<P> The Middle is an American sitcom about a middle - class family living in Indiana facing the day - to - day struggles of home life, work, and raising children . The show premiered September 30, 2009, on the ABC network and features Everybody Loves Raymond actress Patricia Heaton and Scrubs actor Neil Flynn . The Middle was created by former Roseanne and Murphy Brown writers Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline of Blackie and Blondie Productions . The show is produced by Warner Bros. Television and Blackie and Blondie Productions . The Middle has been praised by television critics and earned numerous award nominations . </P> <P> The series was renewed for a ninth season on January 25, 2017, with filming beginning on August 15, 2017 . On August 2, 2017, it was announced that the series will end after its ninth season, at request of the series' creators . </P> <P> The series features Frances "Frankie" Heck (Patricia Heaton), a middle class, middle - aged, Midwestern woman and her husband Mike (Neil Flynn), who reside in the small fictional town of Orson, Indiana based on the real town of Jasper, Indiana . They are the parents of three children, Axl (Charlie McDermott), Sue (Eden Sher), and Brick (Atticus Shaffer). </P> <P> The series is narrated by Frankie, initially an under - performing salesperson at a used - car dealership and later a dental assistant . Her stoic husband Mike manages a local quarry and serves as a stabilizing influence in the family, though Frankie complains about his lack of affection at times . The kids are quite different from one another: oldest son Axl, a popular but lazy teenager, does well in sports but not in academics; daughter Sue is an enthusiastic young teen but chronically unsuccessful and socially awkward; and youngest son Brick is an intelligent but introverted compulsive reader with odd behavioral traits . </P>

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