Looking through Internet Archive and reading all of their old issues of magazines is one of my husband’s favorite pastimes. Watching re-runs of Home Improvement has been mine for probably the last 3 months. It’s my safe show and something I put on for background noise as well as the fact that it’s just a great show. I remember watching it when I was a kid. Tim Allen, Patricia Richardson, and Richard Karn have informed a lot of my current sense of humor. And in an article from an issue of Entertainment Weekly from 1993, the sentiment is the same as it is now. It’s a hit show that will stand the test of time. It ran from September 17, 1991, to May 25, 1999 and had 8 seasons, 204 episodes and aired on ABC.
1. Tim the “Tool Man” Taylor
Tim is really what made the show a staple of television. The article in Entertainment Weekly gave him a glowing review. Honestly I enjoy him because he is a man’s man. He’s all about cars, tools and sports. And he’s what I wished my dad was like honestly. He’s a hard worker, silly and still cares about his kids.
2. The Supporting Cast was Stellar
Patricia Richardson
Jill is the one that keeps Tim grounded in the best ways. Her quips and honest opinions are some of the reasons that I just idolize her. I always thought if I became a mom I would want to be just like her. Aware of everything and psychoanalyzing situations to view them from all sides before passing judgement. In the show she would go on to get a doctorate in Psychology so it’s very fitting that her character did these things from the start of the show all the way to season 8.
Richard Karn
Al was Tim’s other half on the show “Tool Time” and was a stand up guy all around. Perfectly balancing Tim’s macho attitude and adding a bit of softness to the harsh edges of the show. I appreciated his punny sense of humor the most. The other characters were funny but not in the way that Al would put puns out there. He also had a sensitivity that was often unrecognized in men at the time and normalized being present in relationships from friendships to romantic interests.
The Boys
Zachary Ty Bryan, Johnathan Taylor Thomas and Taran Noah Smith all work. Still to this day their antics and humor are still innocent and interesting enough that you’re truly invested in the characters. These kids brought a sarcastic edge to the show often ragging on Tim and poking jokes at Jill.
3. The family dynamic feels real
The Taylors aren’t overly polished. The kids argue, the parents disagree, and not every problem gets wrapped up neatly. That grounded feeling makes it easier to revisit compared to some more exaggerated sitcoms. When someone has an issue the entire family gets involved in ways that don’t upset the balance. No one ever makes things worse for another on purpose. There is not a whole lot of jealousy happening between the boys which is nice to see. And everyone has their own things they’re good at and praised for.
4. Wilson’s advice still hits
The neighbor Wilson, played by Earl Hindman, delivers thoughtful, often philosophical advice without being preachy. His conversations still feel meaningful, even today. He’s a good neighbor through and through and never meddles. His relationship with the Taylors is a wholesome one and I loved watching every member of the family use him for his perspective on things. He was never wrong either. He was objective and kind in situations he could have been overly judgmental about. I think most of our neighbors today could learn a lot from Wilson.
5. “Tool Time” never gets old
The in-show program is basically controlled chaos, and that’s what makes it fun. Watching Tim and Al try (and fail) to demonstrate tools is still one of the show’s biggest highlights. I loved watching Tim get electrocuted. I loved watching Al get back at him in subtle ways that the audience could see but would fly over Tim’s head. And their on location shows were part of the series best episodes.
6. It’s comfort TV at its best
There’s something about the pacing, tone, and structure that makes it perfect background TV. You can jump into almost any episode and still enjoy it without needing context. The episodes are all good, none of them are bad tv. I could literally rewatch the same season over and over and not get bored. And when you watch enough of a show that you can know what’s happening without even looking at it, you’ve reached the top level of entertainment. If I can rewatch a show in my head with my eyes closed, then I can do that instead of counting sheep.
It captures a specific era without feeling outdated
Yes, it’s very ‘90s—but not in a way that makes it hard to watch. Instead, it feels like a snapshot of a time when sitcoms focused on character and storytelling over spectacle. I love watching the background scenes and looking at the house. The decor, the furniture placement and even the floor plan are all interesting to me. I’m actually working on a mock up of the second floor because there is nothing about it online. I know it was all sets but they were all done in a way that still feel relevant today.
Final Thoughts
All this to say that I just really love the show. If you’re obsessed with the Taylor’s I fully recommend checking out the Home Improvement Archive. I’m not sure if it’s a dead site but it has literally everything you could ever want including press releases from the DVD sets, screencaps of the episodes and scripts. Check it out here.
