SEASON PREMIERE

THE FAREWELL SEASON BEGINS WITH AXL RETURNING HOME FROM EUROPE, SPORTING A MAN-BUN AND A NEW OUTLOOK ON LIFE; BRICK MAKES THE DECISION TO BREAK UP WITH CINDY; AND SUE TRIES TO CRAM AN ENTIRE SUMMER OF FUN INTO TWO DAYS, ON THE SEASON PREMIERE OF ABC'S 'THE MIDDLE'

After almost a decade on the air, the upcoming ninth season of ABC's critically acclaimed fan-favorite series "The Middle" will be its final one. Two-time Emmy-winner Patricia Heaton stars in this warm and witty single-camera comedy about raising a family and lowering your expectations. Middle-aged, middle class and living in the middle of the country in Orson, Indiana, Frankie Heck is a harried wife and mother of three who uses her wry wit and sense of humor to get her family through each day intact. Frankie works as a dental assistant, and her unflappable husband, Mike, is manager at the local quarry and her sardonic partner in the daily grind that is raising their average - yes, most definitely average - family.

On the season premiere episode, "Vive La Hecks," airing TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3 (8:00-8:30 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network, Axl returns home from his summer trip to Europe, sporting a man-bun and embracing a new, chill European outlook on life. Mike just wants him to clean up and look for a job, but Frankie thinks Axl will do this on his own and asks Mike to give him a little breathing room. Meanwhile, because Sue worked the entire summer at Spudsy's and missed out on having any fun, she decides to cram in a whole summer of fun in two days before going back to college; Brick makes the decision to break up with Cindy because he doesn't want to be tied down in a relationship when he's about to embark on the revelry of his "big sophomore year"; and Frankie desperately tries to come up with an item for a time capsule that's being buried under the Orson cow that will make the town remember the Hecks when it's opened in 100 years.

"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 Beau Wirick as Sean Donahue and Casey Burke as Cindy.

"Vive La Hecks" was written by Tim Hobert and directed by Lee Shallat Chemel.

"The Middle" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format with a 5.1 channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to the airdate.