tim-allen-talks-filming-last-man-standing-final-season-on-jimmy-kimmel-live

Tim Allen Talks Filming ‘Last Man Standing’ Final Season on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Tim Allen talks filming ‘Last Man Standing’ with “penalty boxes” and “paid laughers” during a hilarious interview with Jimmy Kimmel.

Ready for Last Man Standing Season 9? While fans are sad to see the show end, Season 9 promises to be something special. Even if for no other reason than how “different” filming continues to be for Tim Allen & crew during the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.

While appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live to discuss the show, the two veteran funny men dive deep into how much the pandemic has changed their industry.

“It’s the same situation,” Allen begins with a smile, gesturing to Kimmel’s audience. “They’ve taken the ‘show’ out of showbusiness. You’re just doing your work, and the lighting guy’s gotta come in and separate. It’s Disney protocols – and they’re doing it to save everybody’s lives,” he adds, “it’s just… weird.”

“Our show is based on – it’s like theatre, but stand-up. We have two hundred to three hundred people live audience. We love our live audience show. Not there!” he gestures. Meaning, of course, that the live audience they’ve filmed with for a decade now is no longer present. “So we have a buncha penalty boxes,” Allen says of the adjustment with a laugh.

Tim Allen ‘Standing’ Strong During Pandemic

Building off that, Kimmel asks how it was returning to film Last Man Standing for the first time during the pandemic.

“It was very sad – and – it was dry,” Allen clarifies. “No one knew what to do. Now, we have paid laughers,” he grins, “in penalty boxes. And they’re just up in these boxes. And they we’re getting dry after a while. So we had to get a paid warm-up guy,” he laughs, “to warm up the paid laughers, and you’re goin – ‘you gotta be kidding me? It’s different, but we’ve gotten used to it,” Allen adds.

For him, however, the actor says his sadness stems from this being how the show experience ends for everyone, rather than the safety protocols themselves.

“I’m more sad about – this is our 9th season – and I’d prefer it not end this way. If the vaccination works, maybe the last four or so episodes, we’ll get our live audience back for everyone.”

Later on in the interview, Kimmel shows a surprise clip that will surely have fans excited. During the 9th season, Tim Allen says the writers have found a way for his two most famous TV characters to meet. That’s right – Tim “The Toolman” Taylor will meet Mike Baxter for an entire standalone episode in Season 9 of Last Man Standing.

“They call this episode ‘Dual Time’,” Allen smirks. From there, he and Kimmel discuss the nuances of performing two separate characters playing off of one another. In addition, Allen gets into the differences between Taylor and Baxter.

Tim talks about working during the pandemic, missing live audiences, spending some of quarantine at his cottage in Michigan, setting up a special home studio, talking to insects, the crossover episode between “Home Improvement” & “Last Man Standing,” and fixing things on his new show “Assembly Required.”

Jimmy Kimmel Live

Last Man Standing Returns for Final Season January 3rd

So when can we catch more of Tim Allen and Last Man Standing? The show will be back with the Season 9 premiere come January 2021 on FOX.

Last Man Standing has been a bona fide hit for FOX, and a smashing success with fans. The show is consistently high in the network’s rankings, and will now finish strong with an impressive 9th season. Allen revealed on Twitter that the final season will begin airing on January 3rd, 2021.

While 2020 has put many shows and films out of commission due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, “Last Man Standing” was able to truck ahead and continue filming Season 9. Allen hasn’t lost his sense of humor during the mess of pandemic-laden filming, either.

“So happy to be back working with my TV family on #LastManStanding! I’m beginning to enjoy the daily nose swabs. Should that be concerning?”

Tim Allen, Twitter

Allen is, of course, referring to the COVID-19 nose-swab test. The test – for those unfamiliar – requires a cotton swab to be inserted as far back in your nostril as humanly possible. If you’ve not had it done, consider yourself fortunate. It is…. unpleasant (this author speaks from unfortunate experience).

Fans are, however, beyond ecstatic for another season – and thankful to the cast & crew for working through difficult times. As a result, we’re treated to another – albeit final – season of one of the best shows on television.

Allen Returns for ‘Assembly Required’ Following ‘Last Man’

Fans of Tim Allen, however, need not worry over Last Man Standing ending. The comedy icon is reuniting with Richard Karn for their own “fix it” show – Assembly Required – and we now have a release date for it, too!

“Home Improvement” fans should be thrilled. Tim “the tool man” Allen and ‘Al’ actor Richard Karn are together again. The two-decades-long friends have a new show hitting History Channel next year, as well.

While both stars have shared looks at themselves on set, we’ve yet to have an official release date. That wait, however, is now over.

The two are executive producing a new competition show called Assembly Required. According to UPI.com, the show is a competition reality series that will “showcase builders from across the U.S.”

 Home Improvement co-stars Tim Allen and Richard Karn are teaming up again to star in a new competition series on History, titled Assembly Required.

Assembly Required will showcase builders from across the United States as they compete against each other and rebuild everyday household items. Contestants will also be tasked with building the items back better.

UPI

Assembly Required will hit History Channel this coming February 14th of 2021!