Airing on Wednesday nights, The Middle doesn’t get a lot of recognition but it’s been a ratings success for ABC for five seasons. How will it perform in season six? Will it be renewed for a seventh season? Could it be cancelled if the ratings fall? Stay tuned.
Taking place in Orson, Indiana, The Middle revolves around the Heck family. It’s headed by Mike (Neil Flynn), who manages a local quarry, and Frankie (Patricia Heaton), a dental assistant. Together, they do their best to make ends meet and raise their three very different kids (Charlie McDermott, Eden Sher, and Atticus Shaffer).
The ratings are typically the best indication of a show’s likelihood of staying on the air. The higher the ratings (particularly the 18-49 demo), the better the chances for survival. This chart will be updated as new ratings data becomes available — usually the next day, around 11:30am EST/8:30am PST. Refresh to see the latest.
5/8 update: ABC has renewed The Middle for a seventh season.
Final season averages: 2.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 7.62 million total viewers.
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Due to a Nielsen glitch, some of the early ratings of the 2014-15 season were revised a few weeks later.
For comparisons: The fifth season of The Middle averaged a 2.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 7.82 million total viewers.
Note: Note: These are the Live + Same Day Ratings which include “live” viewing plus delayed DVR viewing, up until 3am local time that same night. Ratings marked with an “*” are the fast affiliate ratings and will be updated with the Live+SD numbers when they are made available. Typically, networks get paid for C+3 ratings which includes DVR viewing within three days of the original airing when commercials are watched. Those numbers are rarely released to the press.
What do you think? Do you still like The Middle TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or be renewed for a seventh season?
I love it. I think it was a bad title. I only started to watch it in re runs because of the title. Personally I like it much more than Malcom.
I think the characters, whilst having to get to know are – brilliant especially Sue Heck.
The show is more like real America than any other show–and far less like the usual Hollywood version. As for some posters being annoyed at Brick’s character–I think that’s great. It is a tribute to the fact that the show never exploited the fact that Atticus Shaffer(the actor who plays Brick)–has a disability. The disability was never made part of the story. Atticus is being judged for his acting, and the character he plays, just as any other actor would be. Personally I love the fact that Brick has such a passion for reading and continues to be a quirky… Read more »
If “The Middle” portrays or is like a real American family, then we are in big trouble. Especially in the area of parenting skills. Axel is unbelievably disrespectful, inconsiderate, and discourteous. The show makes reference to Brick’s disability all the time. His quirkiness is a major part of the storyline. They refer to Brick as being “special”. He is the most interesting of the cast. Then there’s Sue…the reason I’m, unfortunately, watching “The Middle” less and less. She is totally annoying with her overboard cheeriness, her pop-eyes, weird grin, and her constant talking at 90mph. The writer for Sue’s character… Read more »
The people on this show are more like real people than on any other show on television. My family often laughs at the idea that somehow the writers of the show must have based the character of Axel on my oldest grandson. But even Axel doesn’t show the total disrespect to his parents shown on many current family shows. On many shows the parents are portrayed as being stupid while the kids are the smart ones in the family. The house the family lives in is not perfect. It is often messy. The family reflects the life of many middle… Read more »
I started watching the show awhile ago, but soon grew tired of Sue’s mania over literally everything. She just wears you out with it. I think the older boy always acts like the center of his own universe and though many kids his age are like this, after a while it becomes tiresome and you just want to wop him upside the head and tell him to GROW UP! The younger kid makes me want to put my foot through the TV set. His voice and manner are annoying. The best one on the show is the guy who plays… Read more »
This is the only sitcom I watch. Its different and totally relatable with a great cast. Hope to hear of many more seasons too come. Literally laughing out loud.
Why did this show last more than one season.. It is just the worst thing I have ever seen on TV.
Not the worst by far. However, it becomes tiresome very quickly.
I just started watching the middle about less than a year ago. I love it. It makes me laugh and happy. We dvr it to catch up with the last seasons. It is one of the funniest shows I’ve ever watched. Please don’t cancel. I love it and makes me forget the troubled world we live in. Thank you.
I love this show, the kids are growing and pretty accurately when I look back at my family and the parents are super funny. Patricia Heaton is at her best.
I USED TO ENJOY THE MIDDLE WATCHING THE FAMILY GROW BUT THEY ARE NOT GROWING AT ALL. 21 AND18 STILL ACT LIKE SPOILT PRE SCHOOLERS. I AFRAID I CANT BARE TO WATCH IT ANYMORE. IF THIS IS HOW YOUNG AMERICANS ARE NOW I AM GLAD MY CHILDREN WERE RAISED AS RESPECTABLE MATURE ADULTS IN ENGLAND. IT MAKES ADULT AMERICANS LOOK SILLY. REALLY WISH THEY WOULD HAVE LET THE CHILDREN ACT THEIR AGE IT COULD STILL HAVE BEEN FUNNY. MC SMITH
I am sure your children are wonderful. But Sue and Axel act like many young people. In fact Sue is nicer than many young people! If anything she is far more innocent and certainly does not act like a “spoiled pre-schooler”–as for Axel–I recall my college days. I was hardly a mature adult when I was Axel’s age. He is growing more mature in some ways, but is still the basic Axel. And that is true of many college boys–and girls! And I love seeing some of the changes in Brick’s behavior, but no change in his love of reading!… Read more »
“The Middle” is an outstanding series that has a keen sense of identifying with most families. The conflict between Sue and Axel is brilliant, Brick’s malfunction is stunning and has to be a challenge to write for, yet the challenge was met with excellence. Franky and Mike’s constant battle to “‘make ends meet ” is right on. It’s out there with many families. The entire family and cast is breathless as most viewers can relate to the dynamics. However if must admit Charlie McDermott is my favorite . I find him to be very talented, dedicated and most believable. Charle… Read more »
It’s got nothing on Malcolm in the middle. Let’s bring that back and get rid of this ****. It’s badly acted and that small kid makes me want to punch a baby.
You’re wrong. The show is just like middle class Americans
Not really. It’s like Hollywood’s version of middle class Americans. Big difference. And I agree with Dave about the fact that the youngest kid is thoroughly irritating on several levels.
No, the show is like Hollywood’s version of middle class America. Big difference. And I agree with the other poster about the youngest kid: He is annoying on several levels.
This show makes me laugh out loud!! What family can’t relate to most of these episodes? I am convinced Patricia Heaton is one of the best!!
it is one of the best shows on tv but it keeps being pushed down because of other violent shows on TV which attract young people. we watch this show all the time with our kids. patricia heaton is the funniest woman on tv right now. I also love “Axel”, he is so funny.