Home Improvement: The Complete Eight Season

Rating NR Formats DVD Genre television series Starring Tim Allen, Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn, Zachery Ty Bryan, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Taran Noah Smith, Earl Hindman Directed by Various Publisher Touchstone/ Disney

Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor is back with his family and friends for the final season of Home Improvement.  Season 8 is a let down from the previous seasons lacking the sheer wit of the past. The kids getting older also loses some of the show's charm.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the series is that within ten episodes, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Randy, leaves the show, explained as a mission trip to Costa Rica. As an endearing and charismatic member of the show through its first seven seasons, Randy became a favorite character to everyone. As he grew older, the girls also began to notice him and he became even more popular. Upon his departure, the show went downhill. There were no more memorable one liners from the mouth of Randy, nor the unforgettable pranks by him and Brad upon Mark.

Tim still provides great humor through his cable TV show, Tool Time. Each episode starts with a clip of Tool Time with a new "salute," of the week. These clips are often the funniest part of the episode, providing Tim with a chance to make something go hilariously wrong.

Good neighbor Wilson is back to provide the sanity to an insane show. Each episode he gives Tim or Jill an ancient piece of advice, most of the time taken out of context by Tim. Wilson also joins in the fun every once in a while. In the Halloween episode Wilson and a few others play a practical joke on Tim, showing him that he is not the only one that can play a good prank.

In spite of its disappointments, Season 8 has its moments. As in past seasons, there are special episodes to highlight the holiday that the episode was aired close too. These include Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

With the drop off in quality, Season 8 receives only a 2 out of 4. Perhaps that is the reason that it is the final season or maybe everyone just ran out of steam. The four disc set includes a blooper reel and a special Tim Allen presents: Home Improvement User's Guide.