FRANKIE INFORMS THE FAMILY THAT THEY CAN TAKE A PASS ON MOTHER'S DAY THIS YEAR BUT MAKES EACH FAMILY MEMBER DO SOMETHING NICE FOR EACH OTHER AFTER SHE'S THE RECIPIENT OF A KINDLY GESTURE FROM A STRANGER AT THE MARKET, ON ABC'S 'THE MIDDLE'

Marsha Mason Guest Stars as Frankie's Mom, Pat

"Not Mother's Day" - After enduring year after year of botched Mother's Days, Frankie declares that the family gets to take a pass on doing anything at all for her this year. But after a man offers to buy Frankie's groceries at the market when she discovers that she forgot her wallet - and tells her to pay the kindly gesture forward - she decides to have the family pull each other's names out of a hat and do something nice for that person, which doesn't go as smoothly as planned, on "The Middle," WEDNESDAY, MAY 4 (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 Marsha Mason as Pat Spence, Dagney Kerr as Gloria, Robert Pine as Mr. Travers, Vernee Watson as cashier and Shaughn Buchholz as Rodney.

"Not Mother's Day" was written by Rich Dahm 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. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to the airdate.