Why was Home Improvement so huge?

[TMC]

How come this show was huge in ratings and had decent critical success? There was a time where Tim Allen was #1 on all metrics and I never thought he was all that. And yet, I never hear much chatter about the show now since it was so big.

[rusty spike]

I wasn't a fan of the show, but I knew several people who would tune in. I suppose that because the show was "family friendly" that it was a show that the entire family including the grandparents could tune in and not be offended. I think more shows and networks in the 1990s were pushing the envelope on sex, violence and language.

Didn't this show air on Sundays?

[icecream]

Originally Posted by rusty spike

Didn't this show air on Sundays?

No. Home Improvement aired on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

[icecream]

Home Improvement was an excellent show, a lot better than Tim Allen's more recent Last Man Standing.

[JO Sweet Heart]

I don't know why the show was so big, but I loved it once I was considered old enough to watch it. I was only nine when it first started.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

[biffbronson]

This series was a HUGE hit for several reasons: funny scenes, relatable family, solid scripting, good actors, inventive tool gags, and a sexy Tool Girl.

Reading TMC's comments in the other thread, it's obvious he more-or-less dislikes Home Improvement. I don't see anything objectionable about the grunting or male stereotypes, come on -- sitcom emphasis on the comedy. I think it's aged fine as far as that goes, I get tired of the arguments that series are outdated. This show was not the greatest ever, but it hit the mark in enough ways to be a ratings juggernaut.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by biffbronson

This series was a HUGE hit for several reasons: funny scenes, relatable family, solid scripting, good actors, inventive tool gags, and a sexy Tool Girl.

Reading TMC's comments in the other thread, it's obvious he more-or-less dislikes Home Improvement. I don't see anything objectionable about the grunting or male stereotypes, come on -- sitcom emphasis on the comedy. I think it's aged fine as far as that goes, I get tired of the arguments that series are outdated. This show was not the greatest ever, but it hit the mark in enough ways to be a ratings juggernaut.

What makes you instantly or automatically think that I completely dislike Home Improvement? I don't necessarily think that being critical about certain areas of the show (especially, with the benefit of hindsight) is equal to out and out hating it. In that thread that I linked, I was trying to find answers towards why Home Improvement seems to have been left in the rear-view mirror so to speak, after being so huge during its original run.

This is one comment that I had previously said that essentially praised Home Improvement for what it was:

I'm guessing that one reason why it was so popular was that Tim Allen played a lovable dolt/everyman that was easy to relate to. His simple view of masculinity which while coming off as old-fashioned (at least, by the '90s) was none the less, still a little charming. One commenter said that Allen had pretty amazing rapport with the kids. He's very good at that type of dumb but warmly, well-meaning father figure. In essence, Allen or really, Tim Taylor just seems like the kind of guy you'd like as a dad.

[biffbronson]

Originally Posted by TMC

What makes you instantly or automatically think that I completely dislike Home Improvement?

Re-read what I wrote: "more-or-less dislikes Home Improvement." That's not the same as "completely dislike" and I never mentioned "hating." I stand by that.

And was it "left in the rear-view mirror" when Laff immediately used the series to replace The Cosby Show when it fell from grace?

Anyway, I disagree that the masculinity aspects were "coming off as old-fashioned" in the 1990s. I was watching in primetime back then and didn't see that at all. Even decades later I still think the stuff is enjoyable, even today when gender identification is continually under attack. If Tim had been making fun of LGBTQ persons, then I would agree that the outlook would have been inappropriate.

[James28]

Could anything explain how Full House moved from Friday lead-off to Tuesday lead-off in Fall 1991, only to be beaten in the ratings by freshman Home Improvement (its lead-out) all but three times* that season?

(* - Those "three times" are October 22, and November 5 and 19, of 1991)

[icecream]

Originally Posted by James28

Could anything explain how Full House moved from Friday lead-off to Tuesday lead-off in Fall 1991, only to be beaten in the ratings by freshman Home Improvement (its lead-out) all but three times* that season?

(* - Those "three times" are October 22, and November 5 and 19, of 1991)

Because Home Improvement is a much better show than Full House.

[JO Sweet Heart]

^^^ I don't know if one show was better than the other, but one show did start four years before the other one.

God bless you always!!!

Holly (a huge fan of both shows)

[James28]

Originally Posted by icecream

Because Home Improvement is a much better show than Full House.

...Okay, now, any opinion-free answers (meaning without trying to bash either show)?

[TMC]

Originally Posted by rusty spike

I wasn't a fan of the show, but I knew several people who would tune in. I suppose that because the show was "family friendly" that it was a show that the entire family including the grandparents could tune in and not be offended. I think more shows and networks in the 1990s were pushing the envelope on sex, violence and language.

Didn't this show air on Sundays?

Others have pointed out that a large part of Home Improvement's popularity may have been because it was family friendly, so it was easy to put on when everyone had to share a TV. And it was at least funny enough to be mildly entertaining for adults, so they'd rather throw on Home Improvement than a truly irritating children's show.