Credit: Amazon.com
Creators:
Carmen Finestra
David McFadzean
Matt Williams
Cast:
Tim Allen ………. Tim Taylor
Patricia Richardson ………. Jill Taylor
Earl Hindman ………. Wilson Wilson Jr.
Taran Noah Smith ………. Mark Taylor
Jonathan Taylor Thomas ………. Randy Taylor (1991 – 1998)
Zachery Ty Bryan ………. Brad Taylor
Richard Karn ………. Al Borland
Debbe Dunning ………. Heidi Keppert (1993 – 1999)
Pamela Anderson ………. Lisa (1991 – 1993)
The Show
Home Improvement was a sitcom that debuted in 1991, which allowed stand-up comedian Tim Allen his big break in the television and movie industry. The show centers around Tim “The Toolman” Taylor and his family. Tim runs a local program named ‘Tool Time’, a do-it-yourself show where Tim works on various projects that always somehow go wrong. He has an male assistant on the show named Al. Al knows more about what is going on than Time does. There is also a female assistant that changed this season. Her name was Heidi.
Tim also always manages to screw up something at home as well. He has a crazy family with his wife, Jill, and his three sons Brad, the trouble maker, Randy, the smart-ass, and Mark, the innocent one that always got picked on by the older sons. He also has a neighbor named Wilson, who only shows half of his face in every episode. There was always a creative way of doing it in each episode.
The show lasted for 8 seasons and was always in the Top 20 each year. But Season Three was the best season as far as ratings go. It was the #1 TV show beating ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Roseanne’ that year! This show was constantly funny. Too many jokes to mention. Tim always made fun of Al and his wardrobe and his mom. You always laughed at how dumb Tim was. Wilson always gave him advice and Tim never knew what he was talking about. You could always guarantee a laugh from him screwing up something whether at home or on his TV show. Tim’s family always made jokes with each other too. The family really seemed like a REAL family. That is probably why the show worked so well.
I grew up watching this show and at the time my favorite episodes were the ones, in which Tim introduced the “Man’s Bathroom” and the “Man’s Kitchen” and any of those new innovations like that. Lucky for us..both of the episodes mentioned above happened in the third season. They are classic! But I don’t think there is a dud in this season. I also really liked the “holiday-theme” episodes, especially the Christmas ones! Tim sure knows how to put on a lighting display!
As the show went on, some of the characters got annoying when they changed like Tim’s sons, but season three was the peak of the show. It was a constant hit and you can tell why when you relive the show or see it for the first time. I just have one more thing to say…”MORE POWER!”
Episodes:
Disc One:
Episode 1 – Maybe, Baby
Jill discovers that her sister is having a baby girl and wishes that she could have a girl too.
Episode 2 – Aisle See You In My Dreams
Jill fixes Al up with a woman named Ilene.
Episode 3 – This Joke’s For You
Tim installs an intercom in the house and hears Randy making fun of him to his friends.
Episode 4 – A Sew, Sew Evening
Tim thinks his new neighbor is annoying. Brad signs up for home economics to meet girls, but finds out the class is full of boys wanting to do the same thing.
Episode 5 – Arrivederci, Binford
Tim’s boss dies and Tim is afraid to cry about it.
Episode 6 – Crazy For You
Tim thinks a fan is after him at his Halloween party.
Episode 7 – Blow-Up
Tim accidently blows up Jill’s drivers license photo at her library fundraising dinner.
Episode 8 – Be True To Your Tool
Tim’s new boss wants Tim to promote a bad tool on “Tool Time”. The boys go shopping.
Disc Two:
Episode 9 – Dollars and Sense
The boys buy a remote control indy car with savings bonds. Time falls through a port-a-potty.
Episode 10 – Frozen Moments
On Thanksgiving, Tim wants the family to dress up in costumes for their Christmas card. On “Tool Time”, Tim and Al introduce the “Man’s Bathroom”.
Episode 11 – Feud For Thought
Jill doesn’t want to go to her high school reunion for fear that she may run into an old friend that stole her boyfriend from her. Meanwhile, Al babysits the boys.
Episode 12 – Twas The Blight Before Christmas
Tim competes with his neighbor in the neighborhood lighting contest. Brad wants to go skiing with friends on Christmas.
Episode 13 – Slip Sleddin’ Away
Randy loses in a sled race to neighborhood bullies so Tim powers up the sled.
Episode 14 – Dream On
Al’s girlfriend, Ilene, has a dream about Tim.
Episode 15 – Reel Man
Tim and Al go ice fishing, when Tim falls in.
Episode 16 – The Colonel
Jill’s dad comes to visit. Tim builds a hockey puck shooter for Randy.
Episode 17 – Room For Change
Brad and Randy won’t stop fighting so Tim puts Mark in with Randy and Brad in Mark’s room.
Disc Three:
Episode 18 – Eve of Construction
Tim and Al take place in “Habitat for Humanity”. Jill wants to join in all the fun.
Episode 19 – Too Many Cooks
Tim and Al sub for a cooking show called “Cooking with Irma”. Al is the cook and Tim is his assistant.
Episode 20 – It Was The Best Of Tims, It Was The Worst Of Tims
Tim charms the women at Jill’s baby shower for her friend. Jill wants to have a romantic evening afterwards.
Episode 21 – Fifth Anniversary
Tim and Al introduce the “Man’s Kitchen”. They find out they have no money left for their “Fifth Anniversary” show.
Episode 22 – Swing Time
Tim and the boys decide whether to get Jill a hot tub for mother’s day or build her a swing instead.
Episode 23 – What You See Is What You Get
Jill researches cosmetic surgery. Tim makes jokes about it.
Episode 24 – Reality Bytes
Randy pretends to be a 33 years old on the computer and meets a 25 year old woman. Tim helps Mark with his science project.
Episode 25 – The Great Race II
Tim wants to race Bob Vila in his hot rod after Bob raises more money than Tim in Jill’s library charity contest.
Score: 10/10
The Video:
The video is given in fullscreen color with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Transfer is decent with minimal distortion. Colors look bright. Looks like the early 90’s. Shiny!
The Audio:
The audio included is in English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo sound. No problems here either. No need to turn up the volume or anything like that. 90’s sound at its best!
The Extras:
Tim’s Tool Corral
This is the only special feature. It is hosted by Heidi (Debbe Dunning) in a voice over. You get to click on a tool in the garage and then watch as Tim screws something up with the tool. Yeah..it’s funny. But nothing you would want to watch over and over again. A little light on the special features, but I am used to Seinfeld..so I will take what I can get!
Score: 4/10
