Patricia Heaton moves toward 'Middle'

July 24, 2008 "Middle," written by DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler, tells the story of a middle-class Midwestern family seen through the eyes of the mother. Now ABC is said to have given the project a new cast-contingent pilot order possibly tied to landing Heaton as the lead. If she signs on, she will reunite at the network with her "Back to You" co-star Kelsey Grammer, who stars in another single-camera ABC comedy pilot, "Roman's Empire."

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