‘Very Difficult for Me’: Tim Allen Reflects on Ending LAST MAN STANDING

‘Very Difficult for Me’: Tim Allen Reflects on Ending LAST MAN STANDING

By Movieguide® Staff

On May 20, 2021, Tim Allen’s long-running sitcom LAST MAN STANDING will finally come to an end. The veteran comedian and actor, known for HOME IMPROVEMENT and TOY STORY, said it was challenging to end the decade-long adventure.

“To be very honest, I have had problems letting go of this one. It’s just been three or four weeks and I’m literally just feeling better. Never have I enjoyed, outside of HOME IMPROVEMENT and maybe moments of GALAXY QUEST, one of these jobs,” Allen said. “This crew, from the guy at the gate to Radford inside to people we ate with, I loved every second of this experience.”

The series finale features back-to-back episodes and airs on Fox. In the past, LAST MAN STANDING underwent sudden changes when ABC dropped the show, but Fox renewed it. Allen said that filming the final season was painful because he knew it was his last time as Mike Baxter.

“This set, I looked at every set piece. I walked through every hallway over and over again, always looking around. It didn’t help. Having this pulled from us several times like that, you get used to sudden death and for some reason I prefer that,” Allen said during a press conference. “For whatever reason this was the end of the nine-year stretch on this. [It’s] very difficult on me.”

Movieguide® previously reported:

The final farewell features two separate episodes and will air at 9/8c on Fox. According to TV Line, the first episode is called “Baxter’s Boot Camp,” and the second is called “Keep on Truckin.”

In the final episode, written by Tim Allen, “Mike’s beloved truck is stolen, just as he completes his 10-year renovation on it.”

The Baxters will then “gather together for an emotional goodbye” and the end of Season 9 and the series as a whole.

“I so appreciate the incredible support from our fans over this near decade of work. . . I admire and feel grateful for all the hard work our wonderful cast and crew have done. We had all considered to end the show after last season, but together with Fox, we decided to add a year so we could produce a full season to create the gentle and fun goodbye,” Allen said.