The Middle (stylized as the middle.) is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from September 30, 2009, to May 22, 2018. The series, set in the fictional town of Orson in Indiana, follows a lower-middle-class family living and facing the day-to-day struggles of home life, work, and raising children. Starring Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn, the show was created by former Roseanne and Murphy Brown writers Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline, and produced by Warner Bros. Television and Blackie and Blondie Productions. It was praised by television critics and earned numerous award nominations, including a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2012.