‘The Middle’ Family Battles Outrageous Home Repairs — and You Should Watch

What’s a financially-strapped family to do when a leaky roof and dishwasher on the fritz flood their home? Sell!

That other Wednesday night sitcom on ABC gets all the attention, but tonight’s episode of “The Middle” is another example of why the show about the barely middle-class heck family is every bit as sweet and funny as “Modern Family” — and probably more in touch with most viewers’ reality.

The Hecks’ little Indiana home isn’t much, but it’s theirs. Unfortunately, so are the many, many repairs it needs. The situation becomes critical when both a leaky roof and a broken dishwasher flood the household.

Read more: Why Does the LA Times Hate ‘Modern Family’?

“I swear, I’d burn this place down if it wasn’t flooded,” says dad Mike (Neil Flynn).

That prompts him and Frankie (Patricia Heaton) to consider leaving home ownership behind in favor of renting, and when the family sees the kind of swanky digs available for rent, the idea becomes ever more tempting.

Meanwhile, Sue’s pseudo ex, Brad, returns to practice an anti-texting-while-driving skit with her. And Ax plots to convince Frankie that he’s too sick to take a test, but well enough to party.

Bookworm Brick, meanwhile, tries to bring levity to the situation by spouting off Shakespeare quotes, until he realizes The Bard didn’t cover anything as tragic as using the family’s laundry to sop up the flood and build a dam to protect the Hecks’ most valuable possession.

The TV, of course.

“The Middle” airs tonight at 8/7c on ABC.

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