FRANKIE DECIDES TO KICK BACK ON THE COUCH AND MAKE THIS YEAR A MINIMALIST CHRISTMAS; MIKE ATTEMPTS TO PURCHASE AN ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE; AXL PUTS BOSS CO. BACK INTO BUSINESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS; AND BRICK ATTEMPTS TO WRITE A CHRISTMAS FAMILY LETTER OUTLINING THE PAST YEAR OF THE HECKS, ON ABC'S "THE MIDDLE"

"The Christmas Wall" - Frankie has had enough of schlepping out the Christmas decorations and trying to make the perfect holiday for her family -- who she feels doesn't appreciate all that she does for them -- and decides to kick back on the couch and have a minimalist Christmas this year. Meanwhile, due to Sue's allergy to real Christmas trees, Mike attempts to purchase an artificial one and ends up not getting what he paid for. Axl puts Boss Co. back into business for the holidays as Tree Wise Men but gets into such a heated argument with Sean over a misfit toy that the two can't seem to work together, and Brick becomes fascinated by a Christmas letter the family has received and attempts to write one on his own outlining the past year of the Hecks, on "The Middle," WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16 (8:00-8:30 p.m., EST) on the ABC Television Network.

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

Guest starring are John Gammon as Darrin, Beau Wirick as Sean Donahue, Jen Ray as Nancy Donahue and Ely Henry as clerk.

"The Christmas Wall" was written by Roy Brown and directed by Lee Shallat Chemel.

"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,L parental guideline.

For more information on "The Middle," visit abc.com/TheMiddle.