Link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080724/tv_nm/heaton_dc;_ylt=AtHYk1WcPJ_huJgH9W0S0LFxFb8C)


LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - ABC is eyeing Patricia Heaton for the lead in "The Middle," a quirky single-camera comedy.

Written by DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler, "Middle" tells the story of a middle-class Midwestern family seen through the eyes of the mother. During the 2006-07 development cycle, it was picked up as a pilot starring Ricki Lake but narrowly missed the cut for a series order.

Now ABC is said to have given the project a new cast-contingent pilot order, possibly tied to landing Heaton as the lead.

Picking up a pilot contingent on a specific actor is rare but not unprecedented. Five years ago, CBS picked up the pilot for "Two and a Half Men" contingent on the producers securing Charlie Sheen.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Sounds like good news for Patty. ;)

Are you kidding? ABC is gonna be the Back to You graveyard next season - they already have Kelsey Grammar, Ayda Field, and Ty Burrel starring in pilots, and now they want Patricia Heaton? While that's great news, why couldn't they have just picked up Back to You??-LOL

^ So true. :lol:

this is good news for Patty

Are you kidding? ABC is gonna be the Back to You graveyard next season - they already have Kelsey Grammar, Ayda Field, and Ty Burrel starring in pilots, and now they want Patricia Heaton? While that's great news, why couldn't they have just picked up Back to You??-LOL

AGREED!

Either way, I'll check out all the shows, thats if, they make it past the pilot:P

Are you kidding? ABC is gonna be the Back to You graveyard next season - they already have Kelsey Grammar, Ayda Field, and Ty Burrel starring in pilots, and now they want Patricia Heaton? While that's great news, why couldn't they have just picked up Back to You??-LOL


So f-ing true! :lol:

I'd laugh my ass of if tomorrow we heard ABC is giving Fred Willard and Josh Gad a show. Just throw one of the Gracie's in there and we'd have the NEW Back to You :lol:

I'd laugh my ass of if tomorrow we heard ABC is giving Fred Willard and Josh Gad a show. Just throw one of the Gracie's in there and we'd have the NEW Back to You :lol:


Nobody can convince me that ABC wasn't interested in BTY at some point. As for the Gracie's, Laura Marano is on a sitcom for CBS. Lily Jackson is still available though. ;)

Maybe they'll snatch up Laura Morano before someone else does :crazy: To me, it would have made a whole lot more sense for ABC to just pick up Back to You instead picking up its actors one by one - and I'm sure they were interested in it at some point.

Maybe they'll snatch up Laura Morano before someone else does :crazy: To me, it would have made a whole lot more sense for ABC to just pick up Back to You instead picking up its actors one by one - and I'm sure they were interested in it at some point.


Exactly, with that said, I really hope that Patty's pilot makes the cut, the same for Kelsey's new show.

Exactly, with that said, I really hope that Patty's pilot makes the cut, the same for Kelsey's new show.

Same goes for Ty Burrell's and Ayda Field's new pilot. I'd love to see a block of all 3 shows at one point.

Same goes for Ty Burrell's and Ayda Field's new pilot. I'd love to see a block of all 3 shows at one point.


On the SAME night, it could be a Back To You Alum block! :lol:

On the SAME night, it could be a Back To You Alum block! :lol:

They should call it that too - "It's Back to You, just without Back to You!" :lol:

They should call it that too - "It's Back to You, just without Back to You!" :lol:


:lol:

They should call it that too - "It's Back to You, just without Back to You!" :lol:
:rofl: