ABC's 'The Middle' - Heaton sitcom feels our pain
The great sitcoms have always captured the mood of the their times. Bill Cosby's 1980s powerhouse, for example, was in perfect synch with that era's back-to-the-1950s emphasis on families, dad in a sweater and upward mobility.
I am not yet ready to say "The Middle," which premieres Wednesday night at 8:30 on ABC, is a great sitcom, but it sure seems in synch with the mood of middle America today. And what a difference from the sunny optimism of the 1980s and Ronald Reagan.
"The Middle" stars Patricia Heaton, one of TV's most popular middle class moms thanks to her long run on "Everybody Loves Raymond." Here she plays Frankie Heck, wife, mother of three and used car salesman living in the middle of Indiana.
Her husband, Mike (Neil Flynn), works at a quarry with guys she describes as being none too bright. Mike is no intellectual himself, but he's smart in his own way -- and nice. And the two do have a relationship of some affection.
Their kids are something else. Axl is a teenager who looks like he's already a lost cause. Sue seems to have no talent whatsoever, but she is so earnest and sweet it breaks your heart. And Brick is just one weird kid -- even Frankie admits that, especially when he lapses into his bizarre habit of repeating the last word or phrase that he spoke out loud in a stage whisper.
This family will make you smile a lot, especially Frankie's stressed-out, manic attempts to keep this house of nutsiness almost functioning. Heaton is an outstanding comic performer who really deserved all those Emmys in the "Raymond" days.
But here is what matters: The sociology of this show, particularly as it relates to the recession. As we meet her in the pilot, Frankie is on the verge of being fired if she doesn't sell a car by the end of the month -- and there are only a couple of days left. She is desperate for a sale.
When she gets her pay packet, she is shocked. She claims she spends more on gas to get to the job than she makes. Her boss shows absolutely no sympathy. In fact, he reminds her how expendable she is. Sound familiar? Welcome to America in 2009.
I love that a network sitcom is taking this subject matter on. And if I was one of those folks in Washington saying the recession is over, I would watch the ratings very closely on this sitcom with its message that we are really hurting and the only thing helping us get by is the love of our families.
I'd pay very close attention, because I think this is a sitcom that, despite all its processing through the corporate belly of the ABC-Disney beast, is more in touch with middle-class America and the pain it is feeling than any of the people running the country today.
There's another family sitcom premised on the recession and featuring a familiar TV face that premieres tonight on ABC -- "Hank," starring Kelsey Grammer. It would have been nice to write this post as an essay talking about the recession and the sociology of these two shows.
But that would have been a mistake, because one sitcom has great promise, and one is an empty-headed mess. "Hank" is the mess.
The premise: Hank (Grammer) is a Wall Street CEO who is fired by the board of directors after the economic meltdown. The series opens like a Depression-era film with Hank and his family in front of their former Park Avenue digs as their possessions are loaded on a moving van.
They wind up in a rundown home in Virginia in a setting that is way too much like the 1960s CBS sitcom "Green Acres" to make you even think of suspending belief for a second. And I say that with apologies to "Green Acres," which I loved -- when I was 14 and thought Eva Gabor defined hot. ("Dahling, I love you, but give me Park Avenue.")
The producers tried too hard to catch the feeling of the times in their premise, and not hard enough to develop the characters and craft the words they say. The result is a silly, one-dimensional cartoon of a family that I am guessing viewers will start tuning out before the half hour ends.
Comments
Sounds like the writing quality will be too hard to maintain. Once the personalities are fleshed out it will (have to) revert to the formulaic.
Who is the audience? Kids who have no interest in their parents angst or the parents who who won't want to be reminded of it?
Posted by: MrRational | September 30, 2009 10:51 AM
Thanks for the informative article Z. My husband is particularly interested in this one. Sounds comedic and he loves these type of shows and was a big fan of Patricia Heaton from "Everybody Loves Raymond", I liked the show too. He looked on the websites though and did not find much in the way of promotion for her latest endeavor. I hope Mr.Rational is wrong and the story lines has more too offer than the angst of the parent's over hard to handle or spirited children. I think that if it is well written though this could work for quite a while. I was a litle disappointed in "Good Wife", but I think it needs a chance to develop and I was a little distracted coming from the Ken Burns special, and it was not seeming to hold my attention. Z, I need more hours at my job I'm getting bored.
Posted by: Sherry T. | September 30, 2009 12:38 PM
Thanks for putting so much into that review. The Middle sounds like my type of show.
And, yes I can remember growing up watching Cosby, Family Ties (my father laughed at Michael J Fox so much). Great memories!
I saw "Modern Family" last week. I just couldnt get into it because of the shots of the couples on the couch. Reminded me of the Gosselin trainwreck.
Posted by: Irene | September 30, 2009 12:57 PM
Hi Z.,
Seems like there is a kind of 'too-successful-for-your-own-good' curse out there in 'Sitcomland", and actor Kelsey Grammer, who got over two bountiful decades of prime-time T.V mileage out of his witty, cerebral, and at-times acerbic character Dr. Frasier Crane, is seemingly just one of its more recent victims. Although how many out-of-the-schute, first-run sitcoms have we arm-chair and genuine pro T.V. critics rushed to (negatively) judge, and been totally off-base on our initial take?
However, Z., I tend to respect both your taste and critical assessment of most T.V. fare, so it would, indeed, be unfortunate if Grammer's latest feeble foray in the Network sitcom 'lottery', bites the proverbial dust, sadly, like his last attempt, the ill-fated, "Back To You" (Sept., '07-May, '08) that sputtered along for barely a full season, and ironically co-starred Patricia Heaton as his co-T.V.-news-anchor character. It appears, at first blush, that Heaton has escaped the mega-successful-sitcom artists' 'curse' w/ her latest effort, "The Middle", premiering tonight on ABC.
We only have to look back at the dismal T.V. career rebounding-record of most of the independently-wealthy "Seinfeld" ensemble cast members in their sad attempts to recapture sitcom glory. Jason Alexander's 2001 ABC effort "Bob Patterson", where he plays a rather dim-witted, narcissistic motivational speaker, died after only five episodes, and even w/ the brilliant veteran comedian Robert Klein on board, was doomed from the get-go. Alexander's next project, "Listen Up!" at least hung in for a full season and a bit in 2004/ 2005, but was definitely leaking oil near the end of its run.
Michael Richards, (aka Cosmo Kramer) also tried his hand at the familiar sitcom genre, shortly after "Seinfeld" had wrapped its 9th and final season, in 2000, namely "The Michael Richards Show", in which he starred, wrote and co-executive-produced. The show fell victim to both dismal ratings and harsh critical reviews, and was cancelled after only a few airings. The unfortunate, much-publicized racially-tinged (I'm being kind, here) incident at the Laugh Factory comedy club in West Hollywood, CA, in Nov. of 2006 in which Richards, in a sudden pique of rage repeatedly verbally 'assaulted' an audience member w/ the "N"-word, seemed to derail his sputtering acting/ comedy career for quite a spell. Recently, he was reunited w/ his former "Seinfeld" familiars for a new episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm", airing sometime this Fall.
Julia Louis Dreyfus (of course the ofttimes endearing, but at times annoying Elaine on "Seifeld") was one of the few "Seinfeld" crew who defied the uber-successful sitcom players' 'curse' w/ her now very popular sitcom, "The New Adventures of Old Christine". After an earlier career glitch w/ her aborted NBC sitcom, "Watching Ellie", Dreyfus became the first of the "Seinfeld" multi-millionaire cast to break what has come to be known in the T.V. biz as the "Seinfeld Curse" w/ "Old Christine".
Even Jerry Seinfeld, as the voice-over for the lead 3-D character in the lackluster, over-hyped animated theatrical feature "Bee Movie" from a few years back, couldn't singlehandedly seem to pull this totally lame kids' flick out of the dumpster.
Of course, Jerry won't be needing a charity telethon for himself any time soon, as his personal coffers swell year in and year out w/ the "Seinfeld" rerun residuals streaming his way. As smarmy Uncle Leo would often ask, "Jerry, do you need some money. Are you a little short these days. Can I help out.?" Uncle Leo, forget about it!
But back to Patricia Heaton. Personally, I'm really happy for this proven, very gifted comedic actress, w/ her latest promising sitcom incarnation as Frankie in her new series "The Middle". Sounds like a potential winner, Z, w/ its running narrative kind of reflecting the challenging times middle-class Americans are enduring in the here-and-now. Many viewers will hopefully tune in, relating to the dynamic of the show; the stark, 'sociological' realities of everyday family life in middle -America, softened by the healing, and cathartic balm of humor.
Hmm...a used-car saleswoman and a quarryman; now there's quite the family occupational combo.... but hey, whatever floats your boat. The kids on the show sound like a hoot. Hopefully the series will have some staying-power, although it's still early in the game.
I came to watching "Everybody Loves Raymond" in reruns and eventually got totally hooked over a period of maybe a year. I was particularly taken by Heaton's mother/ wife role of Debra, and the superb comedic chemistry that she and Ray Romano generated as the lead characters in the long-running, multi-Emmy-winning series. The entire ensemble cast on that show were first-rate. I was saddened by the passing of actor Peter Boyle not that many years after "Raymond" wrapped. (His iconic role as 'the monster' in Mel Brook's "Young Frankenstein" was a classic.)
I marveled how Heaton could play one minute completely wacky, and then go into dead-pan serious---the entire spectrum of human emotion. No matter how outrageous the plot line, or outlandish the situation, she always seemed so believable, and convincing in her portrayal of the overworked, under-appreciated Debra. Great acting chops, for sure. Of course Ray was her perfect foil.
I'm looking forward to catching Patricia Heaton's new sitcom "The Middle". All her loyal fans are crossing their fingers (and toes) that this time she'll have finally eluded the typecast sitcom actors' 'curse'. Too bad Kelsey Grammer couldn't be so lucky. But as they say, "That's show-biz, folks!"
Thanks again, Z., for the heads-up.
P.S.:
I think I may be getting a little 'Burnsned-out' (HA!) w/ "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" documentary. I've watched all of the initial 6 hours, and we still have another 6 to go. But, truthfully, it's been such a visual, intellectual, and life-affirming treat, and every single minute has been worth the personal investment. Enjoy the last half of this Burnsian gem, folks!
ALEX
Posted by: ALEX MCCRAE | September 30, 2009 1:11 PM
Z
Is Hank worse than Accidentally on Purpose? What a steamer!!!!
Posted by: kevin | September 30, 2009 1:49 PM
ALEX,
I here where you are coming from too. I think I am going to finish the whole 12 hours of the Burns documentary, but it is long, long, long. The most I have sat still for anything. Just so fascinating. I am looking forward to "The Middle". Hope it is good Z. We need something this fall that we can attach ourselves to.
Posted by: Sherry T. | September 30, 2009 3:55 PM
I watched ABC Comedy night last night.
Hank was ok.Middle funny,Cougar and Eastwick good.
I gave Modern Family another shot. I still hate that interview/reality show questioning they do. The show does have funny moments.
I have been in Reality show land with the Gosselins for so long now, so haven't followed sitcoms. (bad Irene) The only criticism I would throw out there is the shows move so fast. I feel like I am out of breath after 23 minutes.
Thanks for the mini-reviews. I am hoping more commenters will give their reviews as we catch up with the new season.Z
Posted by: Irene | October 1, 2009 6:50 AM
Irene, I have been in Gosselin reality world too long too!! I have "The Middle" recorded in my box. I will catch-up. My husband watched it an he liked it. I will watch later Z and post.
Have to go to the dentist.
Posted by: Sherry T. | October 1, 2009 8:56 AM
As Hank's wife said, sorry/no. I disagree on both shows. The characters are so overdrawn on Middle that I don't see how they can sustain it. Heaton is just plain frenetic. The writing and characters on Hank are more subtle and more likely to survive beyond the first episode. Funny that you keep mentioning Heaton in relationship to Everybody Loves Raymond, but fail to mention that Hank is the project of Tucker Cawley, who won his writing Emmy for ELR.
One went on to do work I like, and the other didn't. No need to mention someone when I am criticizing their work unless there is a larger point to be made. You sound like you might be plugged into the production process in some way. Thanks. Z
Posted by: City Redux | October 1, 2009 11:41 AM
Nope, not plugged into production (unless it was taped in Hampden when I wasn't looking). Just seemed odd that since you were doing a compare and contrast in a single review, the ELR connection was mentioned for only one show.
Great line about Hampden. Made me laugh. Thanks. Z
Posted by: City Redux | October 1, 2009 1:46 PM
I watched "Middle" while my son and husband were at baseball practice. I found it to be insulting to middle America. I live in a suburb of Kansas City. We do not act or live like the people in "Middle." When will Hollywood ever get it right? They consider us to be flyover territory, and I wish they would just fly over this newest stupid sitcom.
Posted by: Rhonda Rein | October 1, 2009 9:47 PM
Rhonda Rein,
The fly over part made me laugh. I haven't watched yet, but you made me want to!
Posted by: Sherry T. | October 1, 2009 11:25 PM