Best TV Shows Starring Tim Allen in a Lead Role, Ranked

Tim Allen is proof that arriving late on the stage doesn’t necessarily mean one will have fewer chances of success. The 53-year-old actor had his first screen role in 1988, a time when most of his peers had already established themselves in their careers. Still, he became a big deal. The actor and comedian attracted much praise while starring in the ABC sitcom Home Improvement, a role that earned him a Golden Globe Award. His voice role in the Toy Story franchise also made him a darling for animation fans across the globe.

Today, Allen continues to shine on both the big and small screens. He’ll be a part of Toy Story 5, coming out in 2026, and is currently making all the headlines with his performance in the sitcom Shifting Gears. Allen’s work on television is extensive, but only 6 shows have him in a lead role. And here’s how they rank against each other.

6

‘The Santa Clauses’ (2022 – 2023)

The Santa Clauses

Release Date

2022 – 2022

Network

CBS

Showrunner

Jack Burditt

Directors

Jack Burditt

Writers

Leo Benvenuti, Jack Burditt

A sequel to the 2006 movie, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, The Santa Clauses finds Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) in a tough spot. After serving as Santa for more than 30 years, he starts losing his magic. Even worse, his teenage children aren’t easy to deal with. He thus passes over the mantle to tech inventor, Simon Choski (Kal Penn), who he hopes will institute a great new social agenda for Christmas. Unfortunately, Choski attempts to use the position to further enrich himself, forcing Scott to try and reclaim his throne.

Fighting for Christmas

For this legacy sequel, series creator Jack Burditt addresses a tumultuous time in the world when Christmas has lost meaning, focusing this gripping, well-acted show on the Shakespearean dilemmas of an aging Santa Claus. Credibly embodied by Allen, our Santa envisions a future where Christmas will be even better without him; but his choices only seem to drive him down disastrous paths. And even though he is used to playing funny guys, Penn makes a compelling villain.

However, The Santa Clauses would have had a greater impact if it hadn’t been released so many years after the movies. A few of the plots require audiences to be familiar with the previous material, so new fans might struggle. Besides that, the arcs never feel as strong as the performances. Even so, the show is guaranteed to impress any child. No wonder it was nominated for nine awards at the Children’s and Family Emmy Awards.

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5

‘Shifting Gears’ (2025)

Shifting Gears

Release Date

January 8, 2025

Network

ABC

Directors

John Pasquin

Shifting Gears follows Matt Parker (Tim Allen), a gruff widower yet to get over the death of his wife. Thankfully, he has something to keep him busy: his classic–car restoration garage. Life gets a lot more interesting when his estranged daughter moves into his house with her two kids after a divorce. Unsurprisingly, her progressive parenting style doesn’t sit well with Matt, resulting in frequent clashes. But daddy and daughter have to learn how to get along.

Learning to Get Along

With a sterling cast that also includes Kat Dennings and Sean William Scott, Shifting Gears mines a lot of fun out of the quotidian moments. And the garage seems to act as a metaphor, showing how important it is to rebuild things, whether they are automobiles or family bonds.

The sitcom has had great numbers ever since it premiered. It set an audience record for ABC, amassing nearly 17 million multi-platform viewers in its first seven days across ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+, and digital platforms. This made it the network’s strongest debut since The Conners. However, the jokes will need to improve if the fans are to stay. Stronger characters will also need to be introduced, because Matt and his daughter tend to take most of the glory.

4

‘More Power’ (2022)

More Power

Release Date

June 29, 2022

Network

History

• Richard Karn

  Himself (Host)

Hosted by Tim Allen, April Wilkerson, and Richard Karn, More Power is a deep study into the evolution and use of some of the key tools that make the world go round. Each episode covers a specific tool or machine. Allen and Karn mostly infuse humor into the analysis, while Wilkerson goes into the practical aspects.

World Improvement

Allen’s decision to host More Power came as no surprise given his Home Improvement background. He’s always had a passion for tools. Better yet, he knows how to make work seem fun. The show (with a title born out of a catchphrase from his popular ’90s sitcom) will crack you up and inspire you. Above all, it is a fascinating mechanical document and a deftly handled production that tells a universal Physics-inspired story.

3

‘Assembly Required’ (2021)

Assembly Required is a competition reality show focusing on DIY activities. Tim Allen and Richard Karn serve as hosts, alongside woodworking YouTuber April Wilkerson. Participants on the show have a limited amount of time to build a designated household item. The final creations are then judged on quality, design, and functionality.

Building Before Using

Few things are as fun as watching Allen review tools. This is the kind of show his fans would totally eat up. However, it’s let down by the fact that he and his co-hosts have to watch the building process on screen. One can’t help but feel that they’d be better commentators if they were right there at the center of the action. Nonetheless, the jokes are in plenty. Viewers will also feel inspired to be creative.

2

‘Last Man Standing’ (2011 – 2021)

Last Man Standing

Release Date

2011 – 2020

Network

ABC, FOX

Showrunner

Jack Burditt

Writers

Jack Burditt

Tim Allen stars in Last Man Standing as Mike Baxter, a senior executive at an outdoor-sports retail chain in Denver. He is a devoted husband and father with three daughters, who often strives to uphold masculinity in his female household. Mike even uses a vlog to air opinions on parenting, politics, and masculinity, but his conservative views rarely align with those of his liberal family members, resulting in several hilarious moments.

Patriarchy Not Allowed

Last Man Standing is a bold look at life in female-dominated families. The unsparing camera not only captures the desperation that such a tenuous existence creates for the sole man in the house, but also includes several scenes of uplifting warmth and emotion. And the little moments are made even more powerful through great storytelling and jokes.

So popular was the show that fans protested online, asking for it to be renewed when ABC canceled it after the sixth season. Thankfully, FOX took over, producing a seventh, eighth, and ninth season. If you want a good-looking sitcom, be sure to check it out. It received several Emmy nominations for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series. And Allen is excellent as always.

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1

‘Home Improvement’ (1991 – 1999)

Home Improvement

Release Date

1991 – 1998

Network

ABC

Directors

Peter Bonerz, Andrew Tsao, Andy Cadiff, Albert Alarr, Patricia Richardson, Richard Compton

Writers

Lloyd Garver, Jennifer Celotta, Charlie Hauck, Eric Horsted, Susan Estelle Jansen, David Maples, Tracy Gamble, Peter Tolan, Allison M. Gibson

• Patricia Richardson

  Jill Taylor

• Earl Hindman

  Wilson Wilson Jr.

Home Improvement is all about Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor (Tim Allen), an accident-prone host of a Detroit-based TV show titled Tool Time. In it, he frequently attempts to showcase his expertise with power tools and other home improvement techniques, only for him to comically fail. At home, Tim is a husband and dad to three boys. He struggles with family life, too, but often receives advice from his neighbor, Wilson (Earl Hindman).

Allen’s Greatest Hit

Few ‘90s sitcoms trump Home Improvement in popularity. The show was a huge success, grossing over $500 million in syndication revenue, according to the Los Angeles Times. Additionally, it was nominated for numerous awards, including seven Emmys.

Look hard and you are unlikely to find any sitcom character like Tim. Allen partly tailored his performances to his own real-life experiences, and it worked beautifully. Despite never having had much acting experience, he handles the character smoothly. There are also plenty of fun cameos, including one from Jimmy Carter. Beyond that, this isn’t just a comedy. There are plenty of life lessons. Call it Life Improvement.

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