Pilot

Season 1, Episode 1, Aired
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Episode Summary

Frankie is struggling in her career as a car salesman because she has yet to sell one. Meanwhile, Sue wants to become part of the school show choir, and Brick wants Frankie to come into school dressed as a superhero for a presentation.
8.1
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Great
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Fan Episode Reviews (7)

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  • Mother (Patricia Heatfinds life difficult when trying to raise three sitcom style off-kilter kids and oafish husband (Neil Flynn) while trying to maintain a part-time job in equally sitcom style workplace.moreless

    4.0
    "Poor"
    By flyingfish182, Apr 30, 2011 Report Abuse
    A mildly amusing show due to performers comedic timing. But, over-all the sensibility was standard LA sitcom and not Midwestern. The producer and creator/writers have evidently forgotten their Hoosier roots. Where were the overweight people? Indiana ranks high on the list of state's with obesity problems. No Hoosier would name their kids Brick or Axl. They would have names like Caleb, Trent and Brianna. Oh, and Hoosier high schools live and breath show bands not show choirs. Worst of all? What's with mountains in the b.g. of the road shots? At least one exterior shot had a cornfield, unless it was a CGI over the previous shots of what appeared to be strawberry fields. There is so much that could be mined from the reality of living in Indiana. "Parks and Recreation" is only marginally better at their attempts. Both shows sadly reflect the Coast's view of the Midwest.moreless

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    0 9

  • Just out here

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Rammsterdam, Apr 30, 2011 Report Abuse
    It's being aired here since a month, right before "Malcolm in the Middle" and at I thought it would be a copy. Now first, that's impossible since a lot of sitcoms are about family life and second, it is not a copy at all, more like an evolved version. The characters are great, Sue, Brick, even the lazy teenager Axl, the parents (I did have to adjust to Mike, because of "Scrubs" but Frankie was Frankie from start to finish (in the second series, she faces her mom-in-law from "Everybody Loves ...", truly hilarious )). I think sitcoms without the canned laughter are so much better, more refined comedy, and this is a great, fabulous one that makes you laugh out loud more than a "live before audience" comedy ever could.moreless

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    1 0

  • Pilot episode.

    6.5
    "Fair"
    By Canogaparkcindy, Nov 21, 2010 Report Abuse
    Definitely not the strongest of pilots. Some pilots, you just know that the show will be something special, that wasn't the case for ABC's "The Middle." There really wasn't much we haven't seen before on this family show, other than a family living in a hick town, but that's about it. The whole idea has been over done, and I hope they find their way soon and find a way to be different from other shows. At least I know this show gets loads better in the future, but it didn't really entice me to tune in the following week. Being in the same line up as Modern Family & Cougar Town could be intimidating, but this show does have some potential. The only thing I was ultimately disappointed in was the comedy. Not a lot of laughs in the pilot, and some jokes simply did not work. The only part I actually found myself laughing at was Sue ruining the show choir, the only thing that might entice you to watch the next episode was the feel good ending with the song, "The Middle" playing in the background. So overall, the pilot was nothing special to put it lightly. Had it's moments.moreless

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    0 0

  • Frankie the hero and the mom, she knows she has it good.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By TMFMM2022AD, Sep 30, 2010 Report Abuse
    Have you ever felt like the life was sucked out of you and one day you realized you have been depleted by life? Well this is how Frankie feels and it shows on her driver's license picture. The picture is a way to show the difference compared to her last driver's license pictures; This point was illustrated. Then she asked Mike was he disappointed or did he notice how she looks and he said yes. Mike the honest man, honesty is nice to have in a relationship. Growing up who had parents both with jobs? Now Frankie must sell a car or get fired, now that is pressure she has on her. Have you had that pressure? It sounds like Axl's voice on the PA system at Frankie's work place. After Brick gets left at school, Frankie uses her job of test driving a car to pick him up. How convenient, to make the best use of your time and day. Whispering sooths brick and Mike doesn't understand, being misunderstood by parents, huh? Is that ever the case? We all have our own ways of being and coping. Her parents don't mind if she tries out for show chior because they assume based on prior experience that she won't get it and they won't have to attend any events, they say it right in her face, that's the way they parent. Mike and Frankie stand up for Brick at his school when they talk to his teacher. Frankie is on the clock at work and meeting for parent teacher meeting. Now she has to sell cars and do errands at the same time. She knows the car sales techniques and uses them at work. Mike and Frankie are surprised to hear Sue made the show choir. I was happy to hear it too, then to find out what part she had, she was holding blocks. What? The crew for show choir. Well I am happy for her because she is happy. Mike is proud too, a father proud of his daughter. She is so happy and forgets to placer her block where it needs to bee and the whole things falls apart. She looks embarrassed, a high school disaster. The realization starts to make since why life has taken it toll on her. She gets the day wrong that Brinks needs her at school and she goes to work dressed as super mom, the courage it takes to rush to work in the costume to sell the car or be fired. Wow she made it. Frankie runs in to a smooth talker and con woman at work but she doesn't Know it and she runs off with the car leaving Frankie stranded in the middle of nowhere. Tough break because now she has to walk and is hungry. She just got dumped in the middle of nowhere, but her family finds her and she appreciates them. Appreciation Appreciation, Yeah.moreless

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    3 0

  • We meet Frankie Heck and her family. Good solid Mid-Westerner's with the usual family problems. Frankie and her husband both work to make ends meet and their children are going through the usual growing pains.moreless

    6.0
    "Fair"
    By jyarter, Aug 27, 2010 Report Abuse
    This show has potential. It is the usual hodgepodge of family situations being dealt with in a humorous way.

    Patricia Heaton stars as Frankie. She's a car salesmen by day who is trying to raise three children and a husband who are doing everything they can to make her life difficult. The biggest problem with the show so far is it has no boundaries. The comedy is not humorous, it's more pathetic. We are suppose to laugh at these situational problems this dysfunctional family has that they cause themselves. In other words, no one has any respect for each other including the parents. They are doing whatever they can to make it as easy as possible on themselves.

    Frankie's husband Mike is played by Neil Flynn most recently of Scrubs fame. The children Axel (Charlie McDermott), Sue (Eden Sher), and Brick (Atticus Shaffer) are your pretty stereotypical children you might find in about a dozen other similar shows. All of them are suppose to produce funny situations for Frankie and Mike to deal with.

    The car dealer Frankie works at seems to have promise. It's nice to see Chris Kattan as Bob the sympathetic and helpful coworker of Frankies'. Also I believe the dealer she works for was veteran actor Richard Riehle (Office Space) who always brings some nice things to his parts.

    I can see some possibility with this sitcom. Unfortunately it is paired with an even worse sitcom Hank which is not going to do well as The Middle's lead in. We'll see how well these shows do long term. I personally don't have a lot of hope. Thanks for reading...moreless

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    1 5
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • When Frankie shows her new drivers license, it shows that it was issued in 1999. Additionally, when she shows her old one (which she says has a seven-year old picture), that says it was issued in 2008. Edit

  • Notes

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    • Original International Air Dates: United Kingdom: August 29, 2010 on Sky1/Sky1 HD Czech Republic: September 6, 2010 on HBO Comedy Edit
    • The eldest Heck child, Axl, was originally to be named "Elvis." Edit

  • Quotes

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    • Mike: That's it! Go to your room! (Axl gets up and heads to his room) Mike: Wait, you like your room. Go to Sue's room! Edit

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