What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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T10 WHATS UP! December 10 - 16, 2017 their presence in the town, be- cause, as Frankie frantically asks: "Will people remember that the Hecks were here?" It's an obvious thematic choice for a final season, but, as the series does so skilfully, Frankie's questioning and de- sire to know the family has had an impact is extremely relat- able. Thankfully, the series is helping Frankie to find the an- swer, by reflecting back on memorable events of "The Middle." The credit scenes of the episode "Thanksgiving IX," for instance, reflect on the past nine years of Heck family Thanksgivings. Montages such as this one tug at the heart- strings of fans, who have shared these holiday moments for nearly a decade with "The Mid- dle," and now accept the bitter- sweet conclusion to such a re- latable journey. The desire to end the series with season 9 came as quite a shock to fans, who have only seen the show increase in depth and popularity. It would seem that the main reason for concluding "The Middle" at this point is to end the show while it still resonates with viewers, without experiencing a dramatic downturn in ratings or interest. In an interview on "Live with Kelly and Ryan," He- aton addressed this: "We love the show, and we love each oth- er, but you get this sense of when it's time to leave the par- ty. You don't want to wait until it's kind of already over." The series, still extremely relevant in a time when many families find making ends meet increasingly challenging, could no doubt have continued to have quite a successful run, but leaving during this pivotal time ensures that the Heck family will not be easily forgotten. He- aton has also been very expres- sive about the impact of the se- ries and its relationship with its fans. While speaking with En- tertainment Weekly, she em- phasized that, for the cast, the crew, the writers and the fans, closure is essential. "There are so many people who have been so loyal ... and feel like these characters are their family," she said, "so we'll all go on this fare- well journey together." The journey of the Heck family may be coming to a close this season, but it will forever have a place amongst those legendary family sit- coms that weren't afraid to serve a thick slice of reality alongside their humorous main course. Reflect on the past eight seasons and hold those memories close as you enjoy some holiday cheer with the Hecks. An all-new Christ- mas-themed episode of "The Middle" airs Tuesday, Dec. 12, on ABC. Patricia Heaton stars in "The Middle" continued from page T2 One Heck of a family: Creating a legacy with 'The Middle' Leaf Guard 5 x 5 TV FEATURE LeafGuard is the ONLY one-piece seamless debris-shedding gutter 1-800-LEAFGUARD or 479-221-9516 leafguardandmore.com