FRANKIE WANTS THE MACHO HECK MEN TO SHARE THEIR PENT UP FEELINGS WITH EACH OTHER WHEN MIKE'S FATHER, BIG MIKE, AND BROTHER RUSTY JOIN THE FAMILY FOR THEIR ANNUAL THANKSGIVING FEAST, ON ABC'S "THE MIDDLE"

Norm MacDonald Guest Stars as Mike's Brother, Rusty

"Thanksgiving II" - Mike begrudgingly invites his brother, Rusty (Norm MacDonald), who is temporarily living in a tent, and his father, Big Mike, who has recently broken his hip, to join him for the annual Heck family Thanksgiving. But when Frankie observes the macho Heck men's non-communicative nature, she encourages a not-so-receptive Mike to engage them in a real conversation and express their feelings. Meanwhile, Brick is ecstatic when he discovers that Bob is bringing his girlfriend, Linda - the local librarian who loves books as much as Brick does - to Thanksgiving; and Sue wants to start a mother-daughter tradition of baking a pie for the holiday, but ends up getting more sliced up than the crust, on "The Middle," WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 11/24/10)

"The Middle" stars Patricia Heaton as Frankie, Neil Flynn as Mike, Charlie McDermott as Axl, Eden Sher as Sue, Atticus Shaffer as Brick and Chris Kattan as Bob.

Guest starring are John Cullum as Big Mike, Norm MacDonald as Rusty, Laura Heisler as Lisa, Jeanette Miller as Aunt Edie, Frances Bay as Aunt Ginny and Mike Muscat as mailman.

"Thanksgiving II" was written by Rob Ulin and directed by Ken Whittingham.

"The Middle" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format with a 5.1 channel surround sound. This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.

For more information on "The Middle," visit ABC.com