Tim Allen’s Journey: How He Beat Roseanne Without Sitcom Experience

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Despite earlier speculation suggesting that Tim Allen’s show Shifting Gears might not be renewed for Season 2, ABC has put those concerns to rest by officially commissioning additional episodes, set to air later in the 2025 TV season. Fans are crossing their fingers that this series will live up to Allen’s past successes like Last Man Standing and Home Improvement. In anticipation of his 72nd birthday in June 2025, the stand-up comedian reflected on his rapid ascent to sitcom stardom with no prior experience and surpassing another television icon along the way.

For those who were avid fans of network sitcoms in the 1990s, it’s likely that they spent countless hours enjoying the hilarity of multi-camera family shows like “Home Improvement” (1991-1999) and “Roseanne” (1988-1997 initially). During this period, these shows dominated the competition, paving the way for numerous other half-hour comedies aimed at stand-up comedians. In an interview with Closer, Tim Allen looked back on his journey into television production without any prior experience or specific goals. When asked about cherished memories, he reminisced:

It turns out television work is quite different from what I imagined. For one, I didn’t realize that you had to memorize extensive dialogue – around 40 pages worth! I was clueless about how to manage that. The first week was a real eye-opener, as it all seemed so alien to me. We may have followed in the footsteps of Roseanne, but soon enough, we overtook her in ratings. From there, we took off and became a massive success. It was a huge hit!

Before starring in “Home Improvement”, Tim Allen had over a dozen years of experience performing as a stand-up comedian, making his film debut as an airport baggage handler in Ciro Durán’s 1988 drama “Tropical Snow”, alongside David Carradine. This early success notwithstanding, and despite headlining two comedy specials in 1990 and 1991, Allen found himself out of his depth when it came to learning script lines for episodes and other tasks that he would eventually handle effortlessly.

One major advantage that “Home Improvement” held over many of its competitors from 1991 onwards was its strategic time slot placement. In its first season, it aired between “Full House” and “Roseanne,” which undoubtedly contributed to its success. Remarkably, the cast of “Home Improvement” matched the popularity of “Cheers,” ranking as the fourth most-watched TV show during the 1991-1992 season. The long-running favorite “Roseanne,” starring Roseanne Barr, maintained a strong position at number two.

It’s (Tool) Time For More Home Improvement News

– Tim Allen was asked about the possibility of Jonathan Taylor Thomas reappearing on Shifting Gears, and I’d be excited for that Home Improvement reunion.
– The idea of seeing Jonathan Taylor Thomas back on Home Improvement again is intriguing to me, given our shared history on the show.

However, the Tuesday evening combination didn’t endure, as ABC seized the opportunity presented by Home Improvement‘s thriving first season and placed it in the 9:00 p.m. prime-time spot on Wednesday nights. It climbed to the third position during its second season. But it was during its third year that the Detroit-based sitcom managed to climb up the ranks, eventually becoming the top-rated scripted show on television, even though it was still lagging behind 60 Minutes. In contrast, Roseanne slipped to the fourth position, overshadowed by another stand-up comedian’s successful series, Seinfeld.

Initially, Tim Allen may not have been thoroughly ready during the early days of “Home Improvement,” but he certainly adapted to his role as a prominent TV star throughout its eight seasons. (He held the top spot for the TV show, book, and movie box office in 1994.) Despite this, he acknowledged that the humor driven by machismo helped pave the way for a series of audience-favorite shows that were met with mixed reception from critics. In his own words:

What was peculiar was that my triumphs often tended to be of this nature. However, it was met with strong criticism. People found it overly pop and foolish. They commented, “There’s no chance he can grunt his way through 12 episodes.” Despite not being the intention, it eventually became well-known, although the aim was merely to provide entertainment.

I’m curious to understand the mindset of the individual who believed that Tim Allen’s grunts alone were insufficient to maintain the show’s success. It makes me ponder if they also harbored doubts about a goofy Fox animated series featuring a boy with spiky hair ever taking flight.

Back then in the early ’90s feels like a distant memory, but ABC is still airing the final season of “The Conners,” a follow-up to “Roseanne” that premiered shortly after “Shifting Gears” concluded its first season with a finale hinting at romance. Despite all the changes, things somehow remain familiar in their own way, just with different names. Keep an eye out for updates on when Matt (played by Allen) and Riley (portrayed by Kat Dennings) will be back.

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2025-04-08 19:39