The Middle (season 2)

The Middle (season 2)

Region 1 DVD cover
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 24
Broadcast
Original channel ABC
Original run September 22, 2010 – May 25, 2011
Home video release

DVD release

Region 1 September 20, 2011[1]
Region 2 November 5, 2012[2]
Region 4 August 29, 2012[3]

The second season of the television comedy series The Middle aired between September 22, 2010 and May 25, 2011, on ABC in the United States. It was produced by Blackie and Blondie Productions and Warner Bros. Television with series creators DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler as executive producers.

The show features Frances "Frankie" Heck (Patricia Heaton), a working-class, Midwestern woman married to Mike Heck (Neil Flynn) who resides in the small fictional town of Orson, Indiana. They are the parents of three children, Axl (Charlie McDermott), Sue (Eden Sher), and Brick (Atticus Shaffer).

Cast

Main cast

Recurring cast

Guest cast

Episodes

No. in
series		 No. in
season		 Title Directed by Written by Original air date Production
code		 U.S. viewers
(million)
251"Back to School"Wendey StanzlerDeAnn Heline & Eileen HeislerSeptember 22, 20103X65018.81[4]
It's a day full of chaos as the Hecks attend their first day of the new school year.
262"Homecoming"Ken WhittinghamRob UlinSeptember 29, 20103X65028.35[5]
When she discovers that Sue's first cross-country meet is the same day as the homecoming game, Frankie's dream of escorting Axl across the field is put in jeopardy.
273"The Diaper Incident"Wendey StanzlerVijal PatelOctober 6, 20103X65038.03[6]
During a mission to buy Sue diapers for the baby she is babysitting, a clerk makes the assumption that Frankie is the one who needs diapers, depressing Frankie.
284"The Quarry"Lee Shallat ChemelAlex ReidOctober 13, 20103X65057.97[7]
When Axl is suspended for skipping school, Mike gets him a job at the quarry.
295"Foreign Exchange"Paul LazarusJana Hunter & Mitch HunterOctober 20, 20103X65068.54[8]
Frankie insists that the family host a foreign exchange student from Japan. When the serious, emotionless student does not take an interest in the family, Frankie plans a road trip for them, only for their car to break down.
306"Halloween"Jamie BabbitRoy BrownOctober 27, 20103X65079.54[9]
Frankie tries to persuade Mike to attend a neighborhood Halloween party. Meanwhile, Sue attends a church-sponsored Halloween event, Brick's costume is unrecognizable by most adults, and Axl and his friends try to make their way to a haunted house, but their car breaks down en route.
317"A Birthday Story"Ken WhittinghamVijal PatelNovember 3, 20103X65089.42[10]
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.
328"Errand Boy"Lee Shallat ChemelTim HobertNovember 17, 20103X65099.19[11]
Brick is tired of running around doing errands with Frankie, and wants to start staying home alone. However, Frankie won't let him. Axl tries to grow a beard. Mike overhears one of Sue's friends talking about her behind her back.
339"Thanksgiving II"Ken WhittinghamRob UlinNovember 24, 20103X65048.25[12]
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 to 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.
3410"A Simple Christmas"Elliot HegartyMitch Hunter & Jana HunterDecember 8, 20103X65108.68[13]
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. Frankie's Dad is constantly following Mike and annoying. Also, Frankie's mom keeps interfering and making Frankie angry. Elsewhere, Axl builds Brick an igloo, and along with Sue, they set out to defend it from the Glossner boys.
3511"Taking Back the House"Barnet KellmanDeAnn Heline & Eileen HeislerJanuary 5, 20113X65119.31[14]
Frankie and Mike attempt to regain complete control of the household by ignoring the kids' demands for rides, particular foods, and services, and focusing on their own needs, including what to watch on TV.
3612"The Big Chill"Lee Shallat ChemelRob UlinJanuary 12, 20113X651210.09[15]
Mike becomes mad at Frankie for accidentally 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.
3713"Super Sunday"Paul LazarusVijal PatelJanuary 19, 20113X65138.32[16]
The Super Bowl is coming up, and the Heck family is planning to spend it together as a family. Sue and Brad 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 reciting all of his facts, causing Mike's friends to leave the Heck's house during the Super-Bowl.
3814"Valentine's Day II"Lee Shallat ChemelRoy BrownFebruary 9, 20113X65158.84[17]
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.
3915"Friends, Lies and Videotape"Alex ReidTim HobertFebruary 16, 20113X65147.85[18]
Frankie finds Brick a friend. Sue sneaks into an R-rated movie. Meanwhile Axl shoots footage of his sexy biology teacher.
4016"Hecks on a Plane"Elliot HegartyDeAnn Heline & Eileen HeislerFebruary 23, 20113X65167.96[19]
Sue wins tickets to New York and the plane ride turns into a comedy of errors.
4117"The Math Class"Alex ReidJana Hunter & Mitch HunterMarch 2, 20113X65177.86[20]
Ms. Rinsky (Doris Roberts) asks Frankie and Mike to attend a math class after Frankie criticizes her teaching skills after Brick receives a D on a math test. Meanwhile, Sue and Axl consider helping their aunt find a time capsule she buried.
4218"Spring Cleaning"Barnet KellmanVijal PatelMarch 23, 20113X65187.05[21]
The Hecks spend spring break trying to clean out the house; Frankie finds an old, unflattering list Mike had written about her when they were dating; Brick opens an information stand where he sells advice for a dollar; Axl and Sue are caught dropping off items outside the thrift store after closing hours.
4319"The Legacy"Adam DavidsonRob UlinApril 13, 20113X65196.14[22]
Frustrated by Axl's sloppiness, Mike keeps him from playing the final basketball game of the season, but then relents at the last minute. Sue wins a trophy for "punctuality". She and Brick have another run-in with the Glossner boys, and Brick gets locked in the Glossner's garage.
4420"Royal Wedding"Ken WhittinghamVijal PatelApril 20, 20113X65206.82[23]
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.
4521"Mother's Day II"Lee Shallat ChemelTim HobertMay 4, 20113X65217.08[24]
Mike and the kids present Frankie with the perfect Mother’s Day gift – a day to herself. While the rest of them enjoy rural festivals in another County, Frankie somehow gets none of the things done she had planned to at home. Mike offers to repeat the trip with her and the family the next weekend, but when they arrive a second time, many of the activities have closed.
4622"The Prom"Ken WhittinghamMichael SaltzmanMay 11, 20113X65227.25[25]
After learning that Axl accidentally 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 repeated, impromptu one-man plays in the living room.
4723"The Bridge"Lee Shallat ChemelRoy BrownMay 18, 20113X65237.68[26]
Frankie and Mike attempt to cure Brick of his irrational fear of crossing over bridges. Meanwhile, Axl is pitted against friend 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 shop and pick out a two-piece bathing suit to wear on the pool’s opening day.
4824"Back to Summer"Ken WhittinghamDeAnn Heline & Eileen HeislerMay 25, 20113X65247.33[27]
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 at the last moment to write a daily journal and turn it in to Ms. Rinsky (Doris Roberts) 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.

References

  1. ↑ Lambert, David (September 14, 2011). "The Middle - Official Warner Press Release for 'The Complete 2nd Season' DVD". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  2. ↑ "The Middle - Season 2 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Middle, The: Season 2". EzyDVD. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  4. ↑ Seidman, Robert (September 23, 2010). "Wednesday Finals: ‘The Middle,’ ‘Modern Family,’ ‘Cougar Town,’ ‘Undercovers’ All See Small Gains". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  5. ↑ Gorman, Bill (September 30, 2010). "Wednesday Finals: Better With You, The Middle, Modern Family, Survivor, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: LA Adjusted Up; Cougar Town, Whole Truth Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  6. ↑ Seidman, Robert (October 7, 2010). "Wednesday Finals: ‘Survivor,’ ‘The Middle,’ ‘Modern Family,’ ‘SVU,’ ‘The Defenders’ Up; ‘Cougar Town,’ ‘The Whole Truth’ Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  7. ↑ Gorman, Bill (October 14, 2010). "Wednesday Finals: Survivor, Middle, Modern Family, L&O:SVU, Top Model Adjusted Up; 20/20, Undercovers Down". TV By The Numbers. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  8. ↑ Seidman, Robert (October 21, 2010). "Wednesday Finals: Survivor, Buster Posey (NLCS), Criminal Minds The Defenders, Law & Order: SVU Adjusted Up; The Whole Truth Down". TV By The Numbers. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
  9. ↑ Gorman, Bill (October 28, 2010). "Wednesday Finals: Survivor: Nicaragua, The Middle Adjusted Up; The Whole Truth Down". TV By The Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  10. ↑ Seidman, Robert (November 4, 2010). "Wednesday Finals: Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU Adjusted Up". TV By The Numbers. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  11. ↑ Seidman, Robert (November 18, 2010). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Modern Family', 'Criminal Minds' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  12. ↑ Gorman, Bill (November 29, 2010). "Wednesday Final Ratings: The Middle, Hell's Kitchen Adjusted Up; Cougar Town Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  13. ↑ Gorman, Bill (December 9, 2010). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Modern Family,' 'The Sing Off' Adjusted Up; 'The Middle' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
  14. ↑ Gorman, Bill (January 6, 2011). "Wednesday Final Ratings: ‘Cougar Town’ Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  15. ↑ Seidman, Robert (January 13, 2010). "Wednesday Final Ratings: ‘The Middle’ Adjusted Down; ‘Off The Map’ Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  16. ↑ Gorman, Bill (January 20, 2011). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'The Middle,' 'Better With You,' 'Cougar Town' Adjusted Down; 'Criminal Minds' Adjusted Up". Tv by the Numbers. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  17. ↑ Seidman, Robert (February 10, 2011). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Blue Bloods,' 'Human Target' Adjusted Down, 'Modern Family,' 'Better with You' Up". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  18. ↑ Gorman, Bill (February 17, 2011). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  19. ↑ Seidman, Robert (February 24, 2011). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Mr. Sunshine,' 'Survivor,' 'Criminal Minds,' 'CM: Suspect Behavior' All Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  20. ↑ Gorman, Bill (March 3, 2011). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol' Adjusted Up; 'Better With You' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  21. ↑ Seidman, Robert (March 24, 2011). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol,' 'Modern Family,' 'Survivor,' 'ANTM' Adjusted Up; 'Mr. Sunshine' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  22. ↑ Gorman, Bill (April 14, 2011). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol,' 'Modern Family,' 'Happy Endings,' 'Survivor,' 'Criminal Minds,' 'Suspect Behavior' Adjusted Up; 'Breaking In,' 'Minute,' 'Shedding' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  23. ↑ Seidman, Robert (April 21, 2011). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'The Middle,' 'Modern Family,' 'American Idol,' 'Survivor' Adjusted Up; 'Cougar Town' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  24. ↑ Seidman, Robert (May 5, 2011). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol,' 'Survivor,' 'Modern Family,' 'Law & Order: SVU' Adjusted Up; 'Breaking In' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  25. ↑ Gorman, Bill (May 12, 2011). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol,' 'The Middle' 'Better With You,' 'Modern Family,' 'Survivor' Adjusted Up; 'Breaking In,' 'Cougar Town' Adj. Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  26. ↑ Seidman, Robert (May 19, 2011). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol,' 'Modern Family,' 'Law & Order: SVU' Adjusted Up; 'Happy Endings' Adj. Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  27. ↑ Gorman, Bill (May 26, 2011). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol,' 'Modern Family' Adjusted Up; 'Law & Order: LA,' 'Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 26, 2011.