FRANKIE'S CONSTANTLY BICKERING PARENTS PUT A DAMPER ON THE HECKS' THANKSGIVING FESTIVITIES, AND AXL GRAPPLES WITH HIS GROWING FEELINGS FOR TUTOR CASSIDY, ON ABC'S "THE MIDDLE"

Former Marines William Franco Vasquez and Nick Jones, Jr. Guest Star as Marines Who Are Treated to Thanksgiving Dinner - Heck Style

Marsha Mason and Jerry Van Dyke Return as Frankie's Parents, Pat and Tag

"Thanksgiving IV" - Frankie tries to do a good deed for Thanksgiving by inviting a couple of Marines to celebrate the holiday with her family. But with Frankie's parents, Pat and Tag (Marsha Mason and Jerry Van Dyke), constantly bickering, the good deed may not go unpunished. Meanwhile, while Axl grapples with his growing feelings for tutor Cassidy, he receives the good news that his foot is healed and he can play in the big game; Sue tries to track down the thief who has stolen the chicken head off of her school mascot uniform; and Brick becomes mesmerized by a book on the making of the film "Love Story," on "The Middle," WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD: 11/14/12)

"The Middle" stars Patricia Heaton as Frankie, Neil Flynn as Mike, Charlie McDermott as Axl, Eden Sher as Sue and Atticus Shaffer as Brick.

Guest starring are Marsha Mason as Pat Spence, Jerry Van Dyke as Tag Spence, Jeanette Miller as Aunt Edie, Brock Ciarlelli as Brad Bottig, Galadriel Stineman as Cassidy, Katlin Mastandrea as Ashley, Casey Sander as Jack Tracy, William Franco Vasquez as Corporal Martinez, Nick Jones, Jr. as Sergeant Howard, Brad Bingham as Roosevelt player and Frank Crim as coach.

"Thanksgiving IV" was written by Tim Hobert and directed by Blake T. Evans.

"The Middle" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format with a 5.1 channel surround sound. This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.

For more information on "The Middle," visit ABC.com/TheMiddle