It’s been a little over 12 years since Americans turned to Tim Allen as a source of entertainment or enlightenment on how the American family is or should be. Now, thanks again to ABC, he’s back — only this time, the Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor we thought we knew is no more. Meet Mike Baxter.
Channeling more the cold, bitter and hostile style and attitude of Archie Bunker, Allen vents his frustrations with the increasingly modernizing world around him. Asserting himself as the alpha-male, a slightly reminiscent move of his days on “Home Improvement,” Allen instead invokes the confidence that for so long evaded his beloved character throughout the ‘90s.
His home life isn’t much different this time around minus the fact that instead of three pre-teen boys to look after, Baxter is instead the father of a 20-something single parent who still lives at home and two late-teen daughters still in high school.
Opting to instead go with a blonde wife in Nancy Travis as opposed to the brunette Patricia Richardson, Baxter is given far more credit — and freedom — than ever Jill would have allowed the bumbling tool man from yesteryear.
The controversy surrounding the show stems not from the supporting cast of slightly tolerable characters or their cliché cookie cutter lifestyle, but rather from the opinions expressed by Tim Allen and the portrayal of the average middle-aged, upper-middle class white husband and father figure.
The first episode alone highlights his character’s homophobic tendencies, be they conscious or not, as well as his propensity to racially profile. By the second episode, the audience is subjected to Baxter’s view on the fall of parenting. Namely, the show suggests that parents coddle their children too much.
In his day, bumps and bruises were simply part of growing up. According to Baxter, parents are spending far too much time worrying about every little aspect of their children’s well being so much so that they are running the risk of turning the future of Americans into a bunch of spoiled brats. Then again, if “Home Improvement” advocated anything, it was safety. Perhaps television sitcoms are to blame instead.
Work, of course, is Mike Baxter’s release. He works from what appears to be an office attached to the stock room of a Bass Pro Shop-like store, and though his title isn’t clearly defined, he is in charge to some degree.
One of his newest job requirements is to boost web traffic on the store’s website. It has the potential to be a comical role for any technologically inept person like Baxter to fill, but Allen manages to make it as uncomfortable as possible for the audience as he posts video blogs ranting on the inability of the new modern man to change car tires and their need to go to tanning salons frequently.
Where “Home Improvement” looked to laugh at the lighter side of life and family, “Last Man Standing” attempts to use unflappable and divisive opinions on current events as punch lines with an agenda. Sadly, like any former prized fighter, the punches are slow to develop and offer very little upon impact.
The show is still in its infant stage having only aired three episodes to date. There is still some hope that the writers will steer away from pushing the audiences’ buttons and instead offer a comical and relaxing release from a world that we all have issues with at times.
Reach the reporter at jbfortne@asu.edu
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