ABC ordered a pilot for a Sue Heck spin-off in 2018, but passed on turning it into a series that November. The pilot was filmed under the eventual or working title Sue Sue in the City; no episodes followed. The available reporting does not establish ABC’s reason for passing or confirm that viewers can watch the pilot.
What was the spin-off supposed to be?
The planned series would have followed Sue Heck, played by Eden Sher, after she left the fictional town of Orson, Indiana, for Chicago. The Middle creators Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline wrote the pilot and were set to executive-produce it. Contemporary coverage used the title Sue Sue in the City, though an early report described the project as untitled, so it is best understood as the eventual or working title.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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The Middle: The Complete First Season | $15.41 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Middle: The Complete Second Season | $12.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The Middle: Season 3 | $9.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Middle, The: The Complete Ninth Season | $31.89 | Buy on Amazon |
The proposed cast included Brock Ciarlelli returning as Sue’s best friend Brad, Finesse Mitchell as bartender Hudson, and Chris Diamantopoulos as hotel owner Nick. Kimberley Crossman was later identified as Remi, a chef at the hotel.
What happened in the filmed pilot?
In a 2024 account, Sher described the story as taking place about three years after The Middle ended, with Sue in her mid-20s and out of college. In Chicago, she tried to save a hotel. When Sue hit a low point, Brad arrived by taxi to help; Sher and Ciarlelli recalled the pair dancing in the streets as snow began to fall.
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Sher recalled, “We did film it, and it was pretty devastating when it didn’t go.” She also said the cast was “pretty shocked, to be honest.” Ciarlelli remembered that the team expected the project to be picked up after coming directly from The Middle. Those are the actors’ later recollections, not ABC’s explanation for its decision.
Why did ABC pass on the spin-off?
ABC decided in November 2018 not to move forward with the pilot. Contemporary trade reports document the decision but do not give a confirmed programming, creative, financial, or audience-testing reason. One report noted an executive transition at ABC during development, but the timing does not establish that the transition caused the project to stop.
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Can you watch Sue Sue in the City?
The pilot was filmed, according to Sher, but the reporting does not confirm that it was publicly released. A filmed pilot is not the same as a series order or a set of available episodes, so there is no substantiated basis here to describe the spin-off as something viewers can stream or buy. The original The Middle is separate from this unreleased-or-unconfirmed pilot.
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