What’s Worth Watching: Just a Middle Surprise

The Middle, “Siblings and Sombreros” (Wednesday, April 8, 8/7c, ABC)

Pop quiz Middle fans: Which of the Heck children can run the fastest, dribble a basketball, and do at least one sit-up? Answer: Axl (Charlie McDermott). Which of the Heck children wins almost every contest she enters? Sue (Eden Sher). And so which of those two do you think wins the Orson middle school’s Athlete of the Month award in tonight’s episode? Neither. Youngest child Brick (Atticus Shaffer) takes the prize.

Yes, Brick, who walks rather than runs because you can’t read a book while doing the latter, and for whom passing the Presidential Physical Fitness Test is a stretch. Unless the definition of athletics has been widened to include page turning, or pigs are flying, something’s up. Dad Mike (Neil Flynn) is equally shocked to learn his younger son earned a physical fitness award, but does he really want to find out why? Honestly, if it gets Brick (Atticus kills!) more screen time, we are happy to see him win anything.