HBO Max Acquires Exclusive SVOD Streaming Rights to The Middle; Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone Get Netflix Sitcom

Wednesday, December 02, 2020

HBO Max Acquires Exclusive SVOD Streaming Rights to The Middle; Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone Get Netflix Sitcom

HBO Max has secured exclusive U.S. SVOD streaming rights to all nine seasons of the acclaimed family comedy The Middle, with a total of 215 episodes available to stream now. Two-time Emmy® winner Patricia Heaton stars in this warm and witty single-camera comedy about raising a family and lowering your expectations. Middle-aged, middle class, and living in the middle of the country in Orson, Indiana, Frankie Heck (Heaton) is a harried wife and mother of three who uses her wry wit and sense of humor to get her family through each day intact. Frankie works as a dental assistant, and her unflappable husband Mike is manager at the local quarry and her sardonic partner in the daily grind that is raising their average — yes, most definitely average — family. Between juggling shifts and picking up fast food to be eaten in front of the TV, Frankie and Mike raise their kids — popular slacker Axl; optimistic, awkward Sue; odd, eccentric Brick — with love, humor and solid midwestern pragmatism. Year after year, their struggles continue, but through all the madness shines a loving family — and together, the Hecks put The Middle on the map.

Debuting in 2009 on ABC, the series won the esteemed HUMANITAS Prize in 2016 and was also nominated for multiple Critics Choice Awards throughout its run.

Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy

Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone will star in God's Favorite Idiot, a Netflix comedy series about Clark Thompson (Falcone), a mid-level tech support employee who finds love with co-worker Amily Luck (McCarthy) at exactly the same time he becomes the unwitting messenger of God. The series is created by Falcone, who will also EP alongside McCarthy. Netflix has ordered 16 episodes of this comedy, with a premiere date to be announced. More info to certainly come, such as additional casting and if this series is a single-camera comedy or multi-camera comedy. Stay tuned.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, November 19

St. Denis Medical - "Weird Stuff You Can't Explain" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Ron hexes the day to prove superstitions aren't real, things at the hospital start getting weird; Joyce and Matt discover an employee's secret.

Night Court - "The Judge's Boyfriend's Dad" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Suspecting Dan might be her boyfriend's father, Abby does some investigating; a blast from Dan's past resurfaces as the court's new prosecutor.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "All Hands on Deck" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Curtis calls on his family to help work the food truck.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living "Cancel Culture" - (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Sandra wants to switch her college major, but she's afraid to tell her parents; Anastasia enlists Philip to help her build her social media presence.

Churchy - "The Fall" (BET, 10:00PM ET/PT)
After a viral video scandal at his father's church, Corey returns home and finds himself facing difficult personal and professional decisions; Rodney explores a new romance.

Churchy - "Easter" (BET, 10:26PM ET/PT)
Rodney contemplates his need to grow independently; after introspection and a heartfelt conversation with his father, Corey makes a big decision about his future as a pastor.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 18)

Tuesday, November 19

Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Catch Keke on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also talks about Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
Ted Danson (A Man on the Inside/Mr. Mayor/The Good Place/Bored to Death/Help Me Help You/Becker/Ink/Cheers) - Ted appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He sits down with Kelly and Mark to talk aabout his series A Man on the Inside on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
Oscar Montoya (Minx) - Oscar is a guest on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Jennifer Lawrence (The Bill Engvall Show) - Gayle King sits down with Jennifer on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
Melissa Rauch (Night Court/The Big Bang Theory) - NBC's Today catches up with Melissa in the 9am hour.
Billy Bob Thornton (Hearts Afire) - Billy Bob opens up about being married six times and is sharing all about his new show Landman on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Justine Lupe (Nobody Wants This/Cristela) - Justine is telling Drew about her viral wardrobe moment with Kathy Bates and shares behind the scenes moments of filming Succession, revealing the cast member she had a crush on, on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Yara Shahidi (grown-ish/black-ish) - Yara tells Sherri about her new Sirius XM podcast, The Optimist Project, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Jeremy Sisto (Suburgatory) - Jeremy talks about the new season of FBI on CBS on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Rita Moreno (One Day at a Time/Happily Divorced/9 to 5) - Rita talks her new Barbie doll and upcoming 93rd birthday on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Jasmine Guy (Harlem/Dead Like Me/A Different World) and Dorien Wilson (In the Cut/The Parkers/Goode Behavior/Dream On) - Jasmine and Dorien are guests on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:10am.