TV Deep Focus: "Home Improvement"

Many people who grew up during the 1990s might remember a certain popular sitcom that aired on television. No, it’s not “Seinfeld,” it’s not “Friends” and it is not Frasier, but it is a show that usually remained recognizable in the eyes of American viewers. That show was “Home Improvement,” starring Tim Allen in the title role, and it ran for eight seasons from 1991-1999.

The show follows the everyday life of Tim Taylor (Tim Allen) and his wife Jill Taylor (Patricia Richardson) as they parent three troublesome boys who constantly give them new antics to take care of.

Tim is also the host of the “fourth-highest rated cable tool show” “Tool Time,” where he stars alongside his assistant Al Borland (Richard Karn) as he shows viewers (usually ending in a blunder) how to fix items around the house or build something with tools sponsored by the Binford company.

Tim, demonstrating his funny heightened male masculinity, always strives for “more power,” which usually results in some tool or trinket being altered to fit his definition of a “man’s tool.” During some portion of an episode, Tim or some other member of the family goes to their next-door neighbor, Wilson (Earl Hindman), for advice, albeit part of his face is always obscured by the fence or some other item.

As the show continued throughout the '90s, Tim and Jill’s sons grew older, but the two parents also grew in wisdom and experience as well. Al would blossom into a more well-rounded character, becoming more than just Tim’s sidekick. The three sons would develop their own niches and interests, with Brad (Zachery Ty Byran) becoming the athlete, Randy the socially conscious “activist” and Mark going from “momma’s boy” to punk rocker...somehow.

Even Wilson had to become more than the “elder with wisdom” as he went to Tim for advice on a few occasions and even developed a romance with an older woman Jill set up for him. The show would eventually end as Randy Taylor (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) only made brief appearances in the final season (due to the actor’s other obligations) and after a pay dispute with the lead actress.

However, it is good the show ended when it did because some shows can lose quality and substance as time goes on as they are stretched too thin. This can happen with a show such as “The Jeffersons,” which ran far past its prime, lost valuable substance in its stories (not to mention that it got quite derivative at times) and got canceled before getting a proper series finale. Thankfully, “Home Improvement” got its proper send-off in 1999 with a three-part finale (spoiler alert) depicting Tim moving his family to Indiana after resigning from his beloved “Tool Time” show.

After the show ended in the late 1990s, the other stars would go their separate ways. Allen would star in various comedies and portray the iconic Buzz Lightyear in the “Toy Story” movies. Eventually, he would make his way to another popular sitcom in the 2010s called “Last Man Standing,” now playing the role of Mike Baxter.

Coincidentally, many stars from “Home Improvement” found their way onto this new show as guests such as Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas.

As a tribute to the original show, Allen reprised his role as Tim Taylor on “Last Man Standing” acting alongside himself in a crossover event but also confirming that both potentially exist in the same TV universe.

So that means that this now opens the door for “Toy Story,” “Santa Clause,” “Galaxy Quest” and “Christmas with the Kranks” to also exist in the same Tim Allen-verse, right??

“Home Improvement” isn’t a show the average Gen-Z is that aware of, probably because it doesn’t have as iconic of status as “Seinfeld” or “Friends,” nor was it groundbreaking in any way. But it was always in the Top 10 for ratings and viewership because it was something that audiences always tended to enjoy.

Allen, along with his other co-stars, also shared an innate likeability that continually drew audiences back in. Either that or it is because they knew that every week, viewers would be guaranteed that this show was filled with “more power!”

Logan M. Sharp is a fourth-year student majoring in film production. To contact him, please email at lxs5590@psu.edu.