Friday Funnies: ‘The Middle,’ a Fun New Family Comedy
For this week’s Friday Funnies installment, I’m going to recommend that you tune into a new ABC Wednesday night comedy with which I’ve recently become enamored: The Middle, starring Patricia Heaton from Everybody Loves Raymond. The show heavily reminds me of the off-beat comedy from Malcolm in the Middle which is now, sadly, only airing in reruns.
Heaton’s Frankie Heck is a hard working, extremely harried car saleswoman who has three oddball kids and a quarry manager husband who often acts like her fourth kid. She’s also recently learned that she has to also help out elderly relatives who can no longer drive, oh, and her family’s always strapped for cash. So, it stands to reason that Frankie’s major league stressed out.
In the clip below (from this week’s episode), Frankie decides to take a 15-minute break at the car dealership while her colleague promises to cover for her, although disaster ensues when she emerges from her “break” in the dingy women’s bathroom. This scene reminded me of the days when my kids were babies and toddlers and just being able to spend an hour at CVS all by myself seemed like a luxurious break.
You can watch full episodes of The Middle for free on its web site.
Author and columnist Meredith O'Brien gives you a peek behind the picket fences of modern day life and parenting in the 'burbs. With humor and candor, it's her take on real parenting in the real world.
