Heaton In The Middle For ABC

ABC is bringing back the quirky single-camera comedy The Middle and eyeing Patricia Heaton for the lead says The Hollywood Reporter. The Middle, written by DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler, tells the story of a middle-class Midwestern family seen through the eyes of the mother. It was developed during the 2006-07 development cycle when it was picked up to pilot starring Ricki Lake but narrowly missed the cut for a series order.

Now ABC is said to have given the project a new cast-contingent pilot order possibly tied to landing Heaton as the lead. Picking up a pilot contingent on a specific actor is rare but not unprecedented. Five years ago, CBS picked up the pilot for Two and a Half Men contingent on the producers securing Charlie Sheen.