The 'Middle' kids come out on top

BURBANK, Calif. — The three kids on ABC's "The Middle" defy a lot of sitcom conventions.

They're not precocious. They're not the brightest kids in class. They're not smart alecks. And they're sort of shockingly real, in a somewhat exaggerated sort of way.

"We really set out to ... not make them cliches," said executive producer DeAnn Heline. "And I honestly think part of being a parent is you would do anything for your children. You love them so much. Of course, you think they are perfect.

"Yet there's always something where you are going, 'Really? Did you have to do that?' They also sometimes have quirks that can drive a parent crazy."

On "The Middle," which airs Wednesdays on Ch. 4, Axl (Charlie McDermott), is a typical teenage boy. More interested in sports and girls than school. Prone to walking around the house in his boxers. Resentful of his parents.

Sue (Eden Sher) is enthusiastically average. She has big dreams without much in the way of ability. And she's awkward in a 13-year-old way.

And pre-teen Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is just weird. He's smart and bookish but has very little in the way of social skills.

"I think they are very realistic," said executive producer Eileen Heisler. "I mean, with Brick … he's not your typical kid. But a lot of Brick was based on the antics of my own son."

If you've ever seen the show, you know that's a little scary.

"We just try to write them as real people, write them from love," Heisler said. "And these guys (the actors) came and obviously just filled in anything that we didn't."

Having been Axl's age just a couple of years ago, McDermott said he can relate to his character.

"I think we try to keep it as grounded and realistic in as humorous a way as possible," said McDermott, 19. "There's some stuff that is exaggerated, but like they said, there's a lot of stuff that is taken from ... people that you've met."

Sher said she has no complaints about her character.

"She's always happy. And even when she's not happy, it's always an extreme emotion with Sue, pretty much," the 18-year-old said. "And to play anything to the extreme all the time … it's awesome."

Eleven-year-old Shaffer said he's not even really acting.