Patricia Heaton Told Not to Show Up for ComicCon Due to Lack of Interest For Her Show

[Brian Damage]

Comic-Con TV sessions are often so packed that dozens, hundreds or even thousands get turned away at the door.

But an attempt to expand the genre-driven conference to promote a new family sitcom didn't work out Friday, when ABC's new Patricia Heaton comedy "The Middle" drew scant attendees.

Sources say about 75 showed up to a screening in a 2000-seat Hilton ballroom, an event promoted as the "Mom-a-Con." Star Patricia Heaton was supposed to introduce the panel, but Warner Bros. told her not to bother due to the size of the crowd.

Studio Warner Bros. brought the largest number of programs to Comic-Con, 11, and regarded the screening as an experiment at a conference that increasingly seems to welcome off-brand programming. Last year the studio brought sitcom "Big Bang Theory" and it was a huge success, with the show returning this year. A Warner Bros. spokesperson emphasized that Heaton was planning to attend the convention with her family anyway and that expectations were always modest for a screening held at an off-site venue that had otherwise not been used all day.

http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/07/patricia-heaton-comic-con-.html

[MrRetro_08]

I bet those 75 people were pissed off when they were told that no one was going to show up.

[Brian Damage]

I know I would've been if I went to see Patty. ;)

[TJL]

I've been reading various reports about ComicCon the last few days and more than once I have read about folks complaining about the amount of stuff going on that really doesn't belong at a ComicCon.

With all due respect to Patricia Heaton and her new show, a comic book convention is not the place to plug your new sitcom.

[catlover79]

:(

[R.jsheedy]

How could they be a lack of intrest for her show. It sounds great and why would only 75 people show up. This show shounds great and more people should have been there.

Only 75 people being there dosn't sound good for her show to start off of. I just hope her numbers on ABC are better than only 75 people showing up for a screening of the pilot.

[Chocolate Moose]

that's too bad. for everyone !

[yankeesrj12]

I think its hilarious how only 75 people showed up. The show looks the worst of the four ABC comedies anyways.

[Schmoopie]

That's crap, what they did to her. I mean, those people showed up most likely to see the stars of the show, probably Patricia, as Brian mentioned, and then they end up leaving disappointed. What a shame. If even a few of those people had liked what they saw in the show, word of mouth can do wonders for ratings. Now they'll never know what happened. They should have at least let those people meet the stars. I would have been ROYALY ticked off!