10 Criminally Underrated TV Sitcoms You Need To Watch

10. The Middle

The Middle (not to be confused with Malcolm in the Middle) was a goofy series that lasted for nine seasons. But weirdly, despite running for such a long time, it has close to no cultural footprint. If you ask any casual viewer about the show, the best you'll get is some passing interest, which is a real shame.

The series followed the misadventures of a dysfunctional family living in the remote town of Orson, Indiana. The Hecks were an odd assortment of weirdos with a mostly reasonable mother/father and three, let's say, unique kids.

Comparing this show to Malcolm in the Middle - something the title inevitably does - is somewhat fair, as they both rely on wacky comedy and accurate depictions of American families.

However, The Middle strikes out on its own as its comedy style tows the line between grounded and absurdist. It's also painfully relatable, with the strange family dynamics and social awkwardness of the kids leading to plenty of hilarious yet believable moments.

This series ended in 2018 at the request of the creators. It was a consistent and reliable programme for ABC, but never rose above its (ironically) middling position on the network.