ABC’s ‘Middle’ hits the target

Associated Press

BURBANK, Calif.

On ABC’s Wednesday night schedule, the Emmy Award-winning comedy “Modern Family” is like that couple with the perfect kids, immaculate lawn and house bigger than they really need.

“The Middle” is more like Mike and Frankie Heck, who have quirky kids and a patched-up dishwasher that sounds like a jet coming in for a landing every time it is turned on. “If you Google underappreciated, it comes up ‘The Middle,’” said DeAnn Heline, one of the co-creators.

“We were wondering, when are we going to get appreciated?” she said.

Start right now. Viewership is higher than ever before in its third season and, more importantly, people are starting to recognize the subversive charm of a show that represents that swath of America between the two coasts.

Heline and co-producer Eileen Heisler have arguably been working toward “The Middle” for their lives and career, in a partnership that began when Heisler moved into Heline’s dorm room at Indiana University in the mid-1980s. Their joint writing and production credits include “Roseanne,” ‘’Murphy Brown” and “How I Met Your Mother.”

Each grew up in the Midwest (Heisler near Chicago, Heline near Cincinnati) and were feeling a little homesick as they kicked around ideas for a new series.

“We looked at each other, at the lines on our faces, and said, ‘Well, we’re tired and we’re moms and we miss the Midwest,’” said Heisler. “It was write what you know. It might have been laziness on our part.”

There was some conviction there, too. They felt TV has plenty of shows with rich people or friends living in fancy apartments. What was missing was the voices of shows like “Roseanne” and “Home Improvement,” of families who struggle but stick together.

“There’s more humor to be found there and sometimes it’s more noble,” Heisler said. “It means more when you can’t afford something and your kid wants something. There’s drama there, and there’s comedy there.”