I have grown so tired of how ridiculously stupid her character has gotten. I know this is a comedy but its no longer the least bit funny how sorry of a Mom she is. I doubt that this show is emblematic of mid-America.

I am a fan of both Raymond and The Middle and it shows that Heaton is a good actress because Debra Barone and Frankie Heck are totally different people, not just a character copy of another successful character.

I don't think The Middle gets its due, being overshadowed by Modern Family. The Middle to me is a fairly realistic show, working class people versus the California millionaire Modern Family who shoot witty one liners at each other while riding First Class to Waikiki.

Patricia Heaton is very funny as Frankie Heck. She isn't really stupid, she's just a frazzled, stressed-out mother & wife, which she plays to perfection.

It's comedy, after all. Not real life!

It's comedy, after all. Not real life!
I thought it was so funny on the last episode when Frankie and Axel were whresteling on the front lawn. But then at the end of the graduation when they took pictures of Axel I thought it was sweet when he wanted a picture of just him and his mother.

I agree that she hasn't evolved very well and I think they are taking for granted that her being ignorant in many ways is a charming part of the show. I totally disagree with that. I believe the show is at its best when she is at least grounded in reality and the rest of the cast are allowed to be the weirdos. The first two seasons of this show were incredible.

Patricia Heaton is very funny as Frankie Heck. She isn't really stupid, she's just a frazzled, stressed-out mother & wife, which she plays to perfection.

I don't think she does and I agree with OP. She started that way but now she just makes boneheaded moves that defy logic just to propel the story forward. I hope they reign her in just a little bit going forward because this show is side splitting funny, it just misses a little bit more lately with the comedy.

It's comedy, after all. Not real life!
I think if she were more smart and normal then people wouldn't like her as much. She can really be a softy too like at the end of a show when she says how much she loves being married to Mike and having the kids.