Just like The Big Bang Theory was a breakout hit waiting to happen, I thinkThe Middle is being overshadowed by Modern Family. Maybe a shake-up is just what it needs. Don’t get me wrong, MF is fully deserving of all the praise, just not at the expense of this wonderful little gem tucked right before it.

There was a tragedy this week, though. Sue’s relationship ended. When she was telling Frankie and Mike about it, I was cringing right along with them expecting a much different revelation than two boys hiding out to sneak a smoke. I am so impressed with the abilities of Eden Sher and Atticus Shaffer in this show. Without them, those archetypes would probably fall into parody, but Sher just sells the oblivious innocence of Sue with utter conviction.

Shaffer could have easily turned Brick into that typical “weird” little kid we’ve seen a million times, but he infuses something special in there. Highlights this week were him lying under the Christmas tree, and sucking all the joy out of Santa at the mall. The climax of the episode, though, with Mike waking up the kids to throw themselves together for Frankie’s moment, was priceless. Those are the memories that Holidays are made of, like the family’s appearance at the back of the church in their “best” attire.