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This article is about the television show. For other uses, see Home improvement (disambiguation).
Home Improvement is an American television sitcom starring Tim Allen, which aired 1991 to 1999. The show was created by Matt Williams, Carmen Finestra and David MacFadzean. In the 1990s, it was one of the most watched sitcoms, winning many awards. The series launched Tim Allen's acting career and also was the start of the television career of Pamela Anderson, who was part of the cast for the first two seasons. The show's title is a pun: it refers to physical improvement of houses, as well as to improving life with family, friends, work, and school.
[edit] Show backgroundBased on the stand-up comedy of Tim Allen, Home Improvement made its debut on ABC on September 17, 1991, and was one of the highest-rated sitcoms for almost the entire decade. It went to #1 in the ratings during the 1993-1994 season; that year, Allen also had the #1 book (Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man) and movie (The Santa Clause).[1] Midway throughout the show's run, it was competing against another highly-rated sitcom, Frasier, which slightly dropped the ratings. It did, however, remain a Top 10 show. The final episode aired on May 25, 1999 with a 90-minute, three-part episode entitled "The Long and Winding Road," which was the fourth highest rated comedy series finale of the 1990s, behind Cheers, The Cosby Show and Seinfeld. Since 1995, due to its popularity, reruns began airing on The Disney Channel, Channel 4 and ABC1 in the UK. At the present time, old episodes are currently on national syndication and on cable television network such as TBS in the U.S., the Seven Network and 111 Hits in Australia, Sab Tv & Disney Channel in India and although it stopped airing in the UK due to ABC1 ceasing transmission on September 26, on July 28, 2008 it restarted from the pilot episode on Virgin 1. In America, it has begun airing on Nick at Nite in 2007 [2]. In Canada, it has began airing on CMT and YTV. In Germany, Home Improvement was shown on ARD, RTL, VOX, and reruns are currently shown on the private channels RTL 2 and Super RTL. It was also shown on M-Net on South African television, and reruns are showing throughout 2007 on the M-Net Series channel, available to DStv users. In 2007, with the DVD release of Tim Allen's two stand-up specials, he said that Home Improvement was supposed to be a parody of This Old House, where the host does almost nothing and the co-host (Al in this case, Norm on This Old House) does all the work. [edit] Plot details and storylines[edit] Taylor familyThe series centered on the Taylor family, which consists of father Tim (Tim Allen), his spouse Jill (Patricia Richardson) and their three children: the oldest, Brad (Zachery Ty Bryan), the middle child Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) and youngest, Mark (Taran Noah Smith). The Taylors live in suburban Detroit, Michigan and have a neighbor named Wilson (Earl Hindman) who is often the go-to guy for solving Tim and Jill's problems. Tim is a stereotypical American male, who loves power tools, cars and sports. He is a former salesman for the fictional Binford Tool company, and is very much an overconfident know-it-all. Witty but flippant, Tim jokes around a lot, even at inopportune times. Family life was boisterous, with the two oldest children, Brad and Randy, tormenting the much younger, Mark, while continually testing and pestering each other. This rough by-play happened especially throughout the first four seasons, and was revisited occasionally until Jonathan Taylor Thomas left at the beginning of the eighth season. Brad, popular and athletic, was often the moving factor, who engaged before thinking, a tendency which regularly landed him in trouble. Randy, a year younger, was the comedian of the pack—the quick-thinking, sarcastic kid who had more common sense than Brad but wasn't immune to trouble. Mark was somewhat of a mama's boy, though later in the series (in the seventh season) he grew into a teenage outcast who dressed in black clothing (a goth). Meanwhile, Brad became interested in cars like his father and took up soccer. Randy joined the school newspaper; in the eighth season, he left for Costa Rica. [edit] Tool TimeEach episode included Tim's own home improvement show, called Tool Time, a "meta-program," or show-within-a-show. Originally slated to be called Hammer Time, the show's name was changed to Tool Time because Tim and the producers felt that name would be confused with MC Hammer. In hosting this show, Tim was joined by his friend and mild-mannered assistant Al Borland (Richard Karn), and a "Tool Time girl" — first Lisa (Pamela Anderson) and later Heidi (Debbe Dunning) — whose main duty was to introduce the pair at the beginning of the show with the line "Does everybody know what time it is?" They would also assist Tim and Al during the show by bringing them tools. Although revealed to be an excellent salesman and TV personality, Tim Taylor was spectacularly accident-prone as a handyman, often causing massive disasters on and off the set to the consternation of his co-workers and family. Many Tool Time viewers assume that the accidents on the show are done on purpose, to demonstrate how not to use tools. Many of Tim's accidents were caused by his devices being used in an unauthorized manner, designed in application of his mantra, "More power!" The Tool Time studio audience is the actual studio audience of Home Improvement. Scenes with Tim and Al without the audience are pre-taped, usually for a cold opening. [edit] The relationship between Tim and AlThough ultimately they were best friends, there was sometimes a tense problematic relationship between Tim and Al. Al was reserved, though had much more knowledge, skill, and audience popularity than Tim. His catchphrase, as an opposition to Tim's ill-advised ideas or jokes, was "I don't think so, Tim." He also came up with many puns and would giggle and snort when a joke was made at Tim's expense. Al, being cautious, insecure, and brighter, bears the brunt of Tim's jokes and constant put-downs. Whenever Tim would make a remark likely to put off some Tool Time viewers, Al would quickly pull out a large sign with the show's address for those viewers to write to Tim and complain. Al is frequently taunted by Tim because of his beard, weight, bland personality (in Tim's eye), poor sense of humor, his overbearing mother, and his preference of flannel shirts (and often other flannel items such as an oversized pair of flannel briefs in the episode "Room Without A View"; Tim shows the briefs again in the episode "A Funny Valentine"). In one of the episodes it was revealed why Al wears flannel and that reason is that his father used to wrap him in his flannel shirts when Al would get cold helping him in his workshop . Tim typically uses his television show to vent about various problems he is having in his personal life. Al is usually very annoyed by this. In the end there was a respect between Tim and Al. An early episode shows a flashback to the premiere of Tool Time, in which Tim has a full-blooded beard, and introduces Al, who for the only time in the whole series is clean-shaven. [edit] The relationship between Tim and WilsonWilson and Tim are next-door neighbors and best friends. Every time that Tim would screw up in his everyday life, he would go to Wilson for advice. As always, Wilson had the answer, often using a philospohical or historical quotation to make his point. Tim would repeat what Wilson said to his wife, Jill, or the viewers of Tool Time, but he would often explain his revelation by misquoting Wilson, using Wilson's long words incorrectly, or mistaking the name of the person or work quoted. Wilson and Tim really trust each other, and that is why they are close as friends and neighbors. [edit] Awards and nominationsMain article: Home improvement awards Home Improvement received numerous awards and nominations in its 8 season run. Notable awards and nominations include: Golden Globe Awards, Kids' Choice Awards, YoungStar Awards, ASCAP Award and many others. [edit] Production[edit] Development and early recastsHome Improvement had been in the works between Tim Allen and the writing/producing team of Carmen Finestra, David McFadzean and Matt Williams since the summer of 1990. Originally, the project's proposed title was Hammer Time, both a play on the catchphrase made popular by artist MC Hammer and the name of the fictional fix-it show within the series, which was also called Hammer Time. By the time ABC committed to the project in early 1991, Allen and his team had already changed the title to Home Improvement, although the show hosted by Tim Taylor in the scripts was still called Hammer Time at this point. The catalyst for the series' name change was to represent the aspect of fixing problems within the family and homelife, as well as the use of mechanics and tools. Once the second phase of the pilot was produced, with all the actors that made the final cut into the series, Tim Taylor's Hammer Time became Tool Time. The first filmed pilot was produced in April 1991, in which Frances Fisher played Jill Taylor. Fisher, primarily known as a dramatic actress, was well qualified for the co-starring role but was viewed by the studio audience as not being comedic enough, and too serious in her line delivery. The producers tried to work with Fisher on adapting to the situation comedy setting, but shortly after the pilot wrapped post-production, they decided to recast her. This version of the pilot featuring Frances Fisher as Jill Taylor remains unaired. Before the first pilot was shot, actor John Bedford-Lloyd was in the running for one of two roles; that of Tim's Tool Time assistant, who was in this stage of development named Glen, and for the role of Wilson. Bedford-Lloyd eventually got the part of Wilson, but his agent later made claims that the actor was unaware that most of his scenes would require his face to be partially hidden behind a fence. For this reason, the crew received news just one day prior to taping the first pilot that Bedford-Lloyd had dropped out. Casting immediately contacted the other actor considered for the role, Earl Hindman. Stephen Tobolowsky was tapped to play the Tool Time co-host, Glen. However, he was still busy with a movie that was in the middle of production at the time the first pilot was set to be shot. Therefore, the producers set out to cast an alternate character that would stand-in as Tim's co-host for the pilot only, or for however many episodes until Tobolowsky was available. Casting auditioned Richard Karn, for what would be his first major appearance on a TV sitcom; the character of Al Borland was created from there. After the first few episodes completed with Patricia Richardson as Jill, Tobolowsky was still tied up with his other commitments, and Karn found himself in his role permanently when Tobolowsky decided he'd have no time to do a series. Thus, the character of Glen never came into being. [edit] Casting changes[edit] Pamela AndersonIn the first two years of the show, Pamela Anderson played the part of Tim's assistant, Lisa, on his cable show. As she had only a very small part, and was not present in every episode, she became frustrated with her role and took the role of C.J. Parker on the syndicated series Baywatch. Her last episode as a series regular was "The Great Race," which aired on May 19, 1993. Tim's new assistant, Heidi, played by Debbe Dunning, replaced Anderson as the Tool Time Girl for the following third season, starting with "Maybe Baby," which aired on September 15, 1993. Anderson did reprise the role of Lisa, now as a paramedic, in the sixth season finale "The Kiss and the Kiss-Off," which aired on May 20, 1997. [edit] Departure of Jonathan Taylor ThomasIn the show's eighth season, the middle child Randy left for Costa Rica in the episode "Adios" which aired on September 29, 1998. This was done since Jonathan Taylor Thomas reportedly wanted to take time off to focus on academics. His last appearance on Home Improvement was the eighth season's Christmas episode "Home for the Holidays," which aired on December 8, 1998. He did not return to the show for the series finale, aired in May 1999, only appearing in archived footage. He was shooting a movie for release that summer. [edit] Special guests and cameosMany special guests made cameo appearances on Tool Time. These guests included race car drivers Johnny Rutherford, Robby Gordon, Mario and Michael Andretti, Al Unser, Sr./Jr./III, actress and model Jenny McCarthy (the season 8 episode "Young at Heart"), country artist Alan Jackson (the season 5 episode "When Harry Kept Delores"), golfer Payne Stewart (the season 7 episode "Futile Attraction"), comedian Drew Carey (the season 6 episode "Totally Tool Time") and The Beach Boys. Numerous NASA astronauts appeared on the series, the most notable being Ken Bowersox, who made three separate appearances. Former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, then Detroit Pistons star Grant Hill (the season 7 episode "Believe It or Not"), former boxers Evander Holyfield (the season 3 episode "Eve of Construction") and George Foreman (the season 1 episode "Unchained Malady"), and former President Jimmy Carter all appeared on the series. Carter made an appearance during season three episode "Eve of Construction," which focused on Habitat for Humanity. Isiah Thomas appears as himself at the end of the season three episode (Aisle See You In My Dreams). Jay Leno appears with his car collection in the fourth season episode "Brother, Can You Spare a Hot Rod?" He also appeared four years later in the episode "Home Alone" in a dream sequence about Tim's book, saying "Instead of getting a literary genius like Tim Taylor, we're stuck with Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando." Leeza Gibbons and Oprah Winfrey also guest-starred in the episode playing themselves on their respective talk shows talking about Tim's book (and how he has not written it). Bob Vila also appeared on several episodes, with Tim seeing him as a rival (he appears in Season One's "What About Bob?" Season Two's "The Great Race," Season Three's "The Great Race II," Season Four's "Tool Time After Dark," with recycled Tool Time footage from earlier episodes, and Season Six's "Insult to Injury" in a dream sequence about Vila winning the consecutive home renovation show appearance record; Vila wasn't played by himself, and instead played by a stunt-double for a one-shot cameo.) The Beach Boys appeared in the Season 6 episode "The Karate Kid Returns" as Wilson's cousins. (Then — Beach Boys Carl Wilson and Mike Love were real-life cousins.) Tom Wopat, best known as Luke Duke from the TV Series, the Dukes of Hazzard, appears early on in Season 7 as Ian, to whom Jill feels romatically attracted after meeting him in a gym. A then-unknown Dave Chappelle and Jim Breuer guest-starred in the Season 4 episode "Talk to Me". This episode set the stage for the Home Improvement spin-off Buddies, which was Chappelle's first television series. Other famous guests include Drake Bell in the third season episode "Swing Time", Jack Elam, and Ernest Borgnine, who both appeared in the first season episode "Birds of a Feather Flock to Taylor." Dan Aykroyd makes a guest appearance as a blues-loving minister, the character he was currently playing in the Home Improvement spin-off series Soul Man. Robert Picardo, best known as The Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager, made two appearances on the show as Tim's neighbor, Joe "The Meat Man" Morton. He appeared in "A Sew, Sew Evening," and "Blow-Up," both early on in the third season. It was explained by Marie (his wife) in the fifth season episode "Jill's Surprise Party" that he had left her for a younger woman. Rodney Dangerfield and Alex Rocco appeared together in the 1997 Thanksgiving episode in which they both appeared in a luxury box at the Pontiac Silverdome. Magicians Penn and Teller also appeared in one of the episodes of the final season, opening for Tool Time by performing tricks with Tim. [edit] Theme songThe Home Improvement theme song was composed by Dan Foliart. The song is unique for its sampling of powertools (most noticeably an electric drill and jackhammer) heard throughout the song. Tim's grunting was also sampled for the song. The traditional instruments used in the song include: flute, guitar, and organ. [edit] Running gags
[edit] Cast[edit] Main cast
[edit] Recurring characters
[edit] Nielsen ratingsSeasonal Nielsen Rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of Home Improvement on ABC.[3]
[edit] SyndicationAround the mid 1990's Home Improvement started to air in syndication. It has previously aired on The WB, Nick at Nite, and WGN. Currently, the show can be seen on TBS. It will begin airing on TV Land in 2010.[4] [edit] UK broadcastingOriginally, Home Improvement was aired on Channel 4 and then later the Disney Channel, however, in 2005 it began broadcasting on abc1. On September 26 2007, abc1 ceased transmissions and no official announcement was made as to which channels would be broadcasting abc1's previous programming. Home Improvement has been shown on Virgin 1 since July 28 2008. [edit] DVD releasesWalt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has released all eight seasons on DVD in Region 1. Season 8 has the "Backstage Pass" (which immediately followed "The Long and Winding Road, Part III") and the reunion show on the fourth disc of the set.
[edit] DVD notesThe Region 1 DVDs are on three discs (with the exception of the Final Season set, which has four discs), whereas the Region 2 DVDs are presented across four discs, but in Germany the fourth to seventh seasons are also three disc sets. The Region 2 packaging and programme menus for Season 1 vary compared to the Region 1 releases. The Season 3 menus in Region 1 are in widescreen, but 4:3 in Region 2. The Region 1 releases of Seasons 2 and 3 consist of (deliberate) "holes" in the outer packaging—these do not exist in the Region 2 releases; in fact, the Season 3 outer packaging is physically printed where the hole would be in the Region 1 packaging. It has been mentioned on review sites about the lack of episode commentaries and bonus features on the DVDs. In an interview on about.com[8], Tim said that it was a done deal that the DVDs would not contain interviews or episode commentaries. Whether this was before or after somebody at Disney ordered the three commentaries available on the Season 1 DVDs is unknown. [edit] Related products
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