JayArfur If there is one thing that makes me want to kick a cat it's when I find out a TV show that I've fallen in love with has been cancelled in its first year. Lucky for me and the cat I don't own any pets. Animal cruelty aside, it is very frustrating when a TV network cuts short something as wonderfully odd and brilliant as The Middleman.Based on the graphic novels by Javier Grillo-Marxuach it's the story of Wendy Watson, played by Natalie Morales, a young attractive artist who finds herself working for The Middleman (Matt Keeslar) a square-jawed all-American hero who saves the world on a daily basis from supernatural forces while not even uttering a curse word.Taking in elements of Men in Black, The X-Files and a host of other past sci-fi classics, it manages to be a light-hearted entertaining comedy drama. While clearly a low budget show – most of the set pieces are played off camera; it rarely feels cheap and if anything, that's part of the joke.There is great re-watch value too, with each episode filled with in-jokes, nods to other sci-fi references and the obligatory Wilhelm scream. In the current climate of TV channels that are filled with near identical crime or medical dramas with Brits playing Americans, spending most of their 43 minutes sarcastically mouthing off to a group of near identical supporting cast members, it seems crazy to let something as original as The Middleman join the likes of Firefly, Wonderfalls, Odyssey 5 and American Gothic as one season gems. We should however at least be grateful for the few fine episodes made.

Morten Johnsen I figured I'd check out this show, as it was seemed interesting in concept. While I was watching the first episode, I was thinking along the lines of "this is sort of interesting, it could take a right turn somewhere", but the last ten minutes were boring, ridiculous and just not entertaining in general.I figured I'd watch the second episode to see where the series were going, and I found it to be incredibly dry, and hard to watch. I'm reminded of Torchwood without a back-story. It's pure and simply "random POTENTIALLY interesting guy with a horrible sense of humor, random potentially interesting chick with a decent sense of humor" teaming up and chasing a ridiculous story.The whole plot with aliens and crazy doctors is introduced in the sentence "the stuff you read in comic books are true", and there you go. No back-story, just kill bad guys without action.I enjoy series such as Doctor who, torchwood, etc, but this one actually bored me. It has potential though, and I will suffer myself through another episode or two to see if the series turn into something I enjoy. Nevertheless, I'm left with the feeling that this series is intended for a generation older than me.

Michael Adam This is the lowest quality show I have seen so far this year. It has the apparent budget of a BBC show but without the good acting and writing that the British generally provide. The writers provide cliché after endless cliché combined with some of the poorest attempts at comedy that I have born witness to in what may have been the longest 45 minutes of my life. The Middleman actually left me feeling depressed. I haven't seen such poor television since the last time I accidentally flicked onto the Living Channel. And the main character looks like a monkey. However I acknowledge that just as some people enjoy watching the living channel, some people may conceivably enjoy this show, but if you are over the age of 12 I do not recommend this show (the fact that The Middleman seems well suited for children is the only reason I do not rate it with a mere one star). With a near endless wealth of far greater quality television available, this 'family' show will most likely drive the majority of any family into a catatonic state and certainly does not come close to it's competition. I noticed that one comment likened The Middleman to Chuck. Chuck is a well written show with a good budget created by Josh Schwartz (The OC). The Middleman is not well written, nor does it appear to have a good budget. Also coincidentally it does not have Josh Schwartz. Be warned.

Heliograph A friend said I should take advantage of the free iTunes download, and it was great advice: The Middleman is the best show I've seen since Pushing Daisies. Both shows feature smart, rapid-fire dialog, but The Middleman features more action (and more jokes) with a lot less romance.Another reviewer thought the pop-culture references were current and disposable, but I don't think the show has that feel at all: there were far more jokes referencing (and name-checking) comic books and other pop culture from the 20th century. The show even self-references the fact that the "reality" of the show is like a comic book, complete with "monsters, robots... aliens?" Even so, you jokes are plentiful, and if you're not a comics nerd you'll still enjoy it (there were a surprising number of painting jokes, frex). The show should have no trouble holding up years from now.I was surprised the show will be on ABC Family. It doesn't really seem like a family show, but then again many of the more adult jokes may be over the heads of a younger audience. Frex, the heroine's roommate asks her what it is like to be a "beard." If you like The Venture Brothers, Men In Black, Ghostbusters, or the last bunch of Reaper episodes, you'll like The Middleman<. I've seen comments that it is a ripoff of MIB, Special Unit 2, or Reaper, but if the pilot is any guide is totally avoids the drama and angsty-ness that SU2 or Reaper occasionally indulge in: The Middleman sticks to laughs, and is more comic-booky. And I mean that in a good way.I've never entered a comment on IMDb before, but I felt the other poster's comments were so unfair that I was motivated to submit my own views.