‘Last Man Standing’ may be on a new network, but it is still the same great show
By Zach Quimby// Staff Writer
In less than two weeks, the freshly revived comedy “Last Man Standing” starring Tim Allen, will make a highly anticipated return to the small screen. After a nearly 19-month break, Allen, along with the majority of his co-stars from the show’s original run, will return for what will be the series’ seventh season. The show stars Tim Allen (Mike Baxter), Nancy Travis (Vanessa Baxter), Jonathan Adams (Chuck Larabee), Amanda Fuller (Kristin Baxter), Christoph Sanders (Kyle Anderson), Hector Elizondo (Ed Alzate), Kaitlyn Dever (Eve Baxter) and Jordan Masterson (Ryan Vogelson). With the exception of Molly Ephraim (Mandy Baxter) and Flynn Morrison (Boyd Baxter), whose roles will now be played by Molly McCook and Jet Jurgensmeyer respectively, the main “Last Man Standing” family will be back together again.
In May 2017, ABC shockingly canceled the series despite it being its second-most-watched comedy (behind “Modern Family”) and having dominated the Friday night time slot, where many similar series quickly crash and burn. Within days, fans began to speculate that the show’s cancellation had been encouraged by Allen’s conservative political views. Allen tweeted that he was “stunned and blindsided by the network [he] called home for the last six years.” Channing Dungey, the President of ABC Entertainment, swiftly responded, stating that the show had been axed due to the usual “business and scheduling reasons” and the show’s ownership structure, and that Allen’s politics were not the deciding factor. Fans, angered by ABC’s decision, began a hard-fought campaign to get the comedy back on the air. After more than a year of online petitions and reaching out to networks, Fox finally announced last May that it would be reviving “Last Man Standing.” In a statement from the Fox Television Group, they expressed that they had “wanted to put the show back together since its final taping,” and that “thanks to its millions of devoted viewers and the irrepressible Tim Allen, we haven’t seen the last of “Last Man Standing.”
Since its pilot aired in 2011, it blows all the other shows right out of the water. At its core, it’s a comedic family sitcom that focuses around a relatively typical, and therefore pretty crazy, family. As such, it deals with issues that real families struggle with and presents them in a humorous fashion. From politics to relationships and work struggles to family disagreements, “Last Man Standing” is consistently able to present hilarious episodes while still addressing relevant and important life lessons.
With the revival premiere now less than two weeks away, the question has shifted to where the Baxter’s story will go next. As with any show that takes some time off and is then revived, there are inevitable changes coming to the family’s household. For one, Boyd, Mike and Vanessa Baxter’s grandson will have aged quite a bit in the upcoming season. According to the series’ executive producer Kevin Abbott, a new actor was cast to portray Boyd in order to “age up” the character, “who will now be 12 so that we can get some fun storylines about a young man on the cusp of becoming a man.” In addition, Baxter’s middle daughter Eve will be off at the Air Force Academy this season and only appear on a recurring basis. This move was forced by Dever’s busy schedule working on the Netflix drama “Unbelievable.” Abbott confirmed that Eve would appear “at the very least, every few episodes.”
Finally, this season promises to bring on more special guest appearances. Throughout the show’s original run, it featured some amazing surprise guests, including country music star Reba McEntire, “Duck Dynasty” stars Willie Robertson and “Uncle Si” Robertson, comedians Jay Leno and Bill Engvall, NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, and “Home Improvement” star Richard Karn, Patricia Richardson, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas. This aspect of the show is by far a fan favorite. While Fox is keeping quiet on who all we might see this season, some great surprises are sure to be in store.
From what we’ve seen so far, this season of “Last Man Standing” is shaping up to be another success. Whether you’ve been a die-hard fan since its pilot or will be watching the comedy during the series premiere for the first time, this is truly a show for everyone. Its ability to present important issues in a serious yet hilarious manner all at the same time is remarkable. If you need a good laugh, be sure to tune in! “Last Man Standing” premieres in its old Friday night time slot, beginning at 8 p.m. on Sept. 28th.
Tim Allen makes his return with the revival of his hit series, “Last Man Standing.” Photo by tvweb.com