What Attracted Patricia Heaton to 'The Middle?' Cast? Writing? It Was The Paycheck!

[Brian Damage]

CLEVELAND - Emmy award-winning actress Patricia Heaton stars in ABC's hit comedy "The Middle." But her attraction to the role of middle-class housewife Frankie Heck had nothing to do with where she's from.

"The first thing I look at is the paycheck. That's what attracts me to a show. It's four kids to put through college," Heaton said jokingly. She even spent time during the 1970s working at WEWS .

And that's the kind humor that's made the Bay Village native a household name. From "Everybody Loves Raymond" to her current show "The Middle," she's a Hollywood star who hasn't forgotten her Midwestern roots.

"I've always thought generally it's not represented enough on television, is that sort middle class, average Midwestern family who deals with things like money struggles and tries to keep all the balls in the air," Heaton said.

And "The Middle" definitely fits that bill.

"I just think also the Midwest, particularly the Rust Belt kind of area that Im from Cleveland, Detroit and all these kind of places. It's just a very solid, hard working, sort of no nonsense kind of attitude there," Heaton said.

Heaton left the Midwest for the big apple right after graduation, a step that put her on the road to success. But some would argue Heaton's natural comedic ability is in her blood. Sort of a family trait.

"I have to take credit for all of her success because I moved to New York City first when I got out of college and she followed me," Patricia's only brother, Michael Heaton, said. He is the minister of culture at the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He said he had no problem being the only boy out of five children.

"It was great, you know. People always say 'You poor thing,' but you know the way I look at it was I got my own room, no hand-me-down clothes and I dated all their friends. What's the negative?" Michael Heaton said.

There are no negatives at all. Michael Heaton said they had a very funny family and humor helped them get through some challenging times. He said Patricia has always been a hard worker, and he is proud of her and her success.

"I still can't get over turning on the TV and there she is. Because Raymond is on like three times a day. So you know in airports, you're in a bar, you look up at a TV and there she is. It's still pretty wild. No, I haven't become jaded to how cool it is. She's my rich relations," Michael Heaton said.

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/loc...#ixzz1velmqyfk

[catlover79]

Great article!! Patty airs on WEWS, as Channel 5 is the Cleveland ABC affiliate. Her and Michael's father, Chuck, was a longtime writer for the Plain Dealer.

[Chocolate Moose]

Hey, actresses want to work. Even if the role isn't glamorous.

[liane49]

Originally Posted by Chocolate Moose

Hey, actresses want to work. Even if the role isn't glamorous.

I wonder what her husband does for a living.

[loaferman]

Of course the money is a thought and a big factor. For an experienced sitcom actress she also has the luxury of a better opportunity of getting on a show that has a good production team and potential for going into reruns. I bet she gets a decent payday just off "Raymond" residuals.

[liane49]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

CLEVELAND - Emmy award-winning actress Patricia Heaton stars in ABC's hit comedy "The Middle." But her attraction to the role of middle-class housewife Frankie Heck had nothing to do with where she's from.

"The first thing I look at is the paycheck. That's what attracts me to a show. It's four kids to put through college," Heaton said jokingly. She even spent time during the 1970s working at WEWS .

And that's the kind humor that's made the Bay Village native a household name. From "Everybody Loves Raymond" to her current show "The Middle," she's a Hollywood star who hasn't forgotten her Midwestern roots.

"I've always thought generally it's not represented enough on television, is that sort middle class, average Midwestern family who deals with things like money struggles and tries to keep all the balls in the air," Heaton said.

And "The Middle" definitely fits that bill.

"I just think also the Midwest, particularly the Rust Belt kind of area that Im from Cleveland, Detroit and all these kind of places. It's just a very solid, hard working, sort of no nonsense kind of attitude there," Heaton said.

Heaton left the Midwest for the big apple right after graduation, a step that put her on the road to success. But some would argue Heaton's natural comedic ability is in her blood. Sort of a family trait.

"I have to take credit for all of her success because I moved to New York City first when I got out of college and she followed me," Patricia's only brother, Michael Heaton, said. He is the minister of culture at the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He said he had no problem being the only boy out of five children.

"It was great, you know. People always say 'You poor thing,' but you know the way I look at it was I got my own room, no hand-me-down clothes and I dated all their friends. What's the negative?" Michael Heaton said.

There are no negatives at all. Michael Heaton said they had a very funny family and humor helped them get through some challenging times. He said Patricia has always been a hard worker, and he is proud of her and her success.

"I still can't get over turning on the TV and there she is. Because Raymond is on like three times a day. So you know in airports, you're in a bar, you look up at a TV and there she is. It's still pretty wild. No, I haven't become jaded to how cool it is. She's my rich relations," Michael Heaton said.

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/loc...#ixzz1velmqyfk

She seems to have hits with family sitcoms. That one she did with Kelsey Grammer sure bomed.

[catlover79]

Back to You? For what it's worth, I liked it and was sad to see it cancelled. But then, if it hadn't been axed, she never would've gotten The Middle, a show I just love and have fun watching.

[liane49]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Back to You? For what it's worth, I liked it and was sad to see it cancelled. But then, if it hadn't been axed, she never would've gotten The Middle, a show I just love and have fun watching.

I know she's raking in the money, not only from this show and now it just started re runs so that gives her more money, but from all the money she made from Raymond and all the re run money she gets from it.

[Coffeecup]

If i am not mistaken, didn't she start out with Linda Lavin with a show titled, Room with a view/top. Something like that. Than a few years later up she popped with the role on Raymond. There was piece with Linda saying a new up and coming actress name Patty Heaton will be on the show. Trying to think how long ago Linda's series was. A few years after Alice.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Coffeecup

If i am not mistaken, didn't she start out with Linda Lavin with a show titled, Room with a view/top. Something like that. Than a few years later up she popped with the role on Raymond. There was piece with Linda saying a new up and coming actress name Patty Heaton will be on the show. Trying to think how long ago Linda's series was. A few years after Alice.

It aired from March 1992 until July 1993.

[liane49]

Originally Posted by Coffeecup

If i am not mistaken, didn't she start out with Linda Lavin with a show titled, Room with a view/top. Something like that. Than a few years later up she popped with the role on Raymond. There was piece with Linda saying a new up and coming actress name Patty Heaton will be on the show. Trying to think how long ago Linda's series was. A few years after Alice.

Patricia had several failed shows before Raymond. That's one thing I like about her is she doesn't give up. He husnad and her had 2 kids right before she got Raymond and they were struggeling, but she still didn't give up.