The ninth season of ABC’s “The Middle” will be the sitcom’s last, TheWrap has confirmed.
The single-camera comedy stars Patricia Heaton (Frankie Heck), Neil Flynn (Mike Heck), Charlie McDermott (Axl Heck), Eden Sher (Sue Heck) and Atticus Shaffer (Brick Heck) as the Heck family, a middle-class family living in the Midwest.
The show tackles typical sitcom topics like marriage, parenting, work and everyday life. “The Middle” has been a consistent performer for ABC, although its viewership has never exceeded 9 million viewers. Heaton’s Frankie is a mom and dental assistant, married to Flynn’s Mike, a manager at a local quarry.
“Some know about us, some don’t. We are at heart a midwestern show,” executive producer DeAnn Heline told EW. “If we can be underappreciated for nine years and be on the air, we’re lucky.”
“We feel the reception toward our show is positive and kind,” said executive producer Eileen Heisler to EW in the same interview. “We feel proud of what we’re doing. In its own way, the show has been recognized even though it’s not a ratings magnet. It’s very stalwart and steady.”
Despite the show’s steadiness, it’s time for “The Middle” to end, which will be one “that fans will like,” Heisler promised.
“The Middle” returns to ABC for its final season on Oct. 3.