The Funny Story Behind Tim Allen Calling His Last Man Standing ‘Wife,’ And Nancy Travis Having To (Literally) Remind Him Their ‘Kids’ Were Just Actors

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In 2025, Tim Allen is back on ABC with a fresh comedy named “Shifting Gears“, which sees him playing a widower restoring cars and struggling to connect with his estranged daughter and grandchildren. This is quite different from the family life his character Mike Baxter had on “Last Man Standing“, where Nancy Travis portrayed Vanessa, the wife and mother of their three not-estranged daughters. It seems that Allen really embraced his role as a TV father at times.

In his own words, he often refers to his co-stars from the show “Last Man Standing” – Kaitlyn Dever, Molly Ephraim, and Amanda Fuller – as if they were truly members of his close family. When speaking with US Weekly about his ongoing bond with his TV son from “Home Improvement,” Jonathan Taylor Thomas, who made appearances in several episodes of “LMS,” Allen described it as well.

Nancy Travis shared some surprising information with me following a call during Last Man Standing. I asked her, “By any chance, have you kept in touch with the actresses who portray our on-screen daughters over the summer?” After a moment’s pause, she replied, “Tim, it’s important to clarify that those aren’t our real-life daughters and I don’t play your wife off-set.

Despite Tim Allen’s remarks towards his TV daughters in “Last Man Standing” potentially appearing exaggerated, given he treats them as if they were real-life daughters, it underscores the close bond he shares with his on-set colleagues. This connection, however, has been somewhat tarnished by a complaint lodged against him by an actress from “Santa Clauses,” who accused him of inappropriate behavior.

It apparently wasn’t only a one-off instance, either, as he also said this about Nancy Travis:

In my opinion, her performance was truly captivating. During moments when the show’s narrative seemed challenging, I often found myself asking, “How must they be feeling?” To which she would gently remind me, “Remember, Tim, they’re actors. The depth of emotion you see on screen isn’t always their own.

If “Last Man Standing” were a high-end cable or streaming series delving into heavy, potentially distressing themes, Mike Baxter’s protective feelings might seem more understandable. However, compared to my recollections, the emotional impact of the Baxter sisters (Kristin, Mandy, and Eve) in “Last Man Standing” was relatively mild. Yet, fathers, real or fictional, can’t help but worry about their children’s wellbeing, regardless of how logical it may seem.

In essence, Tim Allen has mentioned that his genuine bond with Kaitlyn Dever on set was similar to the connection between Eve and Mike in “Last Man Standing”. This likeness made her departure even more poignant, while her occasional comebacks as Eve became all the more joyful, especially considering the logistical challenges they faced.

It’s intriguing to learn about Allen’s tales concerning Nancy Travis during the initial phase of Shifting Gears. This is because, earlier, he had disclosed that to establish himself as the “Tom Brady of sitcoms,” he aspired to portray a character grappling with the sorrow of losing a spouse. However, it’s also possible that his true intention was to have fewer co-stars who he might inadvertently confuse for his real family members.

Tune in to catch Matt from “Shifting Gears” as he works on both relationships and vehicles each week. The show is broadcast every Wednesday evening at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC, or you can watch it the following day if you have a Hulu subscription.

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2025-01-20 02:37