There was a original pilot for The Middle filmed around 2007 with some changes in the cast: Ricki Lake playing the role of Frankie Heck before Patricia Heaton, Brick is portrayed the same, Sue was played by a different actress, Axl was named Elvis and a different person was playing the Mike Heck role. The show was originally going to take place in Jasper, Indiana, though the setting was changed to the fictional Orson, Indiana, on the advice of attorneys. (thetvdb.com)