A lot of network sitcoms in the late-2000s-to-early-2010s era became massive, totemic cultural institutions, with years and years of prestige, piles of awards, and outsized influence to their name — some deservedly, some less so. Alas, this was never the case of ABC's perpetually underrated Patricia Heaton-starring family sitcom "The Middle," which enjoyed a respectable nine-year run and garnered a loyal following, yet it never broke ratings records or won major awards.

A rich, unflaggingly honest, and hilarious look at an underachieving yet loving family trying to make the best of lower-middle-class existence in the fictional small town of Orson, Indiana, "The Middle" ought to at least have snagged a couple of Emmys for its excellent cast, which masterfully brought a litany of multifac

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