The Middle is a primetime American comedy series created by DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler for the ABC network. The Middle stars Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn as Frankie and Mike Heck, a used-car saleswoman and the manager of a small mining firm respectively, who struggle to raise their children in the fictional middle-class town of Orson, Indiana. Their three children include the athletic but underachieving, slow-witted Axl (Charlie McDermott), cluelessly unpopular daughter Sue (Eden Sher) and frustrated, eccentric child-genius Brick (Atticus Shaffer). The Hecks find themselves embroiled in somewhat unusual events as they attempt to navigate their day-to-day lives. The series was met with a positive reception from television critics when it premiered on September 30, 2009, with a score of 70 on the aggregated reviews website Metacritic.
As of November 23, 2011[update], a total of 58 episodes of The Middle have aired.
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Seasons | Episodes | Originally aired | DVD release date | ||||
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Season premiere | Season finale | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | |||
1 | 24 | September 30, 2009 | May 19, 2010 | August 31, 2010 | September 26, 2011 | October 5, 2011 | |
2 | 24 | September 22, 2010 | May 25, 2011 | September 27, 2011 | N/A | N/A | |
3 | TBA | September 21, 2011 | 2012 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
U.S. viewers (million) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Julie Anne Robinson | DeAnn Heline & Eileen Heisler | September 30, 2009 | 276047 | 8.71[1] |
Frankie is struggling in her career as a car saleswoman because she has yet to sell one. She finally thinks that she has made her first sale, but the car is stolen right in front of her. Meanwhile, Sue becomes part of the school choir ... as part of the stage crew. Brick wants Frankie to come into school dressed as a superhero for a presentation, but doesn't tell her the correct day. | |||||||
2 | 2 | "The Cheerleader" | Lee Shallat Chemel | DeAnn Heline & Eileen Heisler | October 7, 2009 | 3X5701 | 6.79[2] |
Frankie finds herself at her wits' end when her dryer breaks and she discovers that all the interest payments are due. So in a last-ditch effort to save her job and get some money, Frankie fills a car with jelly beans as a publicity stunt, but it doesn't go to plan. Meanwhile, Sue fails to make the swim team and realizes that she needs glasses, Brick is forced to "socially interact" when a fine prevents him from checking out books at the library, and Axl is on the receiving end of one of Mike's classic punishments. | |||||||
3 | 3 | "The Floating Anniversary" | Gail Mancuso | Rob Ulin | October 14, 2009 | 3X5703 | 6.77[3] |
The romantic anniversary getaway (consisting of a hotel room and a rug shopping expedition) that Frankie and Mike have planned for ages becomes unhinged when Brick gets sick; Sue has a crush and doesn't know how to tell the boy; Axl gets his learner's permit; and Frankie's psychotic aunts (and their dog) require constant attention. | |||||||
4 | 4 | "The Trip" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Jana Hunter & Mitch Hunter | October 21, 2009 | 3X5704 | 6.53[4] |
After Sue raises thousands of dollars for the school by selling sausage and cheese to earn a trip to Indianapolis, she is left off the list to go on the trip, Frankie demands her daughter fights for her rights to go on the trip. Meanwhile, Brick gets a girlfriend, which becomes very stressful for him, so he enlists Axl's advice to break up with her (while Axl is showering), but when that fails (and ends up earning Brick a marriage and a baby), he asks his dad to step in. | |||||||
5 | 5 | "The Block Party" | Ken Whittingham | Alex Reid | October 28, 2009 | 3X5702 | 6.49[5] |
When the school counselor tells Frankie and Mike that Brick is "socially challenged", Mike sets about getting Brick some friends, but when his idea of basketball falls through, he discovers Brick has other talents, which may assist Mike in winning the Block Party lawnmower race. Meanwhile, Sue tries out for tennis ball-girl, and Frankie becomes obsessed with getting Axl's old football jersey, because all of his teammates have given their mothers theirs. | |||||||
6 | 6 | "The Front Door" | Michael Spiller | Russ Woody | November 4, 2009 | 3X5705 | 6.04[6] |
Frankie is fed up with Axl's attitude towards her and Mike, so, when he accidentally breaks down the front door, despite the fact that she has been nagging Mike to fix the door hinge for three months, she goes along with Mike to make Axl fix the door. Meanwhile, Frankie must sell a car within a week or she will be forced to wear a dog suit outside the car lot as a promotion, and Sue stresses over her school pictures, and decides to go for a retake. | |||||||
7 | 7 | "The Scratch" | Wendey Stanzler | DeAnn Heline & Eileen Heisler | November 18, 2009 | 3X5706 | 7.06[7] |
While scrambling to gather the garbage for trash day, Frankie accidentally hits Brick with a beer bottle. When Brick brags to a school hall monitor about his mark, Frankie and Mike must answer to the police, leading to a social worker monitoring the family. Things only go from bad to worse when it turns out the social worker was a spurned lover of Mike's. Meanwhile, Bob wants to shoot a new commercial for the car dealership. | |||||||
8 | 8 | "Thanksgiving" | Michael Spiller | Vijal Patel | November 25, 2009 | 3X5707 | 6.00[8] |
Due to Frankie having to work, Mike not inviting his dad to Thanksgiving dinner, Axl trying to leave for snowboarding, and Brick wanting to visit a corn maze, Frankie cancels Thanksgiving. Mike and the kids try to pull Thanksgiving together for her. Sue has a boyfriend whom everyone but her thinks is gay. | |||||||
9 | 9 | "Siblings" | Barnet Kellman | Rob Ulin | December 2, 2009 | 3X5708 | 6.19[9] |
Frankie sees the Donohues' kids being nice together and becomes self conscious of her parenting skills. She tries to get them together for some "family fun" and other activities. Mike has to fire Aunt Edie as the quarry's accountant after she makes a huge mistake with the checks. | |||||||
10 | 10 | "Christmas" | Reginald Hudlin | Roy Brown | December 9, 2009 | 3X5709 | 7.69[10] |
To allow Frankie to focus on rehearsing for a solo in her church's midnight Christmas service, Mike takes over handling the chores of setting up the Heck family Christmas. Brick becomes depressed when he loses a Santa Pez Dispenser. | |||||||
11 | 11 | "The Jeans" | Jamie Babbit | Jana Hunter & Mitch Hunter | January 6, 2010 | 3X5710 | 7.55[11] |
Frankie buys Sue an expensive pair of jeans and Mike buys Axl a cheap car. Brick offers to take care of a relative's dog, and his parents, reluctantly, agree. | |||||||
12 | 12 | "The Neighbor" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Jana Hunter & Mitch Hunter | January 6, 2010 | 3X5711 | 8.17[11] |
Brooke Shields plays Rita Glossner, a cigarette-smoker with a hard-life who is considered "mean" or "an Amazon" by her neighbors. Her sons, the dreaded Glossner boys, are also deemed "bullies" and get in a fight with Sue. | |||||||
13 | 13 | "The Interview" | Ken Whittingham | Vijal Patel | January 13, 2010 | 3X5712 | 5.95[12] |
Mike finds dinosaur bones in the quarry. Unfortunately, this closes the quarry while the bones are analyzed, putting Mike temporarily out of work. When Mike tries to find another job, however, he discovers that the interview process has changed in the last twenty years. | |||||||
14 | 14 | "The Yelling" | Elliot Hegarty | Rob Ulin | February 3, 2010 | 3X5713 | 7.32[13] |
Mike must cooperate with Bob after he is offered to join him on his night shift; Frankie tries to yell less at the kids. | |||||||
15 | 15 | "Valentine's Day" | Chris Koch | Bruce Rasmussen | February 10, 2010 | 3X5714 | 7.83[14] |
Frankie and Mike try, but largely fail, to have a romantic dinner on Valentine's Day. Brick gets invited to his first sleepover by a member of his social-skills class a.k.a "The Odd Squad." Sue's friend Carly "blossoms" after getting her braces off and this gets the two invited to a "Boy-Girl Party." Axl has shifting Valentine's plans involving girls. | |||||||
16 | 16 | "The Bee" | Ken Whittingham | Eileen Heisler & DeAnn Heline | March 3, 2010 | 3X5717 | 6.02[15] |
Brick wins a local spelling bee and Mike is highly enthusiastic about his talent. Meanwhile Sue's birthday is forgotten so Frankie and Mike try to make it up to her. | |||||||
17 | 17 | "The Break-Up" | Wendey Stanzler | Vijal Patel | March 10, 2010 | 3X5715 | 6.32[16] |
Axl has a seemingly normal girlfriend who ultimately breaks up with him. Meanwhile, Sue and Brick watch a zombie movie and have nightmares. | |||||||
18 | 18 | "The Fun House" | Chris Koch | Roy Brown | March 24, 2010 | 3X5716 | 7.16[17] |
Frankie's boss hires a motivator named Abby (Amy Sedaris), and the family briefly has the "cool house" in the neighborhood. | |||||||
19 | 19 | "The Final Four" | Alex Reid | Rob Ulin | March 31, 2010 | 3X5719 | 6.23[18] |
Mike gets tickets to The Final Four, but a death in the family may change his plans. | |||||||
20 | 20 | "TV or Not TV" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Vijal Patel | April 14, 2010 | 3X5718 | 6.70[19] |
The family gives up cable TV to save money. Sue dreams of being a model and starts saving the money to do so. Brick experiences recess with "regular" kids, much to his dismay. | |||||||
21 | 21 | "Worry Duty" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Bruce Rasmussen | April 28, 2010 | 3X5720 | 7.10[20] |
Axl gets back together with Morgan, the girlfriend previously seen in The Break-up, whom Frankie now sees as annoying and controlling. Brick becomes "mother" to a baby chicken. | |||||||
22 | 22 | "Mother's Day" | Barnet Kellman | Mitch Hunter & Jana Hunter | May 5, 2010 | 3X5721 | 6.75[21] |
Frankie experiences a hectic and emotionally exhausting Mother's Day, which she unfavorably compares to Father's Day. Meanwhile, Sue is tormented because she stole an inspirational refrigerator magnet. Hoping to celebrate Mother's Day right, Frankie and Sue visit Frankie's mother (Marsha Mason), who shares Frankie's wish for a peaceful day to herself. | |||||||
23 | 23 | "Signals" | Jamie Babbit | DeAnn Heline & Eileen Heisler | May 12, 2010 | 3X5722 | 7.49[22] |
Mike and Brick both try to be more sociable and end up in awkward situations due to it. Sue is enamored with a youth pastor who calls himself Reverend TimTom. Axl hopes the barbecue will allow him to see attractive girls in bikinis. | |||||||
24 | 24 | "Average Rules" | Wendey Stanzler | DeAnn Heline & Eileen Heisler | May 19, 2010 | 3X5723 | 7.55[23] |
Parent-Teacher conferences cause Frankie to worry about the kids. In them she's told Axl is gifted but not applying himself, that her teachers still do not know who Sue is, and that Brick may have to repeat the second grade due to his failure to return over thirty books to the school librarian (Betty White). |
No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
U.S. viewers (million) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
25 | 1 | "Back to School" | Wendey Stanzler | DeAnn Heline & Eileen Heisler | September 22, 2010 | 3X6501 | 8.81[24] |
It’s total chaos in the Heck house on the first back-to-school morning. Guest Star: Doris Roberts. | |||||||
26 | 2 | "Homecoming" | Ken Whittingham | Rob Ulin | September 29, 2010 | 3X6502 | 8.35[25] |
Mike and Frankie must decide whether to attend Axl's football game or Sue's first cross-country meet; after raking the yard, Brick wants to set the leaves free in the forest. | |||||||
27 | 3 | "The Diaper Incident" | Wendey Stanzler | Vijal Patel | October 6, 2010 | 3X6503 | 8.03[26] |
While Sue is babysitting, Frankie goes to the store to get diapers, but the stock boy thinks they are for her, offending Frankie. And, if things couldn't get any worse, Frankie throws her back out while plugging in something, Brick learns that parents lie, and Axl defends Sue, who develops a crush on Axl's friend, Sean. | |||||||
28 | 4 | "The Quarry" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Alex Reid | October 13, 2010 | 3X6505 | 7.97[27] |
Axl gets suspended for skipping school, so Mike decides to teach him a lesson by making him work at the quarry. Meanwhile, Brick discovers a magic suitcase in the closet, and the school's budget endangers Sue's cross-country team of being cut. | |||||||
29 | 5 | "Foreign Exchange" | Paul Lazarus | Jana Hunter & Mitch Hunter | October 20, 2010 | 3X6506 | 8.54[28] |
Frankie agrees to host a Japanese foreign exchange student, despite her family's lack of enthusiasm. Seeing as how the boy does not show any interest in getting to know the family, Frankie plans a road-trip. | |||||||
30 | 6 | "Halloween" | Jamie Babbit | Roy Brown | October 27, 2010 | 3X6507 | 9.54[29] |
Frankie is excited over being invited to an adult neighborhood Halloween party. But will she be able to get Mike to dress up in a costume, or will he have his own idea of fun? Meanwhile, a melancholy Sue’s spirits are lifted when she discovers that Reverend TimTom is back in town and hosting a Halloween church Event; things don’t go quite as planned for Axl, his friends or their dates as they head out to an exclusive haunted house party; and Brick chooses a unique Halloween costume that is not easily recognized. | |||||||
31 | 7 | "A Birthday Story" | Ken Whittingham | Vijal Patel | November 3, 2010 | 3X6508 | 9.42[30] |
For his ninth birthday, Brick wants to hear the story of what happened when he was born, which puts the family in an awkward position. | |||||||
32 | 8 | "Errand Boy" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Tim Hobert | November 17, 2010 | 3X6509 | 9.19[31] |
Brick is tired of running around doing errands with Frankie and wants to start staying home alone. However, Frankie won't let him. Axel tries to grow a beard. Mike overhears one of Sue's friends talking about her behind her back. | |||||||
33 | 9 | "Thanksgiving II" | Ken Whittingham | Rob Ulin | November 24, 2010 | 3X6504 | 8.25[32] |
Mike invites his brother Rusty (Norm Macdonald) and his father for Thanksgiving. Frankie hears the men have a rather superficial conversation and encourages Mike with his brother and father talk about their feelings. Brick is very excited that Bob's librarian girlfriend Linda has an equally great love for books as he. Meanwhile, Sue bakes an apple pie with Frankie. | |||||||
34 | 10 | "A Simple Christmas" | Elliot Hegarty | Mitch Hunter & Jana Hunter | December 8, 2010 | 3X6510 | 8.68[33] |
Frankie's parents (Marsha Mason and Jerry Van Dyke) are in town for Christmas and the pair soon interfere in their daughter's plans for a quiet Christmas. Elsewhere, Axl builds Brick an igloo, and along with Sue, they set out to defend it from the Glossner boys. | |||||||
35 | 11 | "Taking Back the House" | Barnet Kellman | DeAnn Heline & Eileen Heisler | January 5, 2011 | 3X6511 | 9.31[34] |
Frankie and Mike attempt to regain control of the household by ignoring the kids' demands, and focusing on their own needs instead. | |||||||
36 | 12 | "The Big Chill" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Rob Ulin | January 12, 2011 | 3X6512 | 10.09[35] |
Mike becomes mad at Frankie for spending $200 on eye cream; meanwhile, Axl must take care of an infant doll for health class, forcing Brick to bunk with Sue, where they accidentally make a hole in Sue's bedroom wall, which leads to them making the hole bigger by trying to fix it. | |||||||
37 | 13 | "Super Sunday" | Paul Lazarus | Vijal Patel | January 19, 2011 | 3X6513 | 8.32[36] |
The Super Bowl is coming up, and the Heck family is planning to spend it together as a family. Sue and her ex-boyfriend enter a square-dancing competition, but Sue can't dance at all. Frankie's boss tricks Frankie into coming with him to a hospital appointment during the Super-Bowl. Mike encourages Brick to read about the NFL, but Brick goes crazy with all of his facts causing Mike's friends to leave the Heck's house during the Super-Bowl. | |||||||
38 | 14 | "Valentine's Day II" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Roy Brown | February 9, 2011 | 3X6514 | 8.84[37] |
Axl starts dating a girl his parents aren't exactly pleased with, while Sue finds the boy who kissed her during a Halloween hayride. Meanwhile, Brick has a crush on a girl from his class, but Mike tells her, humiliating his shy son. | |||||||
39 | 15 | "Friends, Lies and Videotape" | Alex Reid | Tim Hobert | February 16, 2011 | 3X6515 | 7.85[38] |
Frankie finds Brick a friend. Sue sneaks into an R-rated movie. Meanwhile Axl shoots footage of his sexy biology teacher. | |||||||
40 | 16 | "Hecks on a Plane" | Elliot Hegarty | Deann Heline & Eileen Heisler | February 23, 2011 | 3X6516 | 7.96[39] |
Sue wins tickets to New York and the plane ride turns into a comedy of errors. | |||||||
41 | 17 | "The Math Class" | Alex Reid | Jana Hunter & Mitch Hunter | March 2, 2011 | 3X6517 | 7.86[40] |
Ms. Rinsky (Doris Roberts) asks Frankie and Mike to attend a math class after Frankie questions her teaching skills. Meanwhile, Sue and Axl consider helping their aunt find a time capsule she buried. | |||||||
42 | 18 | "Spring Cleaning" | Barnet Kellman | Vijal Patel | March 23, 2011 | 3X6518 | 7.05[41] |
The Hecks spend spring break trying to clean out the house; Brick opens an information stand where he sells advice for a dollar. | |||||||
43 | 19 | "The Legacy" | Adam Davidson | Rob Ulin | April 13, 2011 | 3X6519 | 6.14[42] |
Mike keeps Axl from playing the final basketball game of the season. Sue and Brick have another run-in with the Glossner boys. | |||||||
44 | 20 | "Royal Wedding" | Ken Whittingham | Vijal Patel | April 20, 2011 | 3X6520 | 6.82[43] |
The Royal Wedding becomes Frankie's obsession - she borrows an enormous new TV in order to watch it as well as buying countless Royal Wedding paraphernalia. Meanwhile, the workers at Mike's quarry go on strike because he stops buying pretzels due to budget cuts, and Brick helps Sue audition for the school's news team. | |||||||
45 | 21 | "Mother's Day II" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Tim Hobert | May 4, 2011 | 3X6521 | 7.08[44] |
Mike and the kids present Frankie with the perfect Mother’s Day gift – a day to herself. But when her day off goes awry, Mike offers a do-over with the family, which comes with its own set of glitches. | |||||||
46 | 22 | "The Prom" | Ken Whittingham | Michael Saltzman | May 11, 2011 | 3X6522 | 7.25[45] |
After learning that Axl text-invited the wrong girl to prom and plans to solve the situation by standing her up, Frankie and Mike demand that he meet the girl face-to-face in a timely manner to gently break off the date – or face the music and take her to the big event. Meanwhile, Sue and her friend, Carly, try in earnest to fit in with the school’s “B” crowd during lunch, and after a successful first show, Brick begins to bore Frankie and Mike with his impromptu one-man plays. | |||||||
47 | 23 | "The Bridge" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Roy Brown | May 18, 2011 | 3X6523 | 7.68[46] |
Frankie and Mike attempt to cure Brick of his irrational fear of crossing over bridges. Meanwhile, Axl is pitted against nemesis Sean Donahue when a lifeguard position opens up at the local public pool, and Frankie is ready to pull her hair out when she tries to help an indecisive and emotional Sue pick out a two-piece bathing suit to wear on the pool’s opening day. | |||||||
48 | 24 | "Back to Summer" | Ken Whittingham | Deann Heline & Eileen Heisler | May 25, 2011 | 3X6524 | 7.33[47] |
With only three days left until summer vacation, Frankie is ecstatic that she’s made it through another school year with the family. But her happiness turns to panic when she and Mike learn that Brick needs to write a daily journal and turn it in to Ms. Rinsky or risk not moving up to the fourth grade; that Axl hasn’t fulfilled his required 30 hours of community service; and that, because of an error, Sue must prove that she never took a sick day from school in order to receive a perfect attendance award at her middle school graduation ceremony. |
No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
U.S. viewers (million) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
49/50 | 1/2 | "Forced Family Fun" | Lee Shallat Chemel (Part 1) Ken Whittingham (Part 2) |
Vijal Patel | September 21, 2011 | 3X6901/3X6902 | 9.74[48] |
With the summer winding down and school about to start, Frankie realizes that all of their neighbors have gone on family vacations over the summer, yet the Hecks have spent their entire summer in Orson, Indiana. So, Frankie asks Mike to go on a "quick and cheap" vacation with the kids, and the only thing that they can think of is camping. However, when the kids refuse to cooperate and enjoy the great outdoors, she is reminded of her ruined honeymoon camping experience, involving Nicky (Ray Romano), an acquaintance of Mike's from high school. | |||||||
51 | 3 | "Hecking Order" | Elliot Hegarty | Roy Brown | September 28, 2011 | 3X6903 | 8.68[49] |
When Mike learns that Brick is skipping gym class, he must talk to his son's fourth grade teacher (Chord Overstreet). Meanwhile, Axl persuades Sue, a new freshman, to schedule a swim class that leaves her with little time for traveling through the hallway to her next class -- thus keeping her from stopping at Axl's locker and embarrassing him. Elsewhere, Frankie is shocked that the kids feel that Mike is superior to her in the household. | |||||||
52 | 4 | "Major Changes" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Eileen Heisler & DeAnn Heline | October 5, 2011 | 3X6904 | 9.13[50] |
After being humiliated because she accidentally ate Axl's toenails, Frankie has a meltdown and decrees to the family that major changes need to take place in every aspect of the Heck household -- and she then packs up and abruptly leaves. Unbeknownst to her family, Frankie heads to her mother's (Marsha Mason) house for a little TLC and motherly advice to help her through her crisis. Meanwhile, Mike goes to get Frankie, Brick once again rambles about something he only cares about, this time a food catalog, Sue is worried about living in a torn household, and Axl freaks out when he discovers that Frankie walked out with his prized hat. | |||||||
53 | 5 | "The Test" | Elliot Hegarty | Tim Hobert | October 12, 2011 | 3X6905 | 8.87[51] |
Axl hasn't studied for his PSAT's, much to the dismay of Frankie, who fears for her son's future. Meanwhile, Sue tries out for cheerleading and awaits a phone call welcoming her to the squad. Elsewhere, Mike tries to toughen up Brick, when a meeting at school informs Frankie and Mike that Brick has been bullied. | |||||||
54 | 6 | "Bad Choices" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Jana Hunter & Mitch Hunter | October 19, 2011 | 3X6906 | 9.13[52] |
Frankie and Mike consider trading the burdens of home ownership for apartment living; Axl fakes sickness to get out of a test while trying to create a loophole that allows him to still attend an evening party; Sue and her ex-sort-of-boyfriend Brad put together a skit about the dangers of texting and drinking while driving; Brick quotes Shakespeare. | |||||||
55 | 7 | "Halloween II" | Elliot Hegarty | David S. Rosenthal | October 26, 2011 | 3X6907 | 10.16[53] |
When Sue wears an embarrassing costume to a Halloween party, she turns to a stunned Mike, who realizes that his daughter is growing up, for advice. Meanwhile, Frankie takes Brick's social skills group trick-or-treating, and decides to prove a point to the youngsters, after having several run-ins with rude people. Elsewhere, Axl and his friends devise a plan to cash-in on trick-or-treating, but are sidetracked when they attempt to help two children regain their stolen treats. | |||||||
56 | 8 | "Heck's Best Thing" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Vijal Patel | November 2, 2011 | 3X6908 | 9.41[54] |
Frankie and Mike worry that Axl will jeopardize his chances of winning a college scholarship. When he becomes the perfect gentleman for the recruiter's visit but goes back to normal when he leaves, Mike and Frankie realize they only bring out their best behavior for other people and not their family. Meanwhile, Sue and Brick text with a phone belonging to their Aunt Edie. Things get out of hand quickly as usual. | |||||||
57 | 9 | "The Play" | Eyal Gordin | Story by: Roy Brown & Jana Hunter & Mitch Hunter Teleplay by: Roy Brown |
November 16, 2011 | 9.19[55] | |
Frankie and Sue are cast in a community production of "The Wizard of Oz." However, their excitement derails, when the director asks Frankie to tell Sue she is off the play because of her "Crazy Eyes". After a mother-daughter conversation, Sue believes that they both will be leaving the play, forcing Frankie to sneak out of the house for rehearsals. Meanwhile, Brick asks his Uncle Rusty (Norm Macdonald) to attend "Special Friends Day" at school, but a no-show from his uncle leads to lunch, bowling, and a driving lesson for the youngster. Also, Axl is punished for driving blindfolded on a dare from his buddies and spends his time flicking pennies. | |||||||
58 | 10 | "Thanksgiving III" | Elliot Hegarty | Tim Hobert | November 23, 2011 | 9.08[56] | |
Frankie's parents, Pat (Marsha Mason) and Tag (Jerry Van Dyke), invite the Hecks to spend Thanksgiving at their house. However, the festivities begin to fall apart quickly when Frankie's sister, Janet (Molly Shannon), and her family also show up. Meanwhile, Mike tries to offer some advice to Axl on how to pick up girls. Elsewhere, Brick attempts to prove his innocence when he is accused of damaging his cousin's expensive toy, and an excited Sue joins Frankie, Pat and Janet in their gossip sessions. | |||||||
59 | 11 | "A Christmas Gift" | Blake Evans | Jana Hunter & Mitch Hunter | December 7, 2011 | 8.72[57] | |
While Mike tries to keep his Christmas gift of a new dishwasher a secret from Frankie, his wife plans a Christmas Eve party and wants him to install a new dishwasher prior to the festivities. Meanwhile, Sue asks Reverend TimTom to explain the deeper meaning of Christmas to Brick, who questions the holiday after reading the Bible. Elsewhere, Bob's attempts to act cool annoy Axl, while they work together on a Christmas tree lot. | |||||||
60 | 12 | "Year of the Hecks"[58] | Elliot Hegarty | David S. Rosenthal | January 4, 2012 | ||
Frankie randomly assigns New Year's resolutions to each family member, but chaos ensues, when everyone tries to live up to her expectations. | |||||||
61 | 13 | "The Map"[59] | Lee Shallat Chemel | DeAnn Heline & Eileen Heisler | January 11, 2012 | ||
After Aunt Ginny's funeral, Frankie realizes the need to celebrate more milestones in her family's lives. Elsewhere, Axl eats Brick's school project, and a delighted Sue discovers that a boy at school likes her. | |||||||
62 | 14 | "Hecking It Up"[60] | Blake Evans | Vijal Patel | January 18, 2012 | ||
With the Donahues away, the Hecks look after their house, resulting in a fascination with their car. Elsewhere, Sue seizes the opportunity to tell her boyfriend how she feels about him. |