The Middle – No money down will come back to bite you in the butt

The Middle held up upon a second look, and Patricia Heaton is proving that she’s no one hit wonder — although, personally I learned that with Back to You, but whatever.

It’s interesting how a simple thing like making ends meet can have the tentacles to touch so many funny stories on one episode. No money leads to an inability to pay a library fine, leads to no book for Brick (Atticus Shaffer), leads to his terrifying his family with his daily socializing, leads to him reading romance novels, leads to him getting his library book, meets Sue (Eden Sher) and her swimming head-on. Simple, farcical, and very amusing.

I have to ask: even though it’s funny and everything, what’s with Axl’s (Charlie McDermott) distaste for clothing, and is that going to be his thing going forward? And, who did it really punish to require him to be within five feet of a parent at all times? In the shower, too?

Mike (Neil Flynn) is a speak-your-mind kind of guy, and has some ridiculously hilarious lines as a result. I think Flynn is really a tremendous comedic actor, something that was a bit of a secret if you were merely judging by his quirky work on Scrubs. Patricia Heaton I saw coming … Flynn is a very pleasant surprise.

It was funny that they rode the well-known tagline, “no payments ‘til 2009.” Does anyone ever take the time to think about what that actually means? And I’m talking about in real life, although I think the joke is usually mined for the “no money down” part, instead of the bill coming due part. That’s where the comedy is.

Some other funnies and notables:

• The idea tossed out at the sales meeting to offer a free AK-47 with every car purchase … yikes!
• The Frugal Hoosier, number one expired food market in Indiana.
• Sue needing glasses, and the glasses store not having mirrors. The old frame bit has been played before, but it was still good. And I love how it didn’t help — how do you swim headfirst into the side of a pool?!?
• Who’s the guy who answers the phone and calls out messages over the PA system at Frankie’s job? One day we will hear him kill himself.
• I am from New York, so believe it or not I ask this genuinely: does Indiana have a cold winter? What?… I have no idea where it is on the map!
• Tornadoes? Really? That’s real?

And, good writing, folks:

“You saying my name over and over doesn’t make it sound less boring.” – Mike to Frankie, about his interest in watching Sue practice for swim tryouts

“Sometimes the best man for the job is a man.” – Mr. Ehlert, Frankie’s boss

Good stuff!

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Oct 07, 2009 @ 23:10 EST5EDT