Patricia Heaton Says "The Middle" Could Live On in Holiday Specials - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 09-19-2017, 10:41 PM

"The Middle" Could Live On in Holiday Specials
by Maureen Lee Lenker
Sept. 19, 2017

Sad "The Middle" is about to enter its final season?

Well, you might not have to say goodbye to the Heck family after all. Patricia Heaton told EW that there’s hope the series could continue in the form of periodic holiday specials.

“Who knows, maybe we’ll come back and revisit the Heck family on holidays or something?” Heaton said when discussing creators’ decision to end "The Middle" after nine seasons. “You could still do a lot with the kids.”

Currently in the midst of filming the show’s final season, Heaton is excited at the prospect of getting an update on the Heck children every once in awhile.

“I mean that would be kind of an ideal way to give fans a little something,” she hypothesized. “There’s been a little bit of talk about it, but I don’t know how serious it is. There’s a possibility of doing Heck holiday specials or something, which would be a lot of fun. We’ll see if that ever happens.”

Though the cast has known for awhile that the upcoming ninth season would be the show’s last, Heaton claimed it’s already been an emotional journey for the team.

“It just feels great and exciting and also scary and also sad,” she says. “I look back at the first season and I see how young the kids were, and they didn’t seem that young to me at the time. I look at Atticus [Brick], and I think, ‘Oh my word, he was just a baby.’ When I started, I still had all my kids at home and now all my kids are gone, they’re all out of the house, so we’ve lived a lot of life together here on The Middle.”

Even if the holiday specials never materialize, Heaton is hopeful the cast will maintain the strong bond they’ve formed over nine years.

“I hope we are able to stay in touch the way we have been on Everybody Loves Raymond,” she says. “Ray Romano graciously hosts a party every year for everyone, and we usually get to see everyone at least once a year at his house. And we stay in touch through email or whatever. So I’m hopeful, and I’m pretty sure that that will also be the case for The Middle.”

http://ew.com/tv/2017/09/19/the-midd...iday-specials/

tlc38tlc38 · 09-19-2017, 10:43 PM

I'm thinking about buying this series on DVD. I've seen quite a few episodes on Hallmark and I've enjoyed it.

HuntingtonM15 · 09-20-2017, 10:50 AM

This actually makes sense. I think it has enough of a fan base where there would be interest, and they wouldn't have to worry about the back and forth storylines of the kids traveling to and from college because they'd already be at home for the holidays.

Steve M. · 09-20-2017, 11:46 AM

It would still be a reunion, and reunions in show business don't usually work out.

king of comedy · 09-20-2017, 04:29 PM

These could work.

LeeBlue · 10-04-2017, 10:25 AM

The Middle does holidays better than just about anyone!!

I'd love to see some specials made -- Halloween, Christmas, Valentine Day!!

Because the show was on hiatis during the summer, I'm not sure the Hecks ever celebrated the 4th of July.

So I'm going to enjoy this season and hope to see them for the holidays!!

09-19-2017, 10:41 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,961	Patricia Heaton Says "The Middle" Could Live On in Holiday Specials *"The Middle" Could Live On in Holiday Specials* by Maureen Lee Lenker Sept. 19, 2017 Sad "The Middle" is about to enter its final season? Well, you might not have to say goodbye to the Heck family after all. Patricia Heaton told EW that there’s hope the series could continue in the form of periodic holiday specials. “Who knows, maybe we’ll come back and revisit the Heck family on holidays or something?” Heaton said when discussing creators’ decision to end "The Middle" after nine seasons. “You could still do a lot with the kids.” Currently in the midst of filming the show’s final season, Heaton is excited at the prospect of getting an update on the Heck children every once in awhile. “I mean that would be kind of an ideal way to give fans a little something,” she hypothesized. “There’s been a little bit of talk about it, but I don’t know how serious it is. There’s a possibility of doing Heck holiday specials or something, which would be a lot of fun. We’ll see if that ever happens.” Though the cast has known for awhile that the upcoming ninth season would be the show’s last, Heaton claimed it’s already been an emotional journey for the team. “It just feels great and exciting and also scary and also sad,” she says. “I look back at the first season and I see how young the kids were, and they didn’t seem that young to me at the time. I look at Atticus [Brick], and I think, ‘Oh my word, he was just a baby.’ When I started, I still had all my kids at home and now all my kids are gone, they’re all out of the house, so we’ve lived a lot of life together here on The Middle.” Even if the holiday specials never materialize, Heaton is hopeful the cast will maintain the strong bond they’ve formed over nine years. “I hope we are able to stay in touch the way we have been on Everybody Loves Raymond,” she says. “Ray Romano graciously hosts a party every year for everyone, and we usually get to see everyone at least once a year at his house. And we stay in touch through email or whatever. So I’m hopeful, and I’m pretty sure that that will also be the case for The Middle.” http://ew.com/tv/2017/09/19/the-midd...iday-specials/

09-19-2017, 10:43 PM	#2
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,255	I'm thinking about buying this series on DVD. I've seen quite a few episodes on Hallmark and I've enjoyed it.
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

09-20-2017, 11:46 AM	#4
Steve M. Back on the road to reality Forum Superstar Join Date: Nov 07, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 33,213	It would still be a reunion, and reunions in show business don't usually work out.
	__________________ I don't really get out a lot. When I do go out, I couldn't be happier. I love being in a nice milieu. I'm as happy as a clam. Just as long as I'm not in some club playing hip-hop. You hear that sort of thing in a lot of places. That's not my milieu. Rock and roll is good-time music. I love rock. So did my parents.

10-04-2017, 10:25 AM	#6
LeeBlue Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 16, 2006 Location: NYS Posts: 871	Patricia Heaton says "The Middle" Could Live On in Holiday Specials The Middle does holidays better than just about anyone!! I'd love to see some specials made -- Halloween, Christmas, Valentine Day!! Because the show was on hiatis during the summer, I'm not sure the Hecks ever celebrated the 4th of July. So I'm going to enjoy this season and hope to see them for the holidays!!

09-20-2017, 10:50 AM	#3
HuntingtonM15 That Bothers Me Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 11,059	This actually makes sense. I think it has enough of a fan base where there would be interest, and they wouldn't have to worry about the back and forth storylines of the kids traveling to and from college because they'd already be at home for the holidays.

09-20-2017, 04:29 PM	#5
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	These could work.