Sunday, February 26, 2012

Charlie McDermott In The Middle

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If you are not watching Charlie McDermott in ABC’s The Middle you should be because the show and Charlie are plainly awesome. This is one the greatest families on television. The show goes out of the way to try to tell the east and west coast people how basic everyday people live here in “The Middle” of the country.

What makes this show awesome is the characters, especially the kids, SO exaggerated. Sue is the kid at high school no one notices because she blends in so well because nothing stands out about her. Brick is the weird kid that people don’t get that is too intelligent for his own good but doesn’t understand or care about other kids. Frankie is the mom that is always hounding the kids and her husband so much that they need to get things done but in the end winds up sounding like a crazy person. Mike is the dad that doesn’t sweat the little things and is just going through the motions trying to stay calm because his wife has enough crazy for the both of them.

That leaves us with Charlie’s character Axl Heck. At quick glance Axl appears to be a lazy teen that only cares about himself and his own personal world. Over the last 2.5 seasons we have actually learned that it’s a very well-practiced act. Axl cares about the people around him and is actually very smart. The best example is there was an episode this year where the parent were freaked out how Axl was going to interact with a college recruiter and Axl nailed the interview with a side of himself he doesn’t let other people see because it conflicts with the cool reputation he has worked so hard to maintain. The show pokes fun at a lot of teenage guys by keeping Axl lounging around the house in his socks and boxers. There is an episode where Axl comes home fully layered in regular clothes including a jacket and the cameras cut away from him for a nano second and when it cut back he is in his boxers watching TV. No human can eject clothing that fast. Charlie plays this character so well.

On a personal side Charlie McDermott seems like a really sweet guy himself. He has stopped posting much on Twitter these days but on his Tumblr he made a post a year ago that made just go “awwww” after reading it. He talks about what it’s like seeing himself on TV and how he feels uncomfortable being part of Hollywood.  You will see on his Tumblr he is very interested in astronomy.