Home Improvement
is a classic example of a television series that defines its audience early on
and then gives that subset more of what it has grown to love, while also adding
enough small character wrinkles to keep things legitimately fresh and moving
forward. The show was originally rooted in the gruff, “guys’ guy” stand-up
comedy of star Tim Allen — part of a spate of pilot production deals handed out
to up-and-coming comedians in the early 1990s — but anyone who followed the
series in its later years will attest that only the most trace amounts of that
edge remained. Instead, Home Improvement
grew into the equivalent of a pine tree — a dependable if unspectacular small
screen laffer with not quite the majesty of an oak, the delicious novelty of an
apple or lemon tree nor the mannered beauty of a willow tree.
as Tim Taylor, the affable, pun-loving host of a Bob Villa-type, do-it-yourself
television program called Tool Time.
His faithful co-host is Al Borland (Richard Karn), and his long-suffering wife
is Jill (Patricia Richardson). Together, they preside over a brood of three
rambunctious sons (with an irritating nine names between them — Zachery Ty
Bryan, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Taran Noah Smith), and live next door to a
rarely glimpsed neighbor, Wilson (Earl Hindman), who dispenses nuggets of
advice that help, when necessary, steer the perpetually mishap-making Tim
toward compromise and apology.
Improvement, like many of its familial sitcom brethren, sometimes stoops a bit too
often to the overly simplified husband-as-idiot routine, and the requisite “very special episode” (in this case “The Longest Day,” which teases the possibility that Randy may have cancer) falls flat. Still, the characters
are nicely sketched and rather warmly brought to life by both Allen and especially
Richardson, who would pick up the third of four unfulfilled Emmy nominations
for her work this season. Episodic highlights include “Advise and Repent,” “The Look,” “Doctor in the House” and the roundabout titled
“Engine and a Haircut, Two Fights.” Guest stars herein include Marla Sokoloff and Miguel Sandoval.
2.0 stereo, Home Improvement: The
Complete Fifth Season comes spread out over three discs in a cardboard slipcase that houses the set’s sturdy gatefold packaging.
Unfortunately, though, the only bonus material comes by way of a brief, season-specific blooper
reel, at least some of which fans will no doubt recognize from Dick Clark’s
visit to the set for his blooper-laden specials. C+ (Series) B
(Disc)