Last Man Standing's road to returning to television is about to be over. The Alphabet Network canceled the former ABC sitcom after six seasons in 2017. A year later, it was saved by Fox to begin airing in the fall of 2018. Well, the wait for the series' seventh installment is almost over. Ahead of the season premiere, Tim Allen is opening up about his Last Man Standing character, Mike Baxter, and politics. Weighing in, Allen said:
When you get into this world -- these two guys are not the same guy. You know, Mike Baxter is much more tolerant of other ideas than me onstage. Me, personally -- Tim Allen is nobody's business, and really, who cares what I think. Really, in my stand-up it has nothing to do with it. My comedy has been the same since I've been doing it for 33 years and it's about the ultimate political divide -- [between] men and women. I've been doing that -- and that's all it's about. And underneath all of that is that you just don't get the other side, but you love the other side.
There you have it. It seems as though Tim Allen is indicating to Fox News that the real heart of what is being addressed in his show Last Man Standing and his stand-up career is the divide between men and women. Politics, not so much. It is something that is reflected in the relationship between Mike Baxter and his wife Vanessa. While they may not always agree, they love each other and share three daughters together, all of whom share their own views on the world.
People hashing out their differences tends to be a comedy stronghold that has helped crack the tension. It sounds as though Last Man Standing is hoping to bridge the divide between those with differing beliefs, who also happen to share the same house, not endeavoring to deepen it. Tim Allen wants people to know what the real aim of the sitcom is and that is to make people laugh. Weighing in on how the show does that, Allen said:
I happen to be a sober guy for 22 years --- I understand addiction and to me, that's what this feels like. People have got that anger and that angst going and you've gotta stand back a little bit and we're able to do that, and we've always been able to do that. We're just about being funny! This whole thing's about being funny.
For fans who are ready to break the tension with a few laughs, the opportunity is not far off. Last Man Standing's return is right around the corner. While the origins of the laughter will be the same, there have been a few changes to the cast, including recasts and a full-out departure. In a sad twist, one member of the Baxter family will have passed away when the show returns.
While a lot has been made about the politics in front of the camera on Last Man Standing, Tim Allen shared that the now-Fox series' writing staff is comprised of more liberal writers than conservatives. Despite their political differences, they are all coming together to create a show that's goal is to be funny for those watching. Allen's co-star Nancy Travis added that the aim is to entertain, not "sway" people's opinions.
So, if you want to see a show about a family with differing beliefs living together, Last Man Standing is hoping to be on your watchlist. The arduous wait for the sitcom's return, along with many other shows, including those on Fox's schedule is almost over. Last Man Standing will return for its first season on Fox and its seventh season overall, this Friday, September 28, at 8 p.m. ET.
