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ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

#1
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6/22/08 at 9:02pm
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Did anyone catch this? It was an extremely fun pilot I thought, sort of a hybrid of Men in Black and every male/female buddy cop show you can imagine.

I laughed out loud many times at some of the dialogue and sight gags, like the pocket Lightsaber he had (I think I even saw an MiB neuralizer too) and the way 'The Middle Man' runs lol.

Which brings me to Natalie Morales... Reminded me A LOT of Rosario Dawson and that's a very good thing.
When Jack Bauer was in 2nd grade he killed a terrorist for show and tell.
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#2
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6/22/08 at 9:48pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

The first time I heard of the Middle Man was at Comic-Con last year, where the publisher had a booth with a model dressed like Wendy Watson. When I saw the print ad for the TV show, I wasn't sure if it was the same thing since Morales has a pretty different look from the comic.

Here's a pic I took from the convention:



Here's the comic:

He was one of those people who would be neither a follower nor a leader, but only an aspiring heart, impatient in the failing body which imprisoned it. -- T. H. White, "The Once and Future King"

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#3
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6/23/08 at 3:48am
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

The show is definitely laugh-out-loud funny. We can't wait to see the second episode.
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#4
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6/23/08 at 6:08am
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

I liked it a lot. The pilot was pretty much the first comic series line by line (which makes sense, because the comic was basically the original pilot script from a few years ago), and I gather they will be adapting the second miniseries soon, although I hope they'll hold off the third for a while (the folks who've read it know why I say this).
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#5
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6/23/08 at 11:13am
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

I didn't realize this was a comic but it looked to me like a Special Unit 2 remake and that is fine as I would have like to see more of that show. It has the same monster of the week plot with smarmy and witty over the top characters.
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#6
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6/23/08 at 4:17pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

Its a real hoot and I'm hooked. Episode 2 starts in 45 minutes (5:00 P.M.).
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#7
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6/23/08 at 4:34pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

Certaintly does look different than the comic, I think I like the two female concept better.

One joke that I meant to mention but forgot to, and one that had me laughing for several minutes, was when Wendy first went for the job and saw 'TMM' standing up on that balcony looking down at her, cuts to commercial break, then when the show comes back we get a subtitle that reads '3 minutes 10 seconds later' lol.

What they did for that 3 min and 10 sec I don't know but i'm sure glad they waited for us before they began speaking.

I also noticed undertones from one of the minature silver screens greatest lawmen...Inspector Sledge Hammer! TMM was enjoying "interrogating" that suspect a little too much lol.
When Jack Bauer was in 2nd grade he killed a terrorist for show and tell.
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#8
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6/24/08 at 1:10pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

Episode 2 was fantastic!! Still continues to be insanely funny and really out there.. Loved the succubus half-way house idea..how do they think of this stuff?!?!

I also liked that they showed kind of a softer side of Wendy when she was interacting with the kid and then when she was talking about her dad.. its good to know shes not constantly snarky and cynical...
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#9
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6/30/08 at 11:09am
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

This is turning out to be a surprise hit with me. I only was half-interested because I liked Javier Grillo-Marxuach from his work in comics, funny enough (though I see he has a lot of Lost cred, so that doesn't hurt). Even then, I thought ABC Family was a cast-off network to show repeats of Smallville or shows involving plucky teens and the stupid adults in their lives (like, oh, the Disney channel).

Turns out, this show is the bomb! Why this isn't getting on to the main network is beyond me. It has great production values. This doesn't mean great special effects...they are cheesy but done consistently so and with great wit so it works. The writing is top notch and the acting is pitch perfect for the material. I hope they can keep this up. Clever stuff. I hope it hangs around.
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#10
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6/30/08 at 2:00pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

I lub Dub-Dub. Nuff said.

"Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there" - Roger Sterling on "Mad Men"
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#11
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6/30/08 at 3:00pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Sun
I lub Dub-Dub. Nuff said.

Isn't it pronounced Dubby?

Me too, Natalie's fast becoming my #2 hottie on television, right after Cobie Smulders.
When Jack Bauer was in 2nd grade he killed a terrorist for show and tell.
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#12
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6/30/08 at 3:41pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil Florian
...Even then, I thought ABC Family was a cast-off network to show repeats of Smallville or shows involving plucky teens and the stupid adults in their lives (like, oh, the Disney channel).

Don't forget Kyle XY, not a cast-off in my mind.
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#13
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6/30/08 at 5:13pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

I think Lacey calls Wendy "Dub-Dub".

"Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there" - Roger Sterling on "Mad Men"
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#14
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6/30/08 at 5:38pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

Short for "Wendy Watson" (double-U, double-U).
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#15
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7/1/08 at 3:07pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

Quote:
Originally Posted by Garrett Adams
Don't forget Kyle XY, not a cast-off in my mind.

Absolutely, Kyle XY is one of my favorite shows.

I now know what your talking about, Patrick, I just finished watching this weeks ep and I heard her roommate call her 'Dub Dub' lol.

Man, I never thought that cynicism could be so sexy but Natalie proves it with every endearing word she utters. I was finally able to classify her different looks, when she's wearing the glasses she looks like Rosario Dawson but without them she reminds me of Amanda Peet.

With so many LOL moments in this weeks episode the best for me has to be when they reveal how the other sensai died, did he die in some glorious and epic battle to the death at the hands of sensai Ping? Nope...he keeled over during a game of Rock Em' Sock Em' Robots!

Also, that shot of Wendy coming up towards camera after being ejected from the jet was not only funny but also reminded me of when John McClain ejected himself from the exploding plane in Die Hard 2.
When Jack Bauer was in 2nd grade he killed a terrorist for show and tell.
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#16
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7/2/08 at 3:11pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

The renumeration/gift of the Smart Car with MIDLMN2 vanity plates made a sweet ending.
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#17
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7/3/08 at 12:26pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

Love Matt Kesslar. Hope the show succeeds.
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#18
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7/3/08 at 7:27pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

Quote:
Originally Posted by Garrett Adams
The renumeration/gift of the Smart Car with MIDLMN2 vanity plates made a sweet ending.
To pick a nit, it's MDDLMN2 , using my favorite way to abbreviate: no vowels.

The show almost runs too quick to catch all the little details. (I couldn't watch TV without a DVR)
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#19
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7/4/08 at 11:33am
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

So, I'm caught up with all 3 episodes, and they have all been very entertaining. I love how Dub-Dub can just spit out lines without tripping over them because the dialogue the writers ask her to do is ridiculous, but very funny at the same time. Sure, the production values aren't the greatest in the world, but the performances by the main cast, and the dialogue and attitude make up for such deficiencies. It's my surprise find of the summer so far.

This is one of those shows that I do rewind a lot just to catch all the zany pop cultural references.

"Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there" - Roger Sterling on "Mad Men"
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#20
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7/8/08 at 11:21am
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

This week's episode felt a little off, but we did get some development in Dub-Dub's orientation with the whole Middleman program. The plastic surgery faces on the Manicoids were so off-putting, though.

"Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there" - Roger Sterling on "Mad Men"
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#21
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7/14/08 at 8:46pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

I about lost it with the repeated hand gestures and foot stomp when they were referring to the !!!! drink. Too funny. Overall, Lacey was a little too needy, but she did get ditched by her mom, so perhaps understandable.

"Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there" - Roger Sterling on "Mad Men"
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#22
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7/15/08 at 4:36pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

Right, the !!!! drink was hilarious. I thought the one-liners were especially good last night. It took me awhile to realize Mr. White was Dale on The Riches.

Garrett, M.D., Ph.D
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#23
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7/22/08 at 5:03pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

Last night, best line ever! To paraphrase: "... she's going to blow the whole band through a hole ................. in the time warp."
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#24
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7/22/08 at 7:06pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

When the foul-mouthed alien girl scout (we've got to get an unrated DVD so that we can hear what she was saying lol) took off on her bike at warp speed...

"Dubby, that is one fast Huffy."

The things they come up with in this show are so off-puttingly charming it's hilarious, like the sight of that poor duck with it's head stuck in a worm hole and the sound of his quacks echoing from the ether.
When Jack Bauer was in 2nd grade he killed a terrorist for show and tell.
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#25
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2/20/09 at 4:29pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

The Middleman has been canceled! Darn it, first Kyle XY and now Middleman. Those two were the only ABC Family shows I watched. Oh well, one less channel I'll have to monitor. Wish I could return it to Comcast for a rate reduction.
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#26
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2/20/09 at 6:50pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

At least SHOUT! will be putting out a DVD set and the show won't disappear into the realm of forgotten and unreleased TV.

= Derek Miner =
Co-founder, Sunscreen Film Festival

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#27
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2/20/09 at 7:44pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

I hate to say it, as much as I loved the show, i'm not surprised at it's getting the boot.

It was just too damn silly for it's own good, a virtue to us but apparently the general public just didn't get the joke.

No more Dubby.
When Jack Bauer was in 2nd grade he killed a terrorist for show and tell.
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#28
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2/21/09 at 7:23am
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

For what it's worth, Viper will apparently be releasing a graphic novel that wraps the series up at about the same time as the DVDs. I wonder whether it will use likenesses or the art style from the original comics.
Jay's Movie Blog - A movie-viewing diary.
Transplanted Life: Sci-fi soap opera about a man placed in a new body, updated two or three times a week.
Trading Post Inn - Another gender-bending soap, with different collaborators writing different points of view.

"What? Since when was this an energy ball...
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#29
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2/22/09 at 12:17am
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Seaver
For what it's worth, Viper will apparently be releasing a graphic novel that wraps the series up at about the same time as the DVDs. I wonder whether it will use likenesses or the art style from the original comics.
The Middleblog said the graphic novel will use the likenesses of the TV show characters.

= Derek Miner =
Co-founder, Sunscreen Film Festival

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#30
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2/23/09 at 1:56pm
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Re: ABC Family's 'THE MIDDLE MAN'

Ah, that's kind of a bummer. As much as I like Keesler and Morales, most likeness-based comics look pretty bad (and I liked the original character designs).
Jay's Movie Blog - A movie-viewing diary.
Transplanted Life: Sci-fi soap opera about a man placed in a new body, updated two or three times a week.
Trading Post Inn - Another gender-bending soap, with different collaborators writing different points of view.

"What? Since when was this an energy ball...
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