MIKE TRIES TO HELP A DEVASTATED SUE GET BACK INTO COLLEGE AFTER DISCOVERING SHE HAS BEEN KICKED OUT FOR NOT RENEWING HER FINANCIAL AID, AND FRANKIE ATTEMPTS TO TEACH BRICK HOW TO SWALLOW A PILL WHEN HE GETS SICK, ON ABC'S 'THE MIDDLE'

"A Tough Pill to Swallow" - When a devastated Sue discovers that she has been kicked out of college because she forgot to renew her financial aid, Mike tries to come to her rescue and convince a tough college bursar to reinstate her. Meanwhile, having only taken oral liquid medication all of his life, a frustrated Frankie does everything in her power to teach Brick how to swallow a pill when he gets an ear infection; and Hutch becomes angry with Axl after he keeps driving the Winnebago without permission to Orson to visit new girlfriend April - leaving Hutch without any means of transportation to get to class, on "The Middle," TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18 (8:00-8:30 p.m. EDT), on the ABC Television Network.

"The Middle" stars Patricia Heaton as Frankie, Neil Flynn as Mike, Charlie McDermott as Axl, Eden Sher as Sue and Atticus Shaffer as Brick.

Guest starring are Daniela Bobadilla as Lexie, Alphonso McAuley as Hutch, Will Green as Jeremy, Miriam Flynn as female clerk, Carlease Burke as Ms. Teegarden, Tommy Bechtold as Kenny, David L. King as professor and Matthew Downs as coach.

"A Tough Pill to Swallow" was written by Rich Dahm and directed by Phil Traill.

"The Middle" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format with a 5.1 channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to the airdate.