While on my Los Angeles trip a few weeks ago for the Muppets Most Wanted Event, I also received an invitation to an #ABCTVevent, which included an interview with Patricia Heaton and a visit to Warner Brothers Studios to tour the set of The Middle!
The Middle, a sitcom in it’s 5th season, is as realistic as it gets – geared to the “average family”, with plots and settings that most average families can easily relate to! And who doesn’t love the Heck family? And with that said, joining us on the set was Mike Heck (Neil Flynn), Axl Heck ( Charlie McDermott), and Brick Heck (Atticus Shaffer).
Our tour was led by the site decorator, Julie Fanton, who finds things for the Heck household from The Salvation Army, Target and Kohls. (I really want her job! How fun would that be?)
Julie went on to explain the detail that goes into staging the set, from the real loaf of bread to the (painted on) fingerprints on the wall to the mail on the counter tops. This house is so realistic, it would be quite easy to move right in! There’s no pretending a family of 5 “has it made” on tv. Real life situation: Moms have a hard time keeping up!
Real life situations were all around. Take a look at the pantry. I should take a picture of mine to compare the two! It’s organized to the point I know where everything is…
During this ABC experience, we screened tonight’s upcoming episode and had a question and answer session with the Executive Producers and creators: Eileen Heisler & DeAnn Heline. During the interview, we learned how real life inspiration plays a big role when writing the show. With personal experiences and family members in mind, these real life situations often make their way into The Middle’s script, producing a crazy episode that is more than likely based on a true story!
And true story: Neil Flynn is just a little taller than I am.
Make sure you tune into The Middle, which airs on Wednesdays 8/7c. You can also catch up on the latest episodes on ABC.com if needed! #ABCTVEvent