In case you somehow missed it -- a quick recap. In 2017, Last Man Standing was cancelled by ABC. In 2018, Fox announced that it would revive the series, paving the way for the fan-favorite sitcom to return to television. With the show's premiere now within sight, Tim Allen has been hitting the promotion trail. So, how does the actor feel about returning to the same show in light of the differences? Allen had this to say:
I have no explanation for how odd it is that it's not odd. Everything's right up and running. When we left we had about six [episodes written] that were so good, and that's what kept me going through this huge hiatus--- we just had so much more show. The first audience was a lot of the people who had written in [to protest the cancelation]. There were a half million people who kept letters going to 20th Century Fox, Disney and to ABC, so it was a very exciting show. [We shot an episode] about the political climate. Next week it's about the empty nest. [Mike's] store sells guns, that's a touchy issue, so we'll also have to deal with that. So it's going to be one great theme each week seen through the eyes of a very tolerant integrated family.
That's a lot of letters! And it sounds like Last Man Standing will be picking up pretty much where it left off. Based on Tim Allen's interview with EW, fans know what sustained the actor during the rough time in between the show being cancelled and then revived by Fox. They had more stories to tell. Thankfully for Last Man Standing and its fans, it did not take multiple years off the air for the show to be brought back to life.
With the comedy's premiere now imminent, it will not be too much longer before Last Man Standing gets a chance to prove how big of a hit it will be in the ratings. So, now the answer to a question many fans may be curious to know. Does Tim Allen have any desire to prove something to ABC by having the sitcom be a huge hit on Fox? Allen weighed in, and his answer may surprise you. Allen said:
I'm an ABC guy from way back with Home Improvement. That's like my family. I want ABC to do well. I love everybody at ABC. I was shocked when we got canned when we did because we weren't finished --- that's where my frustration came from. I want this to be a success because Fox took a shot on us, and the Fox network is a smaller and more aggressive group than ABC and Disney. Of course, Fox is now owned by Disney and ABC. It's kind of a crazy world, what happened there...
So, no bad blood there. As for the differences between Fox and ABC, Tim Allen revealed there are few to speak of. And while Fox executives do not show up on the same dates for script read-throughs, both networks' note sessions for the comedy have been the same. So, not a lot of changeups behind the scenes of the show. Of course, there have been some on-screen changes, as certain cast members will not be returning for Last Man Standing's Fox revival.
Mike Baxter's daughter Mandy will be played by Molly McCook when the show returns for the seventh season. And Tim Allen shared his praise for how the actress is taking over the role of Mike's middle daughter. Molly Ephraim originally played the character. Along with a new Mandy, Last Man Standing will also be introducing a new actor to play Mike's grandson Boyd.
While it seemed like Season 7 would see all the Baxter family members return, it was recently revealed that one member would not be alive when the show returns. Regardless of the changes, Tim Allen seems pumped for Last Man Standing's return, and the fans who wrote letters for its comeback, among others, likely share in his excitement.
Fans' patience will pay off when the sitcom returns, along with many other shows, including those on Fox's schedule. Last Man Standing will return for its first season on Fox and its seventh season overall, on Friday, September 28, at 8 p.m. ET.
