Mission Accomplished: Tim Allen Says Goodbye to His TV Family of 10 Years
Finale
At a time when the number of TV series is ever-expanding while the average life span of a show continues to shrink, the longevity of Tim Allen’s family comedy Last Man Standing is impressive.
Even more remarkable is what the show had to overcome. The sitcom ran on ABC for six seasons, then was unceremoniously and surprisingly canceled in 2017. Still, Allen felt the show was in a “sweet spot” and had stories left to tell. Fox rebooted the show in 2018 and aired Seasons 7-9. When the series wraps on Thursday, it will have aired 194 episodes.
“We’ve got about a 10-year run, and it seems like two years to me,” Allen says. “That’s a sign of a great experience. It just seemed like it just flashed by.”
In “Baxter Boot Camp,” the first part of a two-episode finale, Mike (Allen) teaches Kristin (Amanda Fuller) the importance of work/life balance as she prepares to take over Outdoor Man. Meanwhile, Ed (Héctor Elizondo) consults with aspiring minister Kyle (Christoph Sanders) on a theological conundrum, and Vanessa (Nancy Travis) and Mandy (Molly McCook) give Jen (Krista Marie Yu) a crash course in camping.
The last part, “Keep on Truckin’,” is the first and only Last Man Standing written by Allen.
“I believe we knocked it out of the park,” Allen says. “Rather than have one where it’s sad, it wasn’t about sad. It wasn’t turning the light out at the end of the scene. We didn’t want to do any of that. We wanted to go out kind of naturally.”
Mike puts the finishing touch on his gleaming 1956 Ford F-100, only to have the truck stolen out of his garage. The Baxters gather their family and friends together to reflect on what the prized vehicle — an obvious metaphor for Last Man Standing — meant to each of them. It plays out as both a love letter to the series and a portrait of a man accepting the loss of something he’s poured his heart and soul into for years.
“And he’s OK with it,” Allen says. “And that was something I had to say to myself and to the audience that we had for that last show. I did have to say it to them and to myself. I’m OK with it. Really it was the process of getting it to the finish line. It was mission accomplished. We did it. We got here.”
Last Man Standing, Series Finale, Thursday, May 20, 9/8c, Fox
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G
Sorry to see any good family tv go away there just seems to be less and less these days,keep up the good work with your new show Tim!
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R
Love that show. It's nice that it's going out on a high note...
But does it really have to go out at all?
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C
Very sad to see it coming to the end. Will be missed! Tim with another great tv family made alot of people laugh for many years between home improvement and ODM. Can't wait to see your next great creation. Thankyou for the great things you do!
14
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B
Tim All of us from Michigan love the show thanks for always adding Michigan in the show ..sadly we will miss all the laughs .Thank you so much and the cast.
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G
I’m saddened, Tim always has great family shows and will miss Last Man Standing as I did Home Improvement.
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R
Tim, Nancy and Family and Friends. Thank you for one of "The Best 10 Years" of Laughter and Entertainment I've had in my 61 years. I will surly Miss y'all incredibly!!! A series I hope to get for my good old fashion DVD player. Love you guys and I'll have my box of tissues right by my chair next Thursday night because im going to need it. Best to ALL of you on your future endeavors. ALOHA Baxter Family and Outdoor Man Family💐🌷🌹💝
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B
You provided us with Entertainment, laughter and just the right amount of something to thing about ... without cramming it down our throats! You are a fantastic creator of characters,which is the mark of a fabulous actor. Thanks for all the distractions from real life,which is the real reason I watch T.V. BRAVO SIR! The show will be missed,look forward to your next sitcom, all that comedy has to be shared with the rest of the world!
9
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C
I don’t want it to end! This has been one of our favs! Hard to find good shows. You’ll be missed!
9
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G
Absolutely loved the show
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B
Will miss the show just like I miss home-improvement I hope I can find another show that makes me laugh and feel good.
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G
Hate to see it LMS ending such a great show without all the trash on so many other shows . A great cast
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B
Thank you, Tim Allen, for all the laughs for so many years. You are a special talent that will be sorely missed!!!
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R
Will Tim Allen come out with another show or movie!! He's such an amazing person... He will be missed!!
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G
Show really never recovered from the return of Fox without Molly playing Mandy. Eve only having a few cameos also hurt. I thought that the end could have been so much better. Kyle leaving full time for seminary. Ed either retiring full time or dying. Eve getting to fly jets. Asia girl returns to Hong Kong. Mike and Vanessa retire full time and move to a cabin in the woods. Etc....
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B
Last conservative show left on TV. Only show that had at least some true American morals.
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G
I love Last Man Standing. I do not want to see it go. I watch all reruns also. It makes me laugh and we all could use laughter. Tim Allen does it best along with the rest of the crew. I don’t want BAXTER OUT yet.
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R
Politics aside, I really liked this show. Well-written and the good character development. Will miss it.
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