'THE MIDDLE' WILL SAY GOODBYE, AS THE UPCOMING NINTH SEASON IS SET TO BE ITS FINAL ONE

The upcoming ninth season of ABC's critically acclaimed fan-favorite series "The Middle" will be its final one. It was announced by Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment. After almost a decade on the air, the executive producers of the award-winning series have decided that the ninth season would be the best one in which to wrap up the story of the Heck family. The show stars two-time Emmy-winner Patricia Heaton as a harried wife and mother of three who lives in the middle of the country in Orson, Indiana, and uses her wry wit and sense of humor to get her family through each day intact. The farewell season begins Tuesday, October 3, at 8:00 p.m. EDT.

"The Middle" has received three Humanitas Prize nominations, with a win in 2016 for creators/executive producers Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline in the 30 Minute Category for the episode "The Graduate," a Critics' Choice Award nomination and a Gracie Award for Outstanding Comedy. Eden Sher previously received a Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Sue Heck.

Esquire.com called the show "the finest American sitcom on TV right now," and the Los Angeles Times exclaimed that "'The Middle' is the best family comedy on television."

"The Heck family has been part of the ABC family for almost a decade. It's rare for a series to have this type of longevity, and we are proud to have been its home. We've watched Axl, Sue and Brick grow up right before our eyes under Frankie and Mike's unique parenting style," said Dungey. "I'm looking forward to the fitting and happy ending the producers will give the Hecks and our viewers."

Warner Bros. Television Group President and Chief Content Officer Peter Roth said, "For eight remarkable seasons, Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline have crafted a wonderfully relatable, honest, funny and authentic world of middle class life in the heartland of America. The writing, acting and craftsmanship have been superb, and the show has been vividly brought to life each week by the incomparable Patricia Heaton, Neil Flynn, Charlie McDermott, Eden Sher, Atticus Shaffer and a creative team that has poured its heart and soul into each and every episode. We look forward to a memorable final season for 'The Middle,' and we thank our passionate and loyal fans!"

"Last year we sat down with our cast and made the bittersweet decision together that in this ninth season it is time to bring the Hecks' story to a close. It's been an amazing run, a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we're looking forward to having an entire year to say goodbye," said Heisler and Heline. "Plus, we wanted to go out before too many people knew we were on the air."

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

"The Middle" was created and is executive produced by Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline. The series is from Warner Bros. Television.