Why ABC Canceled Tim Allen’s Home Improvement

Should you had been round within the ’90s, you most likely grew up listening to the acquainted “Huh?!” sound of the last decade’s long-running sitcom “Residence Enchancment.” Adore it or hate it, the Tim Allen-led present in regards to the Taylor household, led by overconfident Tim The Toolman, was fairly ubiquitous all through its eight-season run, and it even received seven Primetime Emmys. However sooner or later in 1999, the present pale out and the “Huh?!” sound stopped popping up in primetime. It left behind a legacy that included Jonathan Taylor Thomas, the often-unseen nosy neighbor Wilson, and Tim Allen’s alleged bad behavior and on-the-record terrible opinions.

Simply in 2024, one other layer was added to the present’s legacy when co-star Patricia Richardson, who performed Tim’s long-suffering spouse Jill, spoke to the Los Angeles Times in regards to the twenty fifth anniversary of the present’s last season, revealing {that a} pay dispute finally led to the sequence demise. Like so many sitcoms that got here earlier than and after it, from “Seinfeld” to “Pals” to “The Big Bang Theory,” pay negotiations performed a component within the present’s plans for future seasons. On this case, although, Richardson says she wished to depart the sequence late in its run, and studio executives’ obvious unwillingness to treatment an enormous gender pay hole sealed the deal.

“Residence Enchancment” aired on ABC and debuted earlier than its mother or father firm merged with Disney, however it was additionally produced by the Disney-owned Touchstone Tv. Richardson was below contract with Disney when she began enjoying Jill on the sequence, and she or he instructed the LA Instances that she gave common artistic enter behind the scenes on the present. Based on Richardson and author/co-executive producer Rosalind Moore, Richardson would push again towards a number of the present’s script selections (which had been primarily made by males), serving to to type a richer character for herself within the course of. This reportedly wasn’t uncommon for the sequence both, as she and Allen would each sometimes give suggestions to writers and producers at read-throughs.

Nevertheless, regardless of her affect on the sequence, Richardson stated she was by no means given the producer credit score she requested for. (Allen, in the meantime, govt produced 77 episodes of the present.) Based on Richardson, the reason she was given was that if she bought the credit score, different actors would need one as effectively. Nonetheless, she was capable of maintain her personal in negotiations, scoring a revenue share level and a assure of 4 episodes targeted on her character per season throughout contract renegotiations in 1993. Based on Richardson, although, she constantly made lower than a 3rd of Allen’s wage all through the present’s run.

Quick ahead a couple of years, and Richardson was prepared to depart the sequence. “I instructed everyone, there’s not sufficient cash on this planet to get me to do a ninth yr. This present is over. It wants to finish,” she instructed the LA Instances. Between Richardson eager to spend extra time along with her household, an inflow of recent administrators, and Thomas’ exit, the job simply wasn’t the identical for her. ABC clearly actually wished one other season, although (“Residence Enchancment” seems to have been a consistent ratings hit), and supplied Allen $2 million per episode for 25 extra episodes, based on Richardson. In the meantime, she bought supplied $1 million per episode — a really hefty sum, however nonetheless half of her co-star’s supply. It is a frustratingly widespread drawback that many, many ladies have spoken out about. In 2017, Natalie Portman summed it up by telling The Guardian, “In comparison with males, in most professions, ladies make 80 cents to the greenback. In Hollywood, we’re making 30 cents to the greenback.”

Richardson countered the anticipated however irritating lowball along with her personal proposal: $2 million {dollars} per episode and an govt producer credit score — the identical issues Allen already had or was now being supplied. “I knew that Disney would by no means pay me that a lot. That was my solution to say ‘no’ and was a bit of little bit of a flip-off to Disney,” Richardson defined. “I would been there all this time, they usually by no means even paid me a 3rd of what Tim was making, and I used to be working my ass off. I used to be a giant motive why ladies had been watching.” She was proper. The supply was rejected, and in what was maybe a backwards testomony to how necessary her function on the present was, apparently nobody actually thought-about persevering with “Residence Enchancment” with out Richardson.

Although they reunited for the TV present “Final Man Standing,” it seems like Allen and Richardson’s relationship was sophisticated by her taking a stand for herself in negotiations, particularly as a result of Allen had already stated sure to the deal. “I used to be mad at Tim as a result of he was leaving me alone being the one particular person saying no, which made me really feel horrible and just like the unhealthy man,” she defined, “and he was upset with me for leaving.” Weirdly, artwork would imitate life within the sequence finale of “Residence Enchancment,” when Tim was supplied a elevate and govt producer credit score to maintain making his present “Software Time,” however finally turned it down to permit Jill to comply with her dream of working as a toddler psychologist in Indiana.

It is a candy conclusion to a present that did not at all times put its feminine lead — the glue holding its fictional household collectively — first. It is only a disgrace that the actual gender politics at play behind the scenes had been quite a bit messier than the Taylor household’s joyful ending.

Should you had been round within the ’90s, you most likely grew up listening to the acquainted “Huh?!” sound of the last decade’s long-running sitcom “Residence Enchancment.” Adore it or hate it, the Tim Allen-led present in regards to the Taylor household, led by overconfident Tim The Toolman, was fairly ubiquitous all through its eight-season run, and it even received seven Primetime Emmys. However sooner or later in 1999, the present pale out and the “Huh?!” sound stopped popping up in primetime. It left behind a legacy that included Jonathan Taylor Thomas, the often-unseen nosy neighbor Wilson, and Tim Allen’s alleged bad behavior and on-the-record terrible opinions.

Simply in 2024, one other layer was added to the present’s legacy when co-star Patricia Richardson, who performed Tim’s long-suffering spouse Jill, spoke to the Los Angeles Times in regards to the twenty fifth anniversary of the present’s last season, revealing {that a} pay dispute finally led to the sequence demise. Like so many sitcoms that got here earlier than and after it, from “Seinfeld” to “Pals” to “The Big Bang Theory,” pay negotiations performed a component within the present’s plans for future seasons. On this case, although, Richardson says she wished to depart the sequence late in its run, and studio executives’ obvious unwillingness to treatment an enormous gender pay hole sealed the deal.

“Residence Enchancment” aired on ABC and debuted earlier than its mother or father firm merged with Disney, however it was additionally produced by the Disney-owned Touchstone Tv. Richardson was below contract with Disney when she began enjoying Jill on the sequence, and she or he instructed the LA Instances that she gave common artistic enter behind the scenes on the present. Based on Richardson and author/co-executive producer Rosalind Moore, Richardson would push again towards a number of the present’s script selections (which had been primarily made by males), serving to to type a richer character for herself within the course of. This reportedly wasn’t uncommon for the sequence both, as she and Allen would each sometimes give suggestions to writers and producers at read-throughs.

Nevertheless, regardless of her affect on the sequence, Richardson stated she was by no means given the producer credit score she requested for. (Allen, in the meantime, govt produced 77 episodes of the present.) Based on Richardson, the reason she was given was that if she bought the credit score, different actors would need one as effectively. Nonetheless, she was capable of maintain her personal in negotiations, scoring a revenue share level and a assure of 4 episodes targeted on her character per season throughout contract renegotiations in 1993. Based on Richardson, although, she constantly made lower than a 3rd of Allen’s wage all through the present’s run.

Quick ahead a couple of years, and Richardson was prepared to depart the sequence. “I instructed everyone, there’s not sufficient cash on this planet to get me to do a ninth yr. This present is over. It wants to finish,” she instructed the LA Instances. Between Richardson eager to spend extra time along with her household, an inflow of recent administrators, and Thomas’ exit, the job simply wasn’t the identical for her. ABC clearly actually wished one other season, although (“Residence Enchancment” seems to have been a consistent ratings hit), and supplied Allen $2 million per episode for 25 extra episodes, based on Richardson. In the meantime, she bought supplied $1 million per episode — a really hefty sum, however nonetheless half of her co-star’s supply. It is a frustratingly widespread drawback that many, many ladies have spoken out about. In 2017, Natalie Portman summed it up by telling The Guardian, “In comparison with males, in most professions, ladies make 80 cents to the greenback. In Hollywood, we’re making 30 cents to the greenback.”

Richardson countered the anticipated however irritating lowball along with her personal proposal: $2 million {dollars} per episode and an govt producer credit score — the identical issues Allen already had or was now being supplied. “I knew that Disney would by no means pay me that a lot. That was my solution to say ‘no’ and was a bit of little bit of a flip-off to Disney,” Richardson defined. “I would been there all this time, they usually by no means even paid me a 3rd of what Tim was making, and I used to be working my ass off. I used to be a giant motive why ladies had been watching.” She was proper. The supply was rejected, and in what was maybe a backwards testomony to how necessary her function on the present was, apparently nobody actually thought-about persevering with “Residence Enchancment” with out Richardson.

Although they reunited for the TV present “Final Man Standing,” it seems like Allen and Richardson’s relationship was sophisticated by her taking a stand for herself in negotiations, particularly as a result of Allen had already stated sure to the deal. “I used to be mad at Tim as a result of he was leaving me alone being the one particular person saying no, which made me really feel horrible and just like the unhealthy man,” she defined, “and he was upset with me for leaving.” Weirdly, artwork would imitate life within the sequence finale of “Residence Enchancment,” when Tim was supplied a elevate and govt producer credit score to maintain making his present “Software Time,” however finally turned it down to permit Jill to comply with her dream of working as a toddler psychologist in Indiana.

It is a candy conclusion to a present that did not at all times put its feminine lead — the glue holding its fictional household collectively — first. It is only a disgrace that the actual gender politics at play behind the scenes had been quite a bit messier than the Taylor household’s joyful ending.