THE MIDDLE - (ABC/RANDY HOLMES) NEIL FLYNN, NICK SHAFER, CHARLIE MCDERMOTT, PATRICIA HEATON, ATTICUS SHAFFER, EDEN SHER
The season finale of The Middle will have a few surprises including Doris Roberts returning as Brick’s (Atticus Shaffer) headstrong teacher.
That could have been exciting for series stars Charlie McDermott and Eden Sher if it weren’t for the fact that they didn’t get to work with her.
“ I’ve never met her in person,” McDermott says. “But, she’s great on the show. I was in Canada two years ago and I sat down at a table next to her and I didn’t say hi or anything. All the scenes that she’s in we’re never in. There isn’t much time for meet-and-greets on the set. I’m a big fan of hers from Raymond, so maybe someday…”
“I met her in the makeup trailer, but I don’t think she had any idea of who I was,” Sher recalls. “I think she thought I was either another hair or makeup person. I think she was reading her lines. I don’t think she really wanted to meet me so I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to let her be.’ That’s the closest I’ve come. She seems like a really lovely lady.”
OK, so Roberts shares most of her scenes with series costars Patricia Heaton and Atticus Shaffer, but McDermott and Sher still have their prominent storylines in the season ender.
McDermott’s character Axl is trying to desperately to finish a year’s worth of community service into one day for the credit. While Sher’s on-screen persona Sue is consumed with being recognized for her perfect school attendance.
“[Axl] has put it off the entire year,” McDermott shares. “He has one weekend or two days right before school ends to deliver all these meals to the elderly. Meals On Wheels is the name of the service. He’s taking care of adopted children as well, which is pretty funny.”
“I never got a perfect attendance award,” Sher admits, but she can relate to Sue’s passion. “Sue did and Sue endangered a lot of lives by going to school while she was deathly ill.”
And though the events in the show are pumped up, both actors agree the stories are planted firmly in reality.
“The scenarios at their root are from real situations,” Sher points out. “They’re always from one of the writer’s family lives. It’s great to hear that they’re relatable.”
The Middle airs Wednesdays, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. The season finale airs May 25th during the last week of May Sweeps (designed to entice advertisers).