Last Man Standing (TV Series) Helen Potts (2015) User Reviews

A Blast from the Past

[wrabvideo · 10/10 · 10 January 2015]

You may want to call it "stunt casting", or you may call it a nostalgia episode, but last night's episode of Last Man Standing was pure genius. If you were a fan of Home Improvement, you noticed a number of elements from that show inserted into this episode. First of all, the guest appearance of Pat Richardson brought back many memories of the previous show. Her references to her late husband being obsessed with tools and "souping up" all the appliances in the home was a direct reference to Home Improvement. But there were also several subtle homages which included a replication of Tim Taylor's back yard, the neighbor looking over the fence where you could only see his hat, and the clever scene transitions reminiscent of the old show. The clincher, of course, was the appearance of Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Pat Richardson's son. It was even a good story which also paid tribute to veterans and the job they did for their country. My congratulations to Tim Allen and the other writers of the show for keeping this show interesting and entertaining.

Laughed until I cried

[cfans-1 · 10/10 · 13 January 2015]

I loved everything about this episode. The references made to "Home Improvement" were very funny and spot on. Loved the "Hidey-ho neighbor" spot, especially when Mike asked him if he was wearing anything besides his hat. But when his daughter went to the VFW on that Wednesday evening and found out what Ed was doing, I completely lost it. The tears started flowing and I couldn't stop. I have always felt guilty about the way our military were treated when they returned from Viet Nam (I am from that era) and it really got to me. I taught both of my children that it was never too late to welcome home a Viet Nam Vet and I think Tim Allen was saying the same thing with this episode. Very, very, very well done.

LOVED this episode!!

[writetopcat · 10/10 · 10 April 2016]

I lost it laughing during this episode. The jokes were great as always but were made exponentially better due to references to Tim's first hit comedy series Home Improvements. Pat Richardson guest starred in this episode as a neighbor named Helen Potts whose husband "left" 6 months previously, leaving her a mess at her house which she is trying to repair. Her house is a replica of their house on Home Improvements, and there are lots of funny references to her husband which are obviously references to Tim on the old show. I laughed so hard. "Helen Potts" has 3 main segments of the show and each one was great. Tim and Pat seemed to enjoy the reunion and have the same chemistry as before, which added to the nostalgia. "Helen" and Tim discussed Helen's husband, who it turns out had actually died 6 months previously, and the dialogue makes it clear they are speaking about the Tim on Home Improvements. Helen mentioned how funny he was, much funnier than Mike Baxter, to which he replies "well, he probably had better writers".

I saw this on television and since I found it on Netflix I must have watched this episode again at least 5 more times, and I am not finished watching it, I am sure.

There is another story involving Eve and a story she is doing about heroes from the Vietnam War. She winds up doing the story about Ed after she discovers how much he helps veterans who are suffering and having difficulty getting the benefits they are owed and deserve. This is a touching story, and combined with the nostalgia we feel from the Helen Potts plot, it helps make this episode an warm, emotionally satisfying one.

I could go on but would really be repeating myself I think. Suffice it to say this is one of my favorite, if not the all time favorite episode of Last Man Standing to date.

Last Man Standing at its best

[studioAT · 8/10 · 22 December 2016]

What with all the Obama bashing it is easy to forget what a funny show 'Last Man Standing' is, often being a darn sight funnier than most of what passes for comedy on TV today.

Even if the show wins mass wards and breaks the record for the longest running sitcom ever it will be episodes like this that people remember, purely because people's affection for 'Home Improvement' is so great and we love seeing the cast members reunite.

Although the B story about the Vietnam veterans is good (much better than some of the B stories that this show normally does) the writers sensibly go light on plot and heavy of just letting us enjoy seeing Tim Allen and Patricia Richardson banter away.

There are lots of references to 'Home Improvement' but they're all funny. The 'perhaps he had better writers' is the best one. It was a great episode, with a satisfying cameo at the end too.