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May 25, 2013

Patricia Heaton signs with ABC for new sitcom

by Bob Sassone, posted Nov 19th 2008 12:43PM

HeatonEverybody Loves Raymond star Patricia Heaton has signed with ABC to star in a pilot for a new sitcom.

The series, titled The Middle, centers on a family in the Midwest, and Heaton will play the mom. I know, that's a really generic description. I might as well say Heaton will play a human being in a comedy that will feature humor and talking.

Ricki Lake was originally cast in the role when the show was first developed a couple of years ago, but things changed later when the network wanted Heaton in the lead role and held the show until a deal with Heaton was finalized. That means the show has been on hold since even before Heaton starred in the short-lived FOX comedy Back To You with Kelsey Grammer. A lot of people thought that show would come back for a second season since it got OK reviews and had two big names attached. But FOX canceled it and now Heaton has a new job.

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seth

This is like really old news, i heard this months ago, unless this deal was just finalized

November 20 2008 at 12:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Donna

She is funny. I didn't really like the character of Debra since she could be so hateful. But Heaton was pretty funny in those Albertson's commercials. That's the kind of character she needs to be in a sitcom.

November 19 2008 at 8:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jimmy

When the writers of Raymond weren't making Debra into a hateful shrew Heaton was actually very funny and I really enjoyed the chemistry she had with Grammer on Back to You -- an undervalued show that never really had a chance thanks to the writers' strike. God knows she can't do any worse than the craptacular Brad Garrett series that's so bad I can't stand to watch a commercial for it.

November 19 2008 at 2:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MERVE-THE-PERVE

Since it will be on ABC it will just be Heaton playing a human being on a show that will feature talking. I doubt there will be comedy or humor in it given their record on sitcoms. Especially with it being on hold for so long.

November 19 2008 at 1:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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