An unaired pilot for the long-running sitcom The Middle was very different from the final show, and seeing how different the final product became makes me appreciate the series even more. The Middle follows the Heck family as they struggle and overcome the challenges of everyday life in Middle America and their own eccentricities. While The Middle wasn't the most original premise for a sitcom ever, it did gain a dedicated following, and it makes a strong case for being one of the best shows on Peacock.

A big reason The Middle found success is because of how it took its relatively common premise and put a spin on it. The Middle takes place in Indiana, which differentiates it from similar shows like Malcolm in the Middle, which was set in the Western United States. Though the Heck family lives in the suburbs, they're very close to rural America, and...