TV’s comedy gifts

California Chronicle talks about three strong comedy series that debuted this year and one of them is The Middle.

‘The Middle’

There’s no question that “Modern Family” is quickly becoming the best comedy on TV, but “The Middle” (8:30 p.m. Wednesday, WTAE) needs more support.

“The Middle” is a loopy, single-camera comedy about a family in Middle America that’s scraping by on luck and love. What makes the show unique among prime-time series is not its style of humor, which bears some resemblance to “Malcolm in the Middle” told from a mom’s point of view. It’s the emphasis on the children in the family. Other than the half-man on CBS’s “Two and a Half Men,” kids have been largely AWOL from prime-time broadcast network comedies for about a decade and they haven’t been a focus since “Malcolm.”

As relatable as the travails of mom Frankie Heck (Patricia Heaton) may be, it’s the stories and characterizations of the Heck kids that make “The Middle” so much fun to watch. Has there ever been as wildly accurate a depiction of teenage boys as Axl (Charlie McDermott), who moves with the leisurely speed of an unmotivated turtle and complains with a mix of whine and gusto? And upbeat Sue (Eden Sher) has a wild-eyed optimism no matter how many times she’s failed before. Oddball Brick (Atticus Shaffer), who looks a lot like Dewey from “Malcolm,” takes weirdness to a new level with repeated, under-his-breath whispers of single words he just said aloud.

So far, ABC seems supportive of “The Middle” despite its low ratings, largely the result of having horrible “Hank” (now-canceled) as a lead-in. But more people need to find this hidden gem and help it escape middle-of-the-pack obscurity. “The Middle” deserves to be nearer the top of the ratings heap.

Tags: American Broadcasting Company, CBS, Eden Sher, Malcolm in the Middle, Patricia Heaton, Prime time, Television, Two and a Half Men