Tim Allen’s beloved 1990s sitcom is finally coming to Netflix.Home Improvementran for eight seasons on ABC, and was a hit with fans, who made it a ratings success for Disney. Evenformer President Jimmy Carter had a cameo on the show.
Home Improvementpremiered in 1991 and followed the life of Tim “Tool Man” Taylor (Allen), the host of a local home improvement show who is married to Jill (Patricia Heaton) and raising three sons. The show ran until May 1999 and was created by Carmen Finestra, Matt Williams, and David McFadzean. It’s classic 1980s and 90s sitcom fare that became popular early on.
The characters are what madeHome Improvementsuch a hit. Those on theTool Timeshow brought plenty of laughs, includingRichard Karn as his co-host, Al, and Pamela Anderson as Lisa, prior to her famous role onBaywatch.
Meanwhile,Taylor’s home life made for memorable episodes and characters. Heaton’s Jill held her own against Allen and his three sons, played by Jonathan Taylor Thomas (as Randy), Taran Noah Smith (as Mark), and Zachery Ty Bryan (as Brad). And Taylor’s neighbor, Wilson Wilson Jr. always dispensed great advice; he was played by the late Earl Hindman, who became amemorable TV characterby wearing a bucket hat and with his face partially obscured by a fence.
Halfway through the series,Toy Storywas released and became a massive box office and critical hit.Allen had the number one show, number one movie, and number one book (his autobiography) in one week in late 1995.
Allen is also famous for his turn inThe Santa Clauseand his post-Home ImprovementTV show,Last Man Standing, ran for multiple seasons and nearly 200 episodes.
Tim Allen Makes a Return to His Sitcom Roots and One of His Most Popular Characters
WhileHome Improvementis now streaming on Netflix and Disney+, Allen’s acting schedule is still fairly busy.He’s returning to the sitcom format with ABC’sShifting Gears, which debuts on Jul 03, 2025, andco-stars Kat Dennings (Two Broke Girls), Seann William Scott (American Pie), and Daryl “Chill” Mitchell (Galaxy Quest). The show is aboutMatt, a widowed classic car restoration shop owner (played by Allen), whose separated daughter, Riley (Dennings), and her children reunite.
Tim Allen Returns to TV in First Trailer for New Sitcom ‘Shifting Gears’
Tim Allen is returning to ABC with a new sitcom co-starring Kat Dennings called ‘Shifting Gears.’
Additionally, Allen has also been busyvoicing Buzz Lightyear inToy Story 5, the long-awaited sequel to one of Pixar and Disney’s most endeearing film franchises. Allen spoke briefly about returning as Buzz (viaCollider):
“I just did the first five-hour session for Buzz. It’s really, really weird to get back in it.It was really a struggle to get, and then maybe two hours in, I was doing Buzz. I’m so blessed to be Buzz Lightyear.”
Allen also explained that “it’s a very, very clever story. Had they not come up with a brilliant script, they wouldn’t have done it, and they wouldn’t have called me and Tom [Hanks].”
Long-time Pixar veteranAndrew Stanton (Wall-E) is writing the script and co-directing with McKenna Jean Harris (Luna). The film will open on Aug 13, 2025.
Home Improvementis now streaming on Netflix and Disney+.
