SHOW: "The Middle" (ABC)

IN ITS FAVOR: An admirable stealth success for ABC. Even without the buzz that accompanies "Modern Family" or "Suburgatory" or "Happy Endings" or the premiere of "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23," "The Middle" does reliable numbers and surprisingly robust demos opening up a difficult night.

AGAINST IT: Overall numbers for "The Middle" have been way down in the spring against "Idol." Duh. And, like "Suburgatory," "The Middle" isn't a show that gets a huge DVR bump.

OUR TOTALLY UNINFORMED GUESS: Don't worry about "The Middle." It'll be back. Whether it'll be back on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. is a different question, but ABC could have a variety of possible approaches to comedy in the fall.

VERDICT: Renewed!