By Michael Lyons
"More Power!" became the rallying cry for many when the hit sitcom Home Improvement debuted thirty years ago this fall. Not only did the show make a star out of comedian Tim Allen and become a staple of 90s television, but in its second season, Home Improvement started a tradition of creating a new Halloween episode each year for eight seasons.
The series revolved around Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor (Tim Allen), the host of a popular home improvement show "Tool Time" (inspired by Bob Villa's real show "This Old House") and the trials and tribulations of his family, wife Jill (Patricia Richardson), and sons, Brad, Randy, and Mark (Zachery Ty Bryan, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and Taran Noah Smith).
The ongoing joke of the show is that even though Tim is "The Tool Man," he is all thumbs when it comes to anything related to improving the home. His repairs and "fix its" usually had disastrous results. His co-host on the show was Al Borland (Richard Karn), who has the handiest skills, and neighbor Wilson (Earl Hindman, an enigmatic figure, partially obscured in each episode by the backyard fence) provides wisdom.
The annual Halloween episodes of Home Improvement were so popular with viewers that they became expectations each year while the show was airing on ABC. In honor of Home Improvement's 30th anniversary and "spooky season," here's a look back at all of the Taylor family's Halloween celebrations.
"Haunting of Taylor House" (1992)
Home Improvement's very first Halloween episode begins in typical Tim Taylor fashion, as he uses "more power" to carve a Jack O' Lantern and splatters Al with "pumpkin guts."
The Taylor's ready the house at home for their son Brad's Halloween party, where Tim has built a haunted house in the basement dubbed the "Catacomb of Terror."
Some adolescent angst between Brad and his girlfriend drives the plot, but the show never forgets it's celebrating Halloween. The episode goes all in, with every square inch of the Taylor house decked out, the basement "Catacomb of Terror" looking as impressive as a theme park attraction, and Tim dressed as a zombie grandma named "Nanastein."
All of this, coupled with the show's usual well-timed jokes, makes this Home Improvement episode pure, wall-to-wall Halloween fun. It's no wonder it became a tradition for the Taylor's and viewers.
"Crazy for You" (1993)
In the series' second Halloween episode, Tim becomes convinced that a "Tool Time" viewer named Rose is stalking him. Is she, or is this a well-planned Halloween prank?
It's fun to see the prank tables turned on Tim in this episode and even more fun to see the producers "one-up" the Halloween theme. Tim wears an impressively detailed zombie costume and Wilson, hidden behind the Phantom of the Opera mask, are impressively humorous and creative.
"Borland Ambition" (1994)
This episode features Halloween somewhat in the background, as the plot revolves around Al becoming obsessed with a hardware store he has purchased. But, when Halloween does surface in the show, it does so in perfect, Home Improvement style, particularly a gag where the youngest member of the Taylor clan, Mark, dresses as Al to go trick or treating.
"Let Them Eat Cake" (1995)
Halloween provides the backdrop again for this episode. It centers on Tim and Jill going to a cable award show on Halloween night, with Brad throwing a party while they're out, against their parents' wishes, as Mark is home sick with an earache.
When "Tool Time" continually loses at the awards to a cooking show, Al decides to change into his costume and leave early for a Halloween party. Of course, their show wins the big award, and Al must deliver his acceptance speech dressed as a mouse.
"I Was a Teenage Taylor" (1996)
A tangled web of Halloween pranks consumes Tim, Jill, Al, and the Taylor boys in this creatively funny episode that keeps you guessing. Best of all, with this, Home Improvement returns to Halloween taking center stage for the plot.
The final prank on older brothers Brad and Randy is filled with fun costumes and creepy effects. As the Taylor's friend Larry says, "In all my years, I've never seen a family go to such sick lengths to torture each other on Halloween!"
"A Night to Dismember" (1997)
Another fully Halloween-infused episode begins with Tim and Al dedicating "Tool Time" to "pumpkin racing," where they race Jack-O'-Lanterns on wheels around a small track.
From there, the show centers on Mark and his friend making a student horror film, which raises concerns from Jill, as she feels it reflects what he thinks about his family. He asks his family to act in the movie, which leads to some great, cynical comments from Tim, mainly as he and Jill try to support their son, the movie director, no matter how gruesome his film may be.
"You want to help?" asks Mark. "Let me chop off your heads."
"Okay!" answers Tim with a sarcastic smile.
"Bewitched" (1998)
The last season brings the usual array of Tim Taylor pranks in what may be one of the best Halloween episodes. An excellent opening gag involves Jill pretending to be scared by Tim's pranks, as she has gotten so used to them.
The "Tool Time" episode features a detailed, tongue-in-cheek look at "How to design the perfect torture chamber."
Neighbor Wilson has a Halloween party and introduces the Taylors to his new girlfriend, who claims to be a real witch. After Tim buts in and talks Wilson into breaking up with her, Wilson disappears...or is it just another elaborate Halloween prank? Well, how else would Home Improvement celebrate their last Halloween?
Scares, costumes, creatures, trick-or-treaters, and exploding, flaming pumpkins all served up with some comforting, retro family-friendly laughs. A marathon of some or all these episodes from the eight seasons of Home Improvement could most definitely give your Halloween "More Power!"
Sources:
bloody-disgusting.com
IMDb
No comments:
Post a Comment