Why The Middle's Neil Flynn Took The NBC Sitcom Abby's After The Middle Ended
While he might not be one that comes up quickest when it comes to the biggest TV stars out there, TV and film vet Neil Flynn has been a big part of primetime television for the past 18 years. Having starred in the hit comedies Scrubs and The Middle, he’ll soon be seen downing backyard brewskis on NBC’s new sitcom Abby’s. Flynn revealed at TCA why he made Abby’s his next big TV project, saying that the other offers he got after The Middle were a little too familiar.
For a seasoned vet like Neill Flynn, it’s totally understandable why he wouldn’t want to dive into another broadcast series playing the same role he’d brought to TV audiences for the previous nine years. After all, Mike Heck was cut from the same cloth as quite a few sitcom husbands and fathers before him, and the traditional sitcom dad will likely always be a small-screen mainstay. But as it was implied when the actor spoke to the press at the Television Critics Association’s winter tour, don’t expect Flynn to slot himself right back into that kind of role.
Don’t get me wrong, I think it would be pretty fabulous to get some legitimate The Middle spinoffs in which the actual Mike Heck goes to space, or treks to the North Pole, or starts up a new career as a puppeteer. Or may some other, better ideas.
In any case, Neil Flynn is currently ready to return to weekly audiences as Abby’s Fred, a generally decent guy who doesn’t see much of a reason to do much in life other than hang out at his friend’s backyard watering hole. Abby’s isn’t technically a business so much as it is library where the books are made of alcohol, and there’s a late fee on everything when you buy it.
Because the NBC show is officially about Natalie Morales’ sentimental barkeep Abby, Neil Flynn isn’t technically a lead character. However, he’s part of the regular ensemble of patrons that consider the bar a home away from home. (That does happen to be attached to an actual home.) As such, fans can expect to find him in each and every episode, trying to keep the liquor-fueled status quo intact.
Thankfully, Neil Flynn wasn’t avoiding Heck-like characters over frustrations about The Middle now being off the air. He spoke to that at TCA, saying that the foreknowledge that things were ending was a big advantage. In his words:
But enough about shows that have ended, and more about new series that have yet to capture viewers’ attention. Beyond Neil Flynn and Natalie Morales, Abby’s also stars black-ish’s Nelson Franklin, Man with a Plan’s Jessica Chaffin, stand-up comedian Leonard Ouzts and Station 19 recurrer Kimia Behpoornia. It was created by Josh Malmuth and is executive produced by The Good Place creator Mike Schur. You can watch the brand new trailer below!
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Abby’s will be making its sudsy premiere on NBC on Thursday, March 28. It’s part of a solid midseason lineup that is sure to keep comedy fans rolling through until summer.
Nick is a Cajun Country native and an Assistant Managing Editor with a focus on TV and features. His humble origin story with CinemaBlend began all the way back in the pre-streaming era, circa 2009, as a freelancing DVD reviewer and TV recapper. Nick leapfrogged over to the small screen to cover more and more television news and interviews, eventually taking over the section for the current era and covering topics like Yellowstone, The Walking Dead and horror. Born in Louisiana and currently living in Texas — Who Dat Nation over America’s Team all day, all night — Nick spent several years in the hospitality industry, and also worked as a 911 operator. If you ever happened to hear his music or read his comics/short stories, you have his sympathy.