We used to watch both shows and enjoyed both. But when Patricia Heaton went off on her very public rant against a woman who felt that her insurance should cover birth control pills, we quit watching The Middle and will never again watch anything that she's in.

Modern Family has the perfect cast for the roles, and the best writing team! It's amazing the stuff they come up with -- and get away with! Love it, love it, love it!

Neither one appeal to me.

Sue

Love and never miss Modern Family. I boycotted The Middle because of Patricia Heatings rants and nasty comments regarding birth control. Public figures should keep their politics to themselves because a lot of people are turned off by their public declarations.

I love them both, never miss watching them.

Watch both. Prefer Modern Family for its sharp wit. Don't agree with P. Heaton but don't care what actors think, just as I don't care what my plumber's political and social views are.

Hadn't heard about the Heaton editorials but Modern Family is a much better show anyway.

We appreciate famous people standing up for causes until it is a stupid one, as in this case. After an actor proclaims in favor of an idea or an effort we cannot abide then we cannot help but think about what a dope they are in real life - while watching them play a character.

I saw The Middle at my daughter's one day, and wondered if there was a relationship between that show and the older Malcolm in the Middle. The youngest actor looked familiar, I think. Or somebody did. Any idea?

Patricia Heaton played the Mom in both shows.

edited for correction - as Alisande pointed out below - She wasn't the mom in both series. I think I must have gotten my loud mouthed characters mixed up!!!!

thanks Susan.

I don't think so, Maire. Didn't she play Ray Romano's wife in Everybody Loves Raymond? I'm picturing someone quite different in Malcolm in the Middle.

Well the end is near for Modern Family. The ratings abruptly changed to negative. I felt the change in writing and believe that they needed to end this. We will never know if the writers changed but I am sad because I was invested in every character but this year was such a loss to me.

I liked Modern Family but was glad when they changed Lily...those twins that played the first Lily rarely had any facial expression that was happy...it was creepy...l like this Lily and will be sorry if the show ends...

Never watched The Middle....

It wasn't Patricia Heaton's views on birth control that made us despise her. It was the vile names she called a woman she doesn't even know. The vile things she said about this woman. All because the woman is single, takes birth control pills, and thinks her insurance should cover at least part of the cost of the prescriptions.

Modern is really different story which mixes every type family members i see only 6 seasons.

I watch both shows and really liked Heaton in Everybody Loves Raymond?" Miss that show!

Interesting opinions! I agree with some, but not all. I agree PH is personally objectionable, and her roles in Middle and Raymond are of an annoying, whiney woman. Maybe it comes naturally to her. I do enjoy the kids on Middle--the ever optimistic Sue, the obnoxious Axle, and the weird, neglected Brick. I find them more believable than the Modern Family kids. I thought the babies who played Lily in the beginning were adorable, but I don't care for the current Lily's acting or the role itself.

Well the end is near for Modern Family. The ratings abruptly changed to negative

Now that you mention it recent episodes have been falling flat for me also. Maybe not as bad as the last, unfunny gasps of Seinfeld or Red Dwarf but I do notice I'm not laughing - or being touched much in any other way.

Coincidentally my later viewing of new episodes has been repeatedly interrupted by phone calls and other distractions.

And it doesn't seem to be that much of a bother.

Whereas last night's The Middle did make me laugh.

Another entry in the same comedy night sequence - Blackish - was too dense, serious and wordy, I couldn't see the same characters suddenly becoming so prone to expounding - it was like a historical drama. They even had the teen girl reveal herself to not actually be "shallow", in a perhaps unintentional parody of the entire show. They could have addressed the same subject matter without the abrupt turn into Humorless and Heavy.

I started losing interest in Modern Family last season. I'm not finding it as funny, writing is kind of stale.

I have never been a fan of Patricia Heaton, but I do enjoy the kids on The Middle. I think Sue's character is hilarious as the eternal optimist.

I've watched both shows for years. I wasn't aware of the Patricia Heaton kerfuffle.

I love the kids on The Middle, especially Sue. I like that the writers don't exalt churlish children. I think too many kids think it's ok to be snarky to their parents these days.

I think Modern Family has had some hilarious episodes, but it's close to needing a fork stuck in it.

I will miss Phil Dunphy.

If you watch it now with the sound turned down it often looks almost Keystone Cops, with all this running around and arm waving etc. I take reliance on physical humor as a sign of a lack of good material.

I like The Middle a lot and I laugh almost every episode. The kids are really funny and they all work well together. Have never been a Modern Family fan as it just seems too over the top with trying too hard to be funny, instead of a natural funny. I may have seen 5 episodes of that show and didn't care of any of them.

I agree with the last few posters. I enjoy The Middle more. It seems more true to life, and sometimes the messages at the end are worth thinking about.

As for Modern Family, I lost interest in it quite some time ago. The show takes a theme (like the family photo) and then exaggerates it too much.

The twins who played Lily at the beginning were on for two seasons. Then they didn't seem to want to "act" any longer and their parents told the producers that they wouldn't be back for season 3. The current actress portraying Lily has been there since the beginning of season 3.

Is this "Lily" a twin too? I think she's so cute.

I don't believe Lily is a twin. I also think she's a cutie, although I wish the writers would turn down her snarkiness a bit.

She can be a little snarky. Not sure as a parent, I would like that. But hey, it's a TV comedy show, not real life.

People with bothersome personality traits seems very real life to me.

She comes off as a sassy, smart-mouthed kid, not a sweet little girl.

I enjoy the Middle. Not as much Modern Family. Seems like they try way to hard to be funny . or it's just not funny could be the problem.

This season of Modern Family is getting painful. So sad when it was one of my favorites.

I agree that Modern Family tries too hard to be funny. And the acting doesn't seem natural to me - it seems forced. The Middle seems very natural. PH isn't my favorite but I think she does a good job. The Dad & the kids are great.

They've had Lily act out since she was tiny. That's her character, it creates some of the many awkward situations that are characteristic of this situation comedy.

I like the Middle, never watch Modern Family. The kids are hilarious.