The television acting career of Patricia Heaton will forever be defined by Debra Barone, her role on the successful nine-year sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond“. However, the talented actress has landed a comfortable post-Raymond position as Frankie Heck, the leading lady in the ABC family comedy “The Middle“, which releases on DVD for the first time with the August 14th The Middle: The Complete First Season from Warner Home Video.

After a brief run on the unsuccessful comedy “Back to You”, across from Kelsey Grammer (“Frasier”), Heaton appears to have found another hit in this family comedy of a different variety.

Unlike Raymond, where much of the show centered on Debra’s love-hate relationship toward sportwriter Ray Barone who never wanted to help around the house, Heaton’s character in “The Middle” is more meek and respectful toward her vary laid back husband Mike (Neil Flynn).

Similar to Raymond, The Middle is premised on making comedy out of conventional family dysfunctions, rituals, and cliches. Axl (Charlie McDermott) is the 15-year old teenager who wants to do nothing but lay around and throw period jabs at his family. Sue (Eden Sher) is the girl in the middle who is a bit unorthodox, but tries to fit in at school. Brian (Atticus Shaffer), the youngest, is a goofy, overzealous learner, who lacks proper social etiquette for a young kid.

Frankie is more well-rounded in character than Debra Barone. Not only does she fulfill all of the traditional mom duties at home, but she also works as a salesperson at a car lot. Granted, the sales are lacking (non-existent most of the time), but she tries. Some of the funnier bits in the first season of the show are when Frankie is called out on the car lot speaker because one of her kids needs something.

“The Middle” has a nice blend of characters, storylines, and talent to continue for several years. It plays to the middle-aged parents on a middle class income, in the midwest, trying to manage a balancing act of work, kids, family, and everything in between.

DVD Release Date: August 31, 2010
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Length: 3-Discs, 24-Episodes