For eight seasons, Tim Allen captivated audiences as Tim “The Toolman” Taylor in Home Improvement. The series, which concluded in 1999, depicted the life of a home-improvement TV show host and his experiences as a husband and father to three boys. Despite the affection it has garnered from fans, the series has not yet been rebooted. However, a reunion is on the horizon. Allen and his former TV family are set to reunite in Shifting Gears Season 2.
Home Improvement alumni Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn, and Debbe Dunning will join Allen in the first episode of Season 2, premiering on October 1. In this show, Allen reprises his role as Tom Parker, a stubborn widower who operates a classic car restoration shop, Parker Customs, while managing family life after his estranged daughter Riley (Kat Dennings) moves in with her children.
Who Could the ‘Home Improvement’ Alums Play?
Currently, ABC has not disclosed who Richardson, Karn, and Dunning will portray but hinted that their characters will assist Matt “in an unexpected way.” To recap, Richardson played Tim’s wife Jill in Home Improvement, Karn was his TV show co-host Al Borland, and Dunning portrayed Heidi, the Tool Time girl, following Pamela Anderson‘s departure in season 3. Given their varied roles on the show, it would be surprising if they all assisted Matt in the same manner during the episode.
In fact, Shifting Gears has frequently referenced Allen’s previous roles, such as his iconic voice acting as Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story. Therefore, it is plausible that Richardson, Karn, and Dunning might portray characters that either mirror their earlier roles or completely invert them. With this in mind, Richardson could take on the role of a close friend or confidant or potentially a rival who also manages her own car restoration shop.
Karn could certainly play a new romantic interest for Matt, especially after he formed a connection with Eve (Jenna Elfman) in the Season 1 finale. Perhaps Karn could initiate a love triangle? As for Dunning, Matt could definitely benefit from her expertise in marketing for Parker Customs, leveraging her experience as a Tool Time girl.
Why Are ‘Home Improvement’ Fans So Excited?
Overall, fans of Home Improvement are eagerly anticipating October 1. Given that Home Improvement ended abruptly after eight seasons back in 1999, viewers have been waiting over 25 years to see the cast together again. Moreover, it’s evident that Allen and his former co-stars have maintained close relationships over the years. In his other sitcom, Last Man Standing, which aired for 10 years from 2011 to 2021, Richardson made cameo appearances not once but twice. Karn also appeared multiple times on Last Man Standing, and co-hosted two History Channel shows with Allen: Assembly Required and More Power. Now they are all reuniting for one episode. What could be more special than that?
Lastly, fans tuning in will undoubtedly excite ABC as well. This reunion is likely to enhance viewership, which declined as Season 1 progressed earlier this year. When the series first debuted in January 2025, it quickly became ABC’s most-streamed comedy premiere ever, attracting an impressive 17 million cross-platform viewers within just seven days. However, despite these promising initial numbers, viewership decreased with each episode, so a much-needed boost to ratings is what ABC and Allen must be seeking.
Home Improvement is available for streaming on Disney+.
