The Middle (2009)
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Lee Shallat Chemel — Director
Episodes 73
The Cheerleader
Trying to save her job, Frankie organizes a publicity stunt by filling a car with jelly beans. Meanwhile, Sue fails to make the swim team and realizes that she needs glasses and Brick starts reading his mother's romance novels when he can't check books out of the library.
Read MoreThe Trip
Sue sells sausage and cheese samples for the school. All her efforts go in vain as the school fails to see this. Frankie demands her daughter fights for her rights. Meanwhile, Brick discovers love with his current girlfriend a little stressful as she bosses him about.
Read MoreThe Neighbor
When Sue has a run-in with her sons, Frankie fears that a confrontation with the trasy neighbor may be at hand. Meanwhile, Axl attempts to bribe Brick after he's asked to teach his little brother how to kick a ball for a gym requirement. However, Brick is the one turning the tables and it ends up bribing him for another favor.
Read MoreTV or Not TV
After failing to pay the electric bill on time, the electric company shuts off the Heck's power. This leads Frankie and Mike to cut down on their unnecessary expenses, including their cable TV. The kids take up other activities to fill the void, but Frankie and Mike have a hard time figuring out what to do. Meanwhile, Brick and his other socially-challenged friends have to go outside for recess when the school library shuts down.
Read MoreWorry Duty
Frankie is worried that Axl's going to get his heart crushed again when his on-again/off-again girlfriend, Morgan (Alexa Vega, "Spy Kids," "Ruby & the Rockits"), re-enters his life and tries to mold him into the man she wants him to be. Meanwhile Brick learns what it means to be a mother hen when he has to watch over a baby chick for a school science project.
Read MoreThe Quarry
When Axl is suspended for skipping school, Mike decides it's time to teach his son a lesson about life and makes him go to work with him at the quarry. But Mike's master plan backfires when Axl likes the job so much that he wants to quit school and lead the life of a quarryman. Meanwhile, Frankie is devastated when she fears that she accidentally prayed away Sue's cross-country team after it's cut by the school; and while practicing a magic trick, Brick makes the main TV remote disappear - and can't figure out how to make it reappear.
Read MoreErrand Boy
Brick pleads with Frankie to leave him home alone when she runs errands.
Read MoreThe Big Chill
Mike freezes Frankie out because he can't fathom how she inadvertently paid $200 for a small bottle of eye cream that she thought was priced at $20.
Meanwhile, Axl's fathering techniques are put to the test when he has to take care of a mechanical infant doll for health class, and Sue and Brick desperately search for a way to fix a hole that they caused in Sue's bedroom wall.
Read MoreValentine's Day II
Axl has a new girlfriend he wants to impress on Valentine's Day, while Brick has a crush on a fellow student and Mike accidentally lets the news slip out, humiliating his shy son. Elsewhere, Sue searches for a boy she kissed on a Halloween hayride.
Read MoreMother's Day II
Things don't go as planned when Mike and the kids give Frankie a day without the family as a Mother's Day gift.
Read MoreThe Bridge
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.
Read MoreForced Family Fun (1)
Frankie insists that the family go on vacation together before school starts; Mike and Frankie remember their honeymoon, which was ruined by Nicky (Ray Romano), a guy Mike knew in high school.
Read MoreMajor Changes
Frankie has a meltdown and forces the family to make significant changes to their lifestyle. But just as she puts these changes into effect, she leaves them to spend a some time relaxing with her mother.
Read MoreBad Choices
As the Heck home begins to literally fall apart, Frankie and Mike consider leaving homeownership behind and moving the family to an apartment. Meanwhile, Axl tries to fake Frankie out by pretending that he's sick in order to get out of taking a school test - and must later convince her that he's well enough to attend a party that evening; Sue and her ex-sort-of-boyfriend, Brad, volunteer to prepare a school skit about showing the dangers of texting and drinking while driving; and Brick tries to offer a little bit of levity by spouting off Shakespearian quotes.
Read MoreHeck's Best Thing
Frankie and Mike are convinced that slacker son Axl will blow his interview with a football scout, which could earn him a scholarship to college. Meanwhile, Sue and Brick begin a texting marathon - and rack up some serious charges - when they discover that Aunt Edie accidentally gave them her cell phone; and Frankie tries to be completely attentive to the family's needs when she realizes that she's more considerate to outsiders than her own kin.
Read MoreValentine's Day III
Frankie and Mike decide to try a fresh approach to Valentine's Day by having dinner out with friends. But a clueless Mike angers Frankie by refusing to present her with a simple romantic gesture. Meanwhile, Axl can't think of a life-changing moment that's occurred in his life when he's assigned to write a school paper on the subject, Brick is tasked with writing a report on love, and a hapless Sue doesn't understand why her new boyfriend has suddenly turned into a bad kisser.
Read MoreThe Sit Down
The kids have a meeting with Frankie and Mike about their parenting techniques, and they are thrown for a loop, when their parents attempt to change.
Read MoreThe Paper Route
Brick takes a job delivering newspapers, in order to save up enough money to buy night vision goggles. Meanwhile, Axl tries to convince Sue that a long-distance relationship with Matt won't work. Elsewhere, Frankie discovers that Mike has been hoarding batteries.
Read MoreThe Guidance Counselor
Sue finds a kindred spirit in her awkward school guidance counselor, Jane Marsh (Whoopi Goldberg), who inspires her to reinvent herself. Meanwhile, Frankie is ecstatic when she and Mike buy a much needed new bed but is gobsmacked when her stubborn husband insists on assembling it himself; and Brick attempts to call the President to outlaw the Presidential Fitness Challenge, which would force him to accomplish some strenuous physical exercises at school.
Read MoreThe Telling
Frankie gets Brick to snitch on his siblings, but Mike disapproves of the tattling. Meanwhile, Sue threatens to get Axl in trouble if he doesn't obey her commands; and Mike reluctantly goes to Brick's school for Parent Day.
Read MoreLast Whiff of Summer (1)
Mike accidentally reveals that Axl is his favorite child; Brick tries to grow a giant tomato; Sue encourages her father to participate in a variety of activities with her.
Read MoreLast Whiff of Summer (2)
Mike accidentally reveals that Axl is his favorite child; Brick tries to grow a giant tomato; Sue encourages her father to participate in a variety of activities with her.
Read MoreWheel of Pain
When Axl, Sue and Brick accidentally break the family room window, they decide to blame the Glossner children -- the bad seeds of the neighborhood; Frankie tries to land a prime dental rotation spot.
Read MoreThe Bachelor
Disappointed with the finale of "The Bachelor," Frankie mopes for days; when Sue joins the school's tennis team, Mike tries to toughen her up by complimenting her opponents during matches; Cassidy and Axl consider the future of their relationship.
Read MoreFrom Orson with Love
Frankie tries to make Sue appear more popular on Facebook; Frankie's dad (Jerry Van Dyke) makes Mike listen to long-winded life stories; Brick and Axl try to create a viral video.
Read MoreThe Drop Off
Frankie becomes emotional as the Hecks send Axl off to college, Sue waits for an important call from school, and Brick gets a new cell phone.
Read MoreThe Potato
Axl is fed up with his college roommate, Sue gets a job so that she can get a car, and Frankie and Mike get bad news about Brick from his middle school principal.
Read MoreHalloween IV: The Ghost Story
Sue holds a seance with her friends, the football team stops Axl from attending the Halloween party in his room, and the family tries to give Brick advice about girls.
Read MoreThanksgiving V
Axl looks for the right time to share news about his college classes; Frankie's dad reveals a gambling loss; Sue hides a secret; Brick determines to have lime-green Jell-O salad on Thanksgiving.
Read MoreThe Christmas Tree
Axl wants to spend time with his friends when he comes home for Christmas. Sue's allergies threaten to ruin her holiday and Brick's lie is uncovered.
Read MoreWar of the Hecks
Sue makes a discovery that leads to an ultimate prank battle with Axl; Brick tries to read a recommended biography on Debbie Reynolds.
Read MoreHungry Games
Reverend Deveaux interferes with the Hecks' plan to use their coupon for an all-you-can-eat buffet after church.
Read MoreThe Wind Chimes
Frankie begs Rita Glossner to take down her noisy wind chimes; Axl and Hutch try to figure out a way to retrieve a couch they found on the side of the road; Brick tries to come up with a new pretzel snack idea; Sue announces she is back with Darrin.
Read MoreThe Optimist
Sue frantically tries to earn a college scholarship for when she graduates high school in two years; Frankie hopes to correct a mistake at work without her boss finding out; Brick demands a formal apology from Mike after a misunderstanding.
Read MoreOffice Hours
Frankie limits the hours during which the kids can voice their needs; Mike watches to make sure Darrin doesn't take advantage of Sue; Brick invites new friends over.
Read MoreThe Wonderful World of Hecks
A series of unfortunate events threaten to spoil the trip to Walt Disney World.
Read MoreUnbraceable You
Sue's senior year, the "Summer of Sue," begins with the premature removal of her braces. Meanwhile, Axl finally beats Mike in basketball and Brick tries to find the perfect backpack for school.
Read MoreHalloween V
Brick invites a girl over to the house for Halloween, Sue tries to raise money for college with a pumpkin patch screening of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," and Axl accidentally gets locked in the library.
Read MoreThanksgiving VI
Thanksgiving for the Hecks at a local restaurant buffet doesn't go well when Sue feels that Mike doesn't like her boyfriend, Darrin, and Brick invites his quirky girlfriend, Cindy.
Read MoreThe Christmas Wall
Frankie loses her Christmas spirit, Mike unsuccessfully tries to exchange the new family Christmas tree, and a fight over Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer threatens to break up BossCo.
Read MoreHecks on a Train
Upon learning that Aunt Edie has passed away, the Hecks board a train to South Dakota to take her to her final resting place.
Read MoreValentine’s Day VI
Valentine's Day aims its sights on the Heck kids when a nervous Brick finds out that his quirky girlfriend Cindy wants him to kiss her on the special day, Darrin asks Frankie and Mike to help out with an exciting scavenger hunt he's putting together for Sue, and Axl begins to question his girlfriend Devin's request that he not give her anything for what she considers to be a lame tradition.
Read MoreSteaming Pile of Guilt
Frankie realizes that she and the family forgot to celebrate Brick's 13th birthday.
Read MoreMother's Day Reservations
Mike's incompetence threatens to ruin Frankie's Mother's Day. Mike tells Axl, Sue, and Brick to put some effort into a gift for Frankie. Frankie asks the kids how they would differ from her as parents.
Read MoreNot Your Brother's Drop Off
Sue's excitement about moving into the dorm to start college is tempered when she accidentally burns her hair and must cut it short. Axl isn't interested in helping with Sue's move. Frankie discovers she's not sad about Sue moving out of the house while Mike overwhelms Sue with financial and safety guidelines. Brick is clueless when Cindy tells him she wants to take their relationship to the next level.
Read MoreLand of the Lost
Frankie asks Reverend TimTom to find out why Mike is being distant; and Sue invites Brick to visit her at college, but she loses him after running into the handsome Abercrombie guy. Meanwhile, Axl and Hutch complain to the city about an ant infestation.
Read MoreHomecoming II: The Tailgate
At the annual homecoming tailgate, Frankie worries that her mother will ruin things, Sue takes a familiar role, Axl is sick as a dog, and Mike asks Brick to help him win the cornhole tournament.
Read MoreThe Convention
Frankie invites Mike to join her on a trip to Des Moines, Iowa for a convention about her dentist office's transition to a new owner; and Axl informs a disapproving Sue that he's moving into her dorm room. Meanwhile, Mike's dad agrees to watch Brick while the parents are out of town.
Read MoreFloating 50
Mike enlists Axl and Brick's help to throw a surprise party for Frankie's 50th birthday. Meanwhile, Sue is mocked after posting a flyer for her missing sock in the dorm laundry room; and Coach Babbitt is determined to turn Brick into an athlete after he turns in a project about how he can't play sports.
Read MoreHecks at a Movie
While the Hecks take Brick to his first movie in a theater, Mike and Frankie fight over a conversation with friends, Sue runs into an old crush who has some surprising news, and Axl discovers that he shared an awkward moment with a friend.
Read MoreThe Wisdom Teeth
Frankie's excited to take care of Sue and Axl after they both have their wisdom teeth removed; and Brick lays down new house rules for his siblings while they're back home. Meanwhile, Mike learns the diaper business was Rusty's ex-wife's idea and becomes furious when he finds out she may be entitled to all their profits.
Read MoreSurvey Says…
Mike is upset that Axl is considering quitting football and losing his scholarship, Frankie does not like Sue's new activist boyfriend, and Brick struggles with the responsibilities of being an online product reviewer.
Read MoreNot Mother's Day
Frankie tells the family that they don't need to do anything special for her this Mother's Day, but she decides to have everyone pull a family member's name from a hat and do a nice deed for that person after a kind stranger asks her to pay it forward.
Read MoreLook Who's Not Talking
Frankie is upset that Axl refuses to answer her calls or texts after she unintentionally admits her true feelings about his girlfriend April. Brick forms a tick in the form of a phrase that causes him trouble; Brad surprises Sue.
Read MoreVive La Hecks
Axl returns home from his summer trip to Europe, sporting a man-bun and embracing a new, chill European outlook on life. Mike just wants him to clean up and look for a job, but Frankie thinks Axl will do this on his own and asks Mike to give him a little breathing room. Meanwhile, because Sue worked the entire summer at Spudsy’s and missed out on having any fun, she decides to cram in a whole summer of fun in two days before going back to college; Brick makes the decision to break up with Cindy because he doesn’t want to be tied down in a relationship when he’s about to embark on the revelry of his “big sophomore year”; and Frankie desperately tries to come up with an item for a time capsule that’s being buried under the Orson cow that will make the town remember the Hecks when it’s opened in 100 years.
Read MoreMeet the Parents
Frankie is worried about meeting Lexie's rich parents. Brick discovers that he can't get arrested when he participates in the school's Sophomore Slammer fundraiser.
Read MoreRole of a Lifetime
Axl tries to invent a new beverage; Mike asks Sue to put together a romantic evening for his and Frankie's 25th wedding anniversary; Sue declares she won't be the person who does everything expected of her without complaint.
Read MoreThe Christmas Miracle
Frankie and Sue are devastated when Axl informs them that he's not going to church; Mike goes to war with the Glossner kids after they keep defacing his giant inflatable snowman; Brick attempts to wrap his first present.
Read MoreNew Year’s Revelations
Sue admits to Frankie that she kissed Sean Donahue at the Christmas party; Mike forces Axl and Brick to take a drive with him and Mike's dad.
Read MoreGuess Who's Coming to Frozen Dinner
Mike's wayward brother, Rusty, comes to town and presents Sue with an extravagant gift, which Mike thinks is stolen goods. Meanwhile, with Sue now older and living the college life, Mike feels like he's not as close to her as he used to be and tries to figure out a way to reconnect; Axl blows the money from his first paycheck on a big screen TV and blames his spending spree on years of learning from Frankie's lack of financial wisdom; and Brick is stumped, but delighted to discover mysterious, unmarked gifts being left at the front door of the house.
Read MoreToasted
Things don't go as smoothly as planned for the Hecks when Frankie helps Sue celebrate her 21st birthday by taking her to a bar close to the college, Mike begrudgingly accompanies Brick to a "Planet Nowhere" convention, and Axl and Hutch head to Ohio in the Winnebago to attend and make a toast at ex-college roomie Kenny's wedding.
Read MoreGreat Heckspectations
Frankie has to force Brick into asking Cindy to the high school prom but worries that his quirkiness could spoil the happy event; Lexie talks a clueless Axl into giving Sue a belated 21st birthday present; and Mike becomes frustrated over how to get used to a new TV remote.
Read MoreA Heck of a Ride: Part One
After nine hilarious and heartfelt seasons, a Heck leaves the nest as the family takes a road trip to Denver, where Axl will start his new job – and new life away from home.
Read MoreA Heck of a Ride: Part Two
The series concludes as the family escorts Axl to Colorado. Meanwhile the long affair of the snow globe and its relation to Sean and Sue's relationship comes to a head.
Read More