does it fall into the quirky, clever mode of other shows that ABC has been promulgating for years.
Ugly Betty is quirky.
Better off Ted is quirky.
Dirty Sexy Money was quirky. Quirky's the word.
Continue reading My Big Bang theory: The Middle's Brick is another Sheldon
Posted Oct 30th 2009 2:02PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, The Big Bang Theory
The candy manufacturers had better watch out, because as Halloween is approaching, TV shows have been coming up with their own candies, inspired by some of the more colorful, interesting characters. Take a look at this list, and see which are treats and which are tricks. And, listen, tell us what kind of candy your favorite TV characters might inspire!
8. How I Met Your Mother - Robin Scherbatsky's Canadian corn
Oh, Canada. Slutty pumpkins aside, Robin had to convince her American friends that Canada not only celebrates Halloween, but Canadian corn is the best Halloween candy ever. That's right, Canadian corn. It's like candy corn, only it's orange on the top and white on the bottom. It also tastes like pancakes because it isn't made with corn syrup; it's made with maple syrup.
Continue reading Eight TV character-inspired Halloween candies
Posted Oct 29th 2009 1:10AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S01E05) Things are starting to settle into a familiar and comfortable pattern. There was nothing particularly groundbreaking in the presentation or even the subject matter of this episode, but it was still enjoyable. It's the love within the Heck family, even within Axl, that makes this a heartwarming comedy.
It doesn't have the sharp wit and cleverness of its follow-up
Modern Family, but it's still leaps and bounds better than its lead-in -- Oh, that's right. ABC went with a re-airing of
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown instead of
Hank. Didn't they air that last night, too. That's okay, Kelsey. It'll be just fine. You'll get that back nine order any day now.
This week, we focused on Brick. The more I see of the little whispering weirdo, the more I like him, and while I hate to keep bringing this up, the more I need the show to address his physical ailment. Commenter 'Jeremy' said he has found evidence pointing to it being osteogenesis imperfecta. This is the same thing
Carnivale's Michael J. Anderson has.
Continue reading Review: The Middle - The Block Party
Posted Oct 22nd 2009 1:08AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S01E04) Okay, there's clearly something going on with Atticus Shaffer's legs, or leg. It's not a big deal, but at the same time I can't help but notice it when he's limping around. I wish the show would just address whatever it is, so I can stop thinking they're trying to pull a fast one over on us and pretend there's nothing there. It's like when
How I Met Your Mother was horribly trying to cover up two pregnant bellies all last season.
Brick can have a medical condition, and we'll still love him as much as ever. In fact, it would make the family even more "just like the rest of us." Regardless, Brick was hilarious this week with his new girlfriend. I remember when my son was getting his first little girlfriends, and it seemed to go down about the same way. Not the point where his new girlfriend gives me a verbal beat-down on my own front porch, but maybe we're just not to that point yet.
The other main plotline had us finally finding something that Sue is good at! I'm as shocked as you are.
Continue reading Review: The Middle - The Trip
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