“Home Improvement” has one trait that all sitcoms strive for: chemistry between protagonists Tim Allen and Richard Karn.
Allen, now 67, and Karn, now 65, played together in the hit comedy series for eight seasons from 1991 to 1999. They played Tim Taylor and Al Borland respectively – host of the fictional television series ‘Tool Time’.
Now the couple are back together for a new reality series, ‘Assembly Required’, for the History Channel, in which they will supervise participants who fix and renovate everyday household items.
At the program’s TCA panel, the contestants reflected on their chemistry on screen.
‘HOUSE IMPROVEMENT’ STARS TIM ALLEN, RICHARD KARN IS ‘BACK IN THE STORE’ IN ‘MEETING’ TRAILER
“When we started doing ‘Home Improvement,’ we had an audience watching ‘Tool Time’ that the program did not see at all,” Kern recalls. “Our relationship happened before we knew what it was. We took our audience of reactions from the audience to us, but we didn’t know there was really anything outstanding about how we played each other out.”
The actor added that he and Allen were simply doing their job, but “the writers could look at it and lean into it and write for it.”
Kern also recalled that Allen once admitted that he “would never be early with Al” in their time working together.
“We really were not in the same circle of friends at the time, but they kept writing and leaning into it,” he added. “And as we got to know each other, I think that relationship just blossomed.”
TIM ALLEN ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS ‘SPECIAL’ TO PLAY ‘HOUSE IMPROVEMENT’ ROLE ON ‘LAST MAN STANDING’
Allen therefore praised his co-star and called him a “perfect professional and a sincere man of calm” who helped him switch to the direct format of ‘Meeting Required’.
The star “Last Man Standing” said that their relationship now closely resembles what it was during the “Home Improvement” days.
“This is the most unusual experience,” says the comedian of the filming of a reality show. ‘But [Karn] was able to bring it back and be exactly as ‘Tool Time’. It’s amazing how it’s an extension of the relationship. ‘
Tim Allen (left) and Richard Karn (right) in ‘Home Improvement’. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives / Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
The reunion after three decades was also a big deal for the duo, but when Allen developed the show, he ‘never’ thought about involving Karn before someone suggested he perform and make him a co-presenter. do not present a concert.
“He jumped at the chance,” Allen shared. “It’s become the two of us, a kind of live version of ‘Tool Time,’ if you will.”
Allen also addressed the question of whether he himself is a handyman, and although he said he likes to “take things apart” and even has a shop at his house, there is one project for improving the house that always makes him bump.
‘LAST MAN STANDS’ AND ‘HOME IMPROVEMENT’ CROSS LEAVES FANS WANT TO REBOOT
“Oddly enough, I’m very confused about plumbing. I do not know what it is about plumbing,” he admitted. ‘We just found our large sink in the plug and found a little something in it. Plumbing is my big problem. ‘
The star said his interest in dexterity was a ‘natural thing’ for him as he followed in the footsteps of his late father, a car lover.
“I have always loved store classes, I have always loved building well and I have always run around store teachers who spend excessive amount of time setting up and tidying up a portion of it,” he shared.
One problem the duo faced was filming in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, which they did remotely and filmed in people’s own stores. However, this does not appear to be bad.
Richard Karn (left) and Tim Allen (right) reunite for a series of home improvement competitions, ‘Assembly Required’, for the History Channel. (Photo by Leon Bennett / FilmMagic)
“It was an unintended positive consequence to go to these people’s stores,” Allen explained, noting that “all protocols were kept in place.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Karn added: “Because we are forced to do this in our separate space, you also realize in the country that wi-fi and that access to the outside world is not so easy for everyone. I mean, schools find it right “But we … sometimes had to wait a while to make sure the wi-fi and the cameras and everything gave us all the information back.”
He explained that seeing the projects remotely before seeing them in person resulted in some disconnection, because they realized that participants’ projects were more complicated than they originally seemed.
Movies were also an emotional experience.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
“It got pretty emotional. I’m not a big fan of judging art or movies or anything, and it was really hard because the interest and dedication for these men and women was incredible,” Allen said. “However, we offered the essay to have a winner, and it became very difficult for me … to judge people.”
“Meeting Required” begins on February 23rd.