STAGE TUBE: Sneak Peek - A Christmas Surprise on Tonight's THE MIDDLE on ABC

On tonight's episode of ABC's THE MIDDLE entitled "A Christmas Gift", on a tipsy whim - and against Mike's wishes - Frankie decides to throw a Christmas Eve party at the house; Mike buys Frankie a much needed new dishwasher for Christmas, but has a hard time keeping it a secret when she begs him to replace the old one before the party; Sue calls on Reverend TimTom to explain the meaning of Christmas to Brick when he reads the Bible and begins to question it; and Axl gets annoyed with Bob when he tries too hard to be cool in order to befriend him while working together on a Christmas tree lot.

Two-time Emmy winner Patricia Heaton stars in this warm and witty single-camera comedy about raising a family and lowering your expectations.

Middle-aged, middle class and living in the middle of the country in Orson, Indiana, Frankie Heck is a harried wife and working mother of three who uses her wry wit and sense of humor to try to get her family through each day intact. Her work life's no easier, as she struggles day to day as the least successful sales woman at the town's only surviving car dealer.

Frankie's unflappable husband, Mike, is manager at the local quarry and her sardonic partner in the daily grind that is raising their average - yes, most definitely average - family.

Between juggling shifts and picking up fast food dinners eaten in front of the TV, Frankie and Mike raise their kids with love, humor and solid Midwestern practicality. Axl, the oldest, is a jock slacker who eats them out of house and home and walks around the house in his underwear. Then there's Sue, their extraordinarily ordinary teen daughter, who fails at just about everything she tries with great gusto. This year she's entering high school and will attempt to not only navigate the raging waters of school life but co-exist with Axl, who is not too thrilled with his little sister being at the same school. And last is Brick, their quirky fourth-grader, who reads constantly, whispers to himself and unapologetically marches to the beat of his own drummer.

But through all the madness shines a loving family, and together, the Hecks are putting THE MIDDLE on the map.

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

THE MIDDLE airs Wednesdays at 8:00 pm/et on the ABC Television Network. 

To get a sneak peek at tonight's episode, click below!