The Middle Site

Episode 3.23 Ratings May 17 2012

Last night's episode of The Middle, the penultimate episode of the current season, was largely flat on last week's ratings. With other networks' programming largely already wrapped for the season, The Middle faced less competition and finished a solid second in the ratings.

"The Telling" was watched by 6.53 million people, down slightly from last week's 6.6m audience. In the important adults 18-49 demographic, the show matched last week's rating of 1.9/6. The Middle finished second in the ratings by all key measures.

ABC renews 'The Middle' for fourth season May 10 2012

ABC has renewed The Middle for a fourth season, the network revealed today just days before its upfront presentation in New York. The network had so far not issued any early renewals, keeping it cards close to its heart as the end of the current season approaches.

ABC also picked-up Wednesday sitcom stablemates Modern Family and Suburgatory, along with dramas Grey's Anatomy, Castle and Once Upon a Time.

The Middle had been expected to be renewed as a strong player in ABC's popular Wednesday night comedy block. Happy Endings is the only Wednesday sitcom not to be renewed today, but another season is expected to be announced at some point. Tim Allen's Last Man Standing is also likely to be renewed. Dramas Scandal, GCB, Missing and Body of Proof could go either way, while The River is almost certain to be cancelled.

Episode 3.22 Ratings May 10 2012

Last night's episode of The Middle finished third place in the ratings, falling to a season low in the key adults 18-49 demo.

"The Clover" was watched by 6.60 million people, down slightly from last weeks' 6.63m audience. In the adults 18-49 demographic, The Middle slipped a tenth of a rating point to a 1.9/6 rating, down from 2/7 last week. The Middle finished third in the ratings by all key rankings.

ABC Announces Third Season Finale May 7 2012

ABC has announced the third season finale of The Middle, which will air Wednesday, May 23. Norm Macdonald, John Cullum and Chris Kattan reprise their roles as Rusty, Big Mike and Bob in the episode.

"The Wedding" - Frankie and Mike are surprised to receive an invitation to Mike's brother Rusty's (Norm Macdonald) fast approaching wedding. But their surprise turns to panic when they discover that he has listed the Heck house as the site of the ceremony. Meanwhile, Axl and his friends decide to become their own bosses and set out to form their own company to garner summer jobs, and Brick is upset with Mike when he finally accepts an invitation to a fellow student's party but is not allowed to go because it falls on the same day as The Wedding, on the Season Finale of "The Middle," WEDNESDAY, MAY 23 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

You can find more information about the episode in our Episode Guide. With the current season now coming to an end, we obviously look to the future of the show. Right now The Middle has not been officially renewed for a fourth season, but the show is widely expected to return. ABC has held back from renewing any of its shows so far, so we may have to wait until their upfront presentation on Tuesday, May 15 before we know for definite.

Episode 3.21 Ratings May 3 2012

Last night's episode of The Middle, featuring guest star Whoopi Goldberg, finished a third in the ratings and fell to a season low in the adults 18-49 demographic.

"The Guidance Counselor" was watched by 6.63 million people, down by 403,000 people from the last original episode. In the important adults 18-49 demo, The Middle fell to a season low with a 2.0/7, down from 2.1/7 on April 11. The Middle finished third in the ratings by all key indicators.

ABC Announces Episode 3.23 May 1 2012

ABC has announced the penultimate episode of The Middle's current season, which will air Wednesday, May 16. Chris Kattan and Brian Doyle-Murray return as Bob Weaver and Mr. Ehlert, respectively, in the episode.

"The Telling" - It seems like Frankie truly has eyes in the back of her head when she busts both Sue and Axl for making some bad choices that they thought no one would ever find out about. But when it turns out that she's using Brick to be her snitch, Mike is completely against it. Meanwhile, Axl's weekend getaway to the lake is in peril when Sue discovers him sneaking into the house in the middle of the night and coerces him into doing whatever she commands -- otherwise she will tattle on him; and when Frankie is stuck at work, Mike is forced to attend Parent Day at Brick's school, on "The Middle," WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

The Middle has not yet been renewed for a fourth season, but the show is widely expected to return next year. ABC so far seems reticent to announce any early renewals, so we might not get the official word until ABC's upfront presentation on Tuesday, May 15.

ABC Announces Episode 3.22 April 23 2012

ABC has announced the May 9 episode of The Middle. John Cullum reprises his role as Big Mike in the episode.

"The Clover" - Brick gets anything but good luck after he finds an evil four-leaf clover; Frankie makes a decision to find a caregiver for Aunt Edie after she almost burns down her house; Axl tries to devise a plan that will keep his status as a lady's man in play after he once again accidentally invites "weird" Ashley to the prom; Mike gets upset with his dad, Big Mike, when he's accused of being too soft on Brick; and Axl is horrified when his friend Darrin asks Sue to the prom, on "The Middle," WEDNESDAY, MAY 9 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

You can find more information about the episode in our Episode Guide.

ABC Announces Episode 3.21 April 16 2012

ABC has announced the May 2 episode of The Middle. Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost, Sister Act) guest stars as Jane Marsh, Sue's guidance councillor, in the episode.

 "The 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, on "The Middle," WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

You can find more information about the episode in our Episode Guide.

Episode 3.20 Ratings April 12 2012

Last night's episode of The Middle, the first original episode for three weeks, held steady in the ratings to finish a solid third in the ratings.

"Get Your Business Done" was watched by 7.01 million people, up slightly from the last original episode's audience of 6.93m, and scored a 4.9/8 rating in households. In the adults 18-49 demographic, The Middle scored a 2.1/7 rating - matching its performance on March 14. The Middle finished third in the ratings by all key metrics.

ABC Announces Episode 3.20 March 26 2012

ABC has announced the next episode of The Middle, which will air Wednesday, April 11.

"Get Your Business Done" - When the Hecks attend a new church, Frankie is inspired by the pastor's sermon about getting one's business in life completed before death rears its ugly head. So she makes it her mission to ensure that her family puts it into practice. To that end, Mike wants to thank his dad for being there for him and his brother after their mom died, Sue starts up her own baby-sitting service, and Brick thinks a new bed will meet the requirement, while Axl believes that helping Brick get his new bed will fulfill his. But Frankie finds it difficult to figure out what it is that she should be doing to fulfill her own life's destiny, on "The Middle," WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

You can find more information about the episode in our Episode Guide.