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
Zachery Ty Bryan ………. Brad Taylor
Richard Karn ………. Al Borland
Debbe Dunning ………. Heidi Keppert
The Show
Season four of ‘Home Improvement’ had some slight changes, but nothing earth-shattering. It sticks pretty close to the formula of the show. The show still 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 Tim does.
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, Randy, and Mark. He also has a neighbor named Wilson, who only shows half of his face in every episode. He’s the one that Tim goes to for advice and he needs a lot of it!
Season Three was the time where it was rated the #1 show on TV, but Season Four kept the streak going and kept ‘Home Improvement’ in the Top 5. It is easy to see why. The show was still extremely funny. They stayed true-to-form. It still was nominated for numerous awards. Patricia Richardson really shines during the season, which is why she got nominated for an Emmy Award.
However, there were some changes to the show. They needed to keep things fresh and interesting. So they came up with some new storylines. Jill decided she wanted to go back to college to get her Masters degree in Psychology. This ran throughout the entire season. Season Four also had the show where they decided that Tim should drop a three-ton beam onto Jill’s car. That episode is super funny. Other highlights including Al being named as Detroit’s “Most Eligible Bachelors”, Wilson going on his first date in 20 years, and Tim accidently seeing his sister-in-law in the nude. Oh..and how could you forget those wacky holiday-themed episodes. And Al and Tim going to jail! I could go on and on!
Besides the new storylines in this season, there were new characters. These included Tim’s brother, Marty, and his wife, Nancy. The ones that were the best additions to the show, Harry (Blake Clark), owner of the hardware show, and all the crazy guys like Benny (Jim Labriola) that come into the store. Al becoming part-owner of that store is also pretty funny. There was a lot of comedic potential in that store.
The characters’ lives on this show became more complex during this season. The kids grew up and had to face more “teenage” problems like jealousy and young love. Add that to the fact that there are special guest appearances by Dave Chappelle, Jim Breuer, Michelle Williams, and Lucy Liu during this season and you have another successful year for ‘Home Improvement’.
Season Four still has all the funny moments you come to expect from the show and the ones you love. They make all the right choices in adding new characters that add to the show along with providing interesting and new storylines that most often have hilarious results. It’s easy to see how after this season..the show was launched into syndication so that everyone could relive all the funny moments from the show on TV every day!
Episodes:
Disc One:
Episode 1 – Back in the Saddle Shoes Again
Jill is laid off and decides to go back to college, causing Tim to become afraid that he will lose Jill to a more intelligent man.
Episode 2 – Don’t Tell Momma
Jill dents her car, so Tim decides to fix it. However, he accidently drops a three-ton beam onto it and tries to hide it from Jill. Meanwhile, Brad and Randy are kicked off of the school bus for gluing a bully’s butt together.
Episode 3 – Death Begins at Forty
Tim begins to be concerned about his health when his 40th birthday nears and Harry, owner of Harry’s Hardware, has a heart attack.
Episode 4 – The Eyes Don’t Have It
When Tim and Jill find out Mark is having trouble at school, they think it is because they neglect him, but the real reason is that he needs glasses.
Episode 5 – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s Just Irresponsible
Tim’s brother, Marty, comes to tell him that he’s leaving his wife and kids. But Tim’s advice turns Marty against him. Meanwhile, Tim creates a hole in the floor and Jill has trouble working on her psychology report.
Episode 6 – Borland Ambition
Harry offers to sell Tim 20 percent of his hardware store. Jill doesn’t let Tim buy it, so Al decides to purchase it. When it becomes Al’s obsession, it drives everyone crazy including Ilene.
Episode 7 – Let’s Go to the Videotape
After taping Jill’s speech, he accidently leaves the record button on when he critiques her speech. After Jill sees the video, Tim reads some of her psychology books and tapes a fake conversation with his buddies..complimenting Jill.
Episode 8 – Quibbling Siblings
Randy feels like the “black sheep” of the family when Tim spends time with Brad and makes him a special guest on “Tool Time”.
Disc Two:
Episode 9 – My Dinner with Wilson
At Thanksgiving dinner with the Taylors, Wilson announces he is moving. Tim tries to make him stay.
Episode 10 – Ye Olde Shoppe Teacher
Mr. Leonard, Tim’s high school shop teacher, comes to visit but he gets angry and leaves after guest starring on an episode of “Tool Time”.
Episode 11 – Some Like It Hot Rod
When Tim has a shot at getting his hot rod in an automotive magazine, Jill becomes busy and accidently leaves it out in the snow.
Episode 12 – ‘Twas the Night Before Chaos
Marty and his wife and kids, and Jill’s parents come to visit and Tim and Jill try to solve their marital problems. Tim tries to beat Doc Johnson in the Christmas lighting contest.
Episode 13 – The Route of All Evil
After Brad takes a paper route, he has trouble getting up and doing homework but he doesn’t want to quit because it will disappoint Tim.
Episode 14 – Brother, Can You Spare a Hot Rod?
Tim decides to sell his hot rod and buy one to rebuild. Meanwhile, Jill takes Randy shopping for clothes and he is afraid that Jill will embarrass him in front of someone he knows.
Episode 15 – Super Bowl Fever
Tim has a Super Bowl party for his friends, while Jill is sick with the flu.
Episode 16 – Bachelor of the Year
When Al is published as one of Detroit’s “Most Eligible Bachelors” in a magazine, women begin flocking all over him and he starts to ignore Ilene. Mark has to write a report on the most interesting person he knows, and he writes it on Wilson instead of Tim.
Episode 17 – It’s My Party
At Randy’s party, Tim’s overpolished dance floor causes Michelle, Randy’s girlfriend, to sprain her ankle.
Disc Three:
Episode 18 – A House Divided
Benny, Tim’s friend, moves into his aunt’s house while she is away. But a gas leak causes the house to blow up and Benny must stay with the Taylors.
Episode 19 – The Naked Truth
When Marty and Nancy are staying with the Taylors, Tim walks in on Nancy in the shower, thinking she is Jill. Meanwhile, Randy goes to a barmitzmah and must come home after he splits his trousers.
Episode 20 – Talk To Me
Tim insults Jill on “Tool Time”, ruins dinner, and drops her ring down the furnace.
Episode 21 – No, No, Godot
Tim and Al scalp tickets to a hockey game when Tim can’t go, but they get arrested and Jill and Ilene come to bail them out. Meanwhile, Mark paper maches Wilson’s face for a school project when he watches the boys while Tim and Jill are gone.
Episodes 22 and 23 – Tool Time After Dark (Parts 1 and 2)
Despite Jill’s advice, Tim stays up all night watching “Tool Time” tapes because his stomach is upset after eating too much Polish food.
Episode 24 – Sisters and Brothers
Carrie, Jill’s sister, comes to observe Jill’s life to see if she would like to get married. Marty moves to Detroit.
Episode 25 – A Marked Man
Al tells Tim and Jill that one of their boys may have stole a pocket knife. They don’t believe their boys would steal, but they find the knife in Mark’s pocket in the laundry.
Episode 26 – Wilson’s Girlfriend
Jill hooks Wilson up for his first date in twenty years and Tim gives him advice.
Score: 9/10
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. No real problems here.
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. No need for “more power”!
The Extras:
Blooper Reel
This is the only special feature. And it’s a funny one! I liked this feature a LOT better than season three’s feature. This was more interesting to watch and I love bloopers..so this one is an easy thumbs-up for me.
Score: 6/10
