As a devoted fan of “The Middle,” I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia when reminiscing about the hilarious journey of the Heck family and their quirky friends. Atticus Shaffer, who played the loveable Brick Heck, has continued to make a name for himself in voice acting, which seems fitting given Brick’s unique vocal delivery. It’s interesting to note that Chris Kattan, who portrayed Bob Weaver, also found success in both voice and live-action roles.
As a gamer, I’d say: “The Middle” was a hilarious, heartfelt, and occasionally absurd portrayal of a family nestled right smack in the heartland. Frankie Heck (played by Patricia Heaton) never envisioned her life as a modest saleswoman with middling achievements, but even in her dreams, she didn’t foresee this kind of existence. Her husband, Mike (Neil Flynn), a construction worker, grumbles a lot, but he’s a good father and partner. It’s fortunate that their kids – the ever-optimistic Sue (Eden Sher), popular Axl (Charlie McDermott), and socially awkward Brick (Atticus Shaffer) – have dreams, aspirations, and desires of their own, which may just lead them out of Orson, Indiana, or prove that our small midwestern town is the perfect place for them to thrive.
At times, the show resembles an early version of “Young Sheldon” and other moments hark back to classic sitcoms about established families from past decades. However, what truly sets “The Middle” apart is its exploration of dreams put on hold or realized. Interestingly, the series has been off the air for almost five years now. Here’s a look at what the cast has been doing since then.
Patricia Heaton
Actress Patricia Heaton had already gained recognition for a notable role when she assumed the character of Frankie Heck. Although she will forever be remembered as Debra Barrone, wife to the main character in “Everybody Loves Raymond,” some viewers recognize that her career was diverse and multifaceted even before she became synonymous with sitcom mothers. This versatility is evident in her roles as Brie Wilson in “Beethoven” and Natalie Holloway in the spin-off of “Designing Women,” titled “Women of the House.” Following “Raymond” and prior to “The Middle,” she acted alongside Kelsey Grammer in “Back to You.” Since “The Middle” ended, she has continued to stay active rather than resting on her past successes.
After Frankie, Heaton took charge of the CBS sitcom titled “Carol’s Second Act,” where he starred as Carol Kennedy, a teacher turned doctor in her second career. The series ran for only one season. Later, Heaton appeared in the independent film named “Mending the Line.” At present, he is reprising his role as Holly, a bartender, in Season 2 of the revival of Frasier on Paramount+.
Neil Flynn
Similar to his fellow actor, Neil Flynn has a rich background in sitcoms. He had minor roles in “That 70’s Show,” but gained significant recognition as the Janitor on “Scrubs.” His portrayal of Mike Heck on “The Middle” showcased a different aspect of him, which was subtly hinted at when he played Cady’s father in “Mean Girls.” After “The Middle” concluded in 2018, Flynn quickly joined the cast of another sitcom, NBC’s “Abby’s,” but this series ended in 2019. Since then, he has been appearing as a guest star on various sitcoms like “Girls5Eva,” “PBC,” “Lopez vs Lopez” and “Shrinking.
Flynn is quite skilled at voice acting, lending his voice to numerous characters. For instance, you might recognize him as Julius Caesar from both the original and rebooted series of “Clone High”. Additionally, he’s featured in “Chicago Party Aunt”, “Superman: Man of Tomorrow”, and “Buzz Lightyear of Star Command”. Most recently, he provided the voice for reindeer Donner in the Disney+ series “The Santa Clause”.
Charlie McDermott
As a gamer, I’ve got to say that my acting journey really took off with the show “The Middle,” where I played the free-spirited eldest child Axl Heck. Before that, I had already made a name for myself with various roles. I was in the movie “Hot Tub Time Machine” and the series “Future Man.” You might also recognize me from TV films like “Super Clyde” and “Bond of Silence.
Since the end of “The Middle,” McDermott has been less active in acting, with recent appearances limited to “Instant Family,” “Countdown,” and Netflix’s miniseries “Unbelievable.” He also directed an episode of “The Middle” during its run. However, now that his sitcom days are over, McDermott has shifted his focus towards music. He performs ambient and folk tunes worldwide, sharing details about his performances on social media. His life appears to be one of travel — reminiscent of the unconventional path his rebellious character Axl might have taken.
Eden Sher
Eden Sher had already played significant roles in “Weeds” and “Sons and Daughters” before landing the optimistic character Sue Heck in “The Middle.” After the sitcom ended production, she has been the busiest of the Heck kids when it comes to acting, so if you haven’t seen her recently, don’t miss her appearances on Los Angeles stages.
Besides voice acting, Sher has expanded her talents to include roles such as Star Butterfly in “Star vs the Forces of Evil,” and recurring appearances on shows like “Jane the Virgin.” Additionally, she’s been keeping busy creating and writing pilots and short films. On Instagram, she shares updates about these projects. Notably, she was at the center of a spin-off for “The Middle” titled “Sue Sue in the City,” which unfortunately got cancelled.
It’s not surprising that Eden Sher, who played the ever-optimistic Sue Heck on The Middle, has been finding humor in her experiences as a sitcom kid lately. She’s created a one-woman show titled “I Was on a Sitcom,” which she performed in Los Angeles in 2023. Interestingly, one of her co-stars from The Middle, Charlie McDermott, endorsed her one-woman show on his Instagram in the same year. To top it all off, Sher tied the knot in 2020 and is now a mother to three-year-old identical twins. It seems that Sue’s determination and energy live on in Eden as she moves forward in life.
Atticus Shaffer
Atticus Shaffer left a lasting impact playing the endearing, yet awkward character Brick Heck in “The Middle.” His unique habit of whispering the final words in many of his lines made Brick one of the most distinctive characters on the show. Interestingly, since “The Middle” ended, Shaffer has been using that voice to secure roles, such as in animated series like “Fish Hooks,” “Steven Universe,” and “The Lion Guard’s” Ono. He also lent his voice to the big-screen adaptation of “Frankenweenie.
Since wrapping up “The Middle,” I’ve dived back into voice acting, lending my voice to Melvin in “Harvey Girls Forever!”, various characters in “Pete the Cat”, and even more roles in “Firebuds.” Live-action appearances have been scarce, but I managed to pop up in a single episode of Netflix’s “Never Have I Ever” last year. Who knows if I’ll get more chances to shine onscreen in the future.
Bob Weaver
Back in its early days, I found “The Middle” had an added comedic kick with Chris Kattan from “Saturday Night Live”. He played Bob Weaver, who’d been Frankie’s best buddy for years. We both worked at Ehlert Motors and despite Mike disliking him, our bond was strong – mainly because Bob lived with his mom and had no family of his own. He’d occasionally appear on the show after Season 2, but when Frankie shifted careers into dentistry, Kattan’s character, Bob, was no longer a regular on the show.
Kattan divides his time these days between a bustling voice acting profession and live-action roles. He lends his voice to “Hotel Transylvania 2,” and he’s had a recurring part in “Bunnicula.” His latest live-action performances can be seen in “The Ridiculous 6,” “40 Love,” and “Say a Little Prayer.” Such job stability is the kind that Bob could only wish for.
Why was The Middle cancelled?
The Middle,” a highly popular sitcom on ABC, ended production. Interestingly, the decision was made by the show’s producers themselves. In an interview with TV Guide during the 2017 TCA Press tour, executive producer Eileen Heisler mentioned that they preferred to end the series while still enjoying high audience favorability, rather than risk overstaying their welcome.
The choice to conclude the series was a mutual decision among us creators and actors. We felt it was the appropriate time to part ways, while our audience still craved more. It seemed better to leave before people might say, ‘They stayed too long,’ rather than overstaying their welcome. During that period, we proposed the idea of ending the show to ABC, which is why the last season neatly wraps up all the storylines. Fast forward into the future, you’ll see the kids thriving, Frankie content with her dental profession, Mike carrying on as usual, and everyone’s loose ends nicely tied.
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2024-09-23 21:00