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[03/31/09 - 04:06 PM]
2009 ABC Program Development Guide - Comedy Series
ABC details its 14 comedy pilots under consideration for next season.

[11/19/08 - 06:16 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, November 19
Updates include: MTV may revive "Beauty and the Geek"; Sean "Diddy" Combs to visit "CSI: Miami"; and Patricia Heaton is going for "The Middle" at ABC.

[07/24/08 - 06:43 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, July 24
Updates include: Harvey Keitel visits ABC's "Life on Mars"; ABC hopes to bring Patricia Heaton to "The Middle"; and Ryan Murphy books "Glee" at FOX.

[07/06/07 - 03:09 PM]
Development Update: Week of July 2-6
Updates include: Stephanie Niznik and Scott Patterson land roles on the CW's newcomers, options are picked up on the casts of four pilots, Dana Delany in talks to join ABC's "Housewives" and the usual mix of casting news.

[03/23/07 - 06:47 PM]
2007 ABC Program Development Guide - Comedy Series
ABC details its 16 comedy pilots under consideration for next season.

[03/20/07 - 01:37 AM]
Development Update: Tuesday, March 20
Updates include: "Extras" to wrap, ABC adds another series to its summer slate plus our usual wave of casting news.

[03/15/07 - 01:53 AM]
Development Update: Thursday, March 15
Updates include: Pilots lure Chris Klein, Jason Biggs, Ricki Lake and Michael McKean.

[02/21/07 - 12:52 AM]
Development Update: Wednesday, February 21
Updates include: CBS, NBC and FOX add comedy pilots, directors set on a dozen half-hours and Marc Cherry to remain with "Housewives" through May 2011.

[01/24/07 - 12:49 AM]
Development Update: Wednesday, January 24
Updates include: ABC issues a five comedy pilot orders, plus two new pilots from FOX and casting news on ABC's "Eli Stone" and NBC's "Mastersons of Manhattan."

[10/28/06 - 03:43 PM]
Development Update: October 23-27 (Weekly Round-Up)
Over 30 updates on projects in development and tidbits about shows currently on the air!







MIDDLE, THE (2007 VERSION) (ABC)
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY:
10/28/06 - 3/31/09
STATUS:
previously in development (2007-2008 season)
DEVELOPMENT STAGE:
ordered to pilot
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
cast options extended
DESCRIPTION:
(from ABC's press release) Who are our modern day heroes? Politicians? Movie Stars? Athletes? Maybe... But what about the heroes of everyday life? Some of us think parents are heroes, and mothers are often super heroes. Meet Frankie Heck loving wife, mother of three and a car salesman at Jasper, Indiana's number one used car dealership. Frankie is middle class in the middle of the country and approaching middle age. Her super powers? Getting her kids out the door in one piece every morning! Jasper, Indiana is Frankie Heck's hometown a town nestled in between two factories. And depending on which way the wind blows, one day it will smell like snack cakes or another day, tires. Frankie is trying to sell her first car at the local dealership while her husband, Mike, is a manager at the town quarry. Their oldest son, Elvis, just lost his best friend in an accident and is going through a bit of an identity crisis. Their daughter, Sue, is what you would call extraordinarily ordinary. However, this is not the case with their seven-year-old, Brick, who is different from other kids his age. Brick's best friend is his backpack. Executive producers Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline ("Committed," "Three Sisters") bring you The Middle and its take on life in the part of the country we don't often see. It may not be glamorous or showy, but it's a place where family comes first, and you do whatever it takes to keep your family together.
PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Atticus Shaffer as Brick Heck
· Brenna O'Brien as Sue Heck
· Lex Medlin as Mike Heck
· Michael Mitchell as Elvis Heck
· Ricki Lake as Frankie Heck
CREW INFORMATION:
· Chris Koch as DIR (Pilot)
· DeAnn Heline as CRTR/EP
· Eileen Heisler as CRTR/EP
GENRE(S):
· comedy (all)
· comedy (single-camera)
STUDIO INFORMATION:
· Konk, Inc.
· Warner Bros. Television