Last Man Standing - Season 5
In May 2020, Fox renewed the series for a ninth and final season, which premiered on January 3, 2021.[4][5][6] The series concluded after 194 episodes on May 20, 2021.[7] The series runs in syndication on CMT, NewsNation (formerly WGN America) and Up TV.
Last Man Standing - Season 5
The series follows Mike Baxter, a senior executive and director of marketing for an outdoor sporting goods store chain based in Denver, Colorado. His home life is initially filled with his wife and three daughters (hence the "last man" in the show's title), along with a grandson. His life later extends to the young men who are married to or dating his daughters.
On June 11, 2012, it was announced that Alexandra Krosney (Kristin) was let go from the show for creative reasons.[33] Krosney was replaced by Amanda Fuller in season 2.[34] On June 19, 2012, it was also announced that twins Luke and Evan Kruntchev, who played the role of Boyd in season 1, would not be returning; they were replaced by Flynn Morrison in season 2.[35] The character of Boyd was also age-advanced from two years old to five years old.[36] Jordan Masterson plays Ryan, Boyd's father, in a recurring role beginning in season 2.[37] The role was previously played by Nick Jonas, who guest-starred in one episode in season 1.[35]
The second season initially received a 13-episode order. ABC announced on November 12, 2012, that an additional three scripts had been ordered.[38] On November 27, five more episodes were ordered to bring the second-season episode total to 18.[39]
On May 10, 2014, ABC renewed Last Man Standing for a fourth season, which premiered on October 3, 2014.[42] Allen and Elizondo guest-starred as their Last Man Standing characters in a crossover episode with the fellow ABC Friday sitcom Cristela.[43]
On May 20, 2017, Howard Kurtzman, president of 20th Century Fox Television, reportedly showed some interest in his studio continuing to produce the show. "We're starting to explore that," Kurtzman said. "... Jonnie and I are hopeful that we can find another home for it."[53] Variety also confirmed in an exclusive report that 20th Century Fox Television would shop the series to other networks and streaming services in hopes it would be picked up for a seventh season;[54] another home was not quickly found, however.
On July 2, Fox announced that, in addition to Allen, series regulars Nancy Travis, Amanda Fuller, Hector Elizondo, Christoph Sanders, Jordan Masterson and Jonathan Adams had all signed on to appear in the season 7 reboot. Molly Ephraim and Flynn Morrison both opted not to return for the new season,[63] with Fox announcing their roles ("Mandy" and "Boyd", respectively) would be recast ahead of season 7.[64] On August 6, 2018, it was announced that Molly McCook and Jet Jurgensmeyer would be taking over the roles of Mandy and Boyd, respectively. The article also stated that Kaitlyn Dever, who recently signed on to play a lead role in the 2019 Netflix miniseries Unbelievable, would return as Eve in a recurring role only.[10]
For the seventh season, the show aired in the same Friday night time slot as for the last five of its six seasons on ABC; the show was renewed for an eighth season, and was moved to a new time slot, as Fox had signed an agreement to air WWE SmackDown on Friday nights beginning in fall 2019.[65][66] When the Fox schedule was released in May 2019, Last Man Standing was placed in a Thursday night time slot, but only in weeks when Fox would not air NFL or XFL games.[67][68] On October 24, 2019, it was announced that season eight had been scheduled to premiere on January 2, 2020, with 2 back-to-back episodes airing in an hour time slot for three weeks on January 2, 9 and 16, before returning to a one-episode-a-week time slot of 8/7c starting on January 23.[69] On May 19, 2020, Fox renewed the series for a ninth and final season, which premiered on January 3, 2021.[5][6][4]
On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, season one holds an approval rating of 14% based on 37 reviews, and the average rating is 4.14/10. The same site's critical consensus for the season reads, "Last Man Standing is a thoroughly middling sitcom relying on jokes that feel alternately dated or hostile."[70] On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 33 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[71]
Season two of the series holds an approval rating of 40% on Rotten Tomatoes.[75] Entertainment Weekly commented: "I think it's time the folks involved with Last take a closer look at All in the Family, in which the prejudice was built around real jokes."[76] The A.V. Club's Emily VanDerWerff wrote: "The problem with Last Man Standing's attempts to go political is exemplified by the first scene of the season première, which remains one of the most uncomfortable scenes of television I've ever watched... doing its best to push buttons in the audience that don't need to be pushed, as if it thinks what made [Norman] Lear's sitcoms a success was the yelling or the mentions of social issues that people sometimes argued about."[77] Philly.com wrote about season three: "The unlikely comeback vehicle for Tim Allen, Last Man Standing on ABC, is a thoroughly traditional, absolutely charming sitcom. [...] Last Man is both economical and efficient, getting excellent comic mileage out of the most marginal bit players."[78]
Season seven holds an approval rating of 58% based on 12 reviews and an average rating of 5.34/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Last Man Standing isn't the most realistic sitcom on the dial, but its idealistic representation of opposites living in harmony offers sorely needed hope during divided times."[79] On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 58 out of 100, based on 6 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[80]
On September 3, 2015, it was announced that ABC Family (now Freeform) had obtained syndication rights to the series, which began airing episodes on September 28, 2015.[120] As of 2018, Freeform no longer airs the series. On May 15, 2015, it was announced that Hallmark Channel had obtained the rights to the sitcom, and they aired the series from January 2016 until December 31, 2017.[121] On September 6, 2015, the series joined the CMT Network with a mini-marathon of episodes.[122] The series also joined WGN America (now NewsNation) on April 30, 2018,[123] and USA Network on October 4, 2021.[citation needed] Since January 2020, all nine seasons are available for streaming on Hulu.[124]
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it premiered on October 9, 2012, on Sky One,[128] which aired the first two seasons before dropping it due to low ratings; the show was bought by E4, where it premiered on March 13, 2017;[129] Channel 4 then reran the program on Sunday mornings from July until September 2017; in 2018, 5Star and later Comedy Central UK respectively acquired the show for reruns and new episodes. Disney+, through its Star hub, acquired the show's ninth season as a Star Original.
On May 11, 2012, ABC renewed Last Man Standing for a second season.[28] Beginning this season, Amanda Fuller now plays Kristin, replacing Alexandra Krosney.[29] Flynn Morrison was also added to the main cast as an age-advanced Boyd, replacing twins Evan and Luke Kruntchev.[30] Jordan Masterson recurs as Ryan, Boyd's father, replacing Nick Jonas, who guest starred in one episode in the previous season.[31] The second season initially received a thirteen-episode order, but ABC announced on November 12, 2012 that an additional three scripts had been ordered.[32] The episode order was then extended to five additional episodes, taking the final total to eighteen for the season.[33] Tim Allen's former Home Improvement co-star Richard Karn guest starred in the episode "Attractive Architect", playing the character Bill McKendree.[34][35] Karn reprised his role again in the episode "The Fight".[36] Jonathan Taylor Thomas, another Home Improvement co-star of Allen's, guest starred in the season finale, "College Girl", as the character John Baker.[37][38]
On May 10, 2013, the series was renewed for a third season,[57] it premiered on September 20, 2013.[58] Beginning this season, at the start of each episode a different cast member narrates that the series is recorded in front of a live studio audience. Duck Dynasty stars Willie Robertson and Si Robertson guest starred in the season premiere, "Back to School".[59] Jonathan Taylor Thomas reprised his role as John Baker in the episodes "Ryan v. John Baker" and "Tasers".[60] Thomas also made his directorial debut, directing the episode "Haunted House";[61] it was the first episode of series not directed by John Pasquin. Petty Officer First Class Raymond McKnight guest starred in the episode "Elfie".[62][63]
On May 10, 2014, ABC renewed Last Man Standing for a fourth season,[86] which premiered on October 3, 2014. Both Jordan Masterson and Jonathan Adams were promoted to the main cast this season. Patricia Richardson, Tim Allen's former Home Improvement co-star, guest starred in the episode "Helen Potts", playing the episode's titular character.[87] Richardson is the third Home Improvement cast member to guest star on Last Man Standing after both Richard Karn and Jonathan Taylor Thomas guest starred previously.[88] Thomas also made a cameo appearance at the end of the "Helen Potts" episode, not as John Baker (the character he previously played on Last Man Standing), but as Helen's son Randy, a reference to his character from Home Improvement.[89] On April 3, 2015, Allen and Héctor Elizondo guest starred on the fellow ABC sitcom Cristela as their Last Man Standing characters in the episode "Last Goose Standing", which aired after "Restaurant Opening".[90]
On May 10, 2015, Last Man Standing was renewed for a fifth season.[112] At the start of this season, the practice of a cast member narrating at the start of each episode that "Last Man Standing is recorded in front of a live studio audience" is discontinued. Jay Leno guest starred as Joe Leonard, a mechanic in the episodes "The Road Less Driven", "Mike and the Mechanics" and the season finale "The Shortcut".[113][114][115][116] Patricia Richardson reprised her role as Helen Potts in the episode "Tanks for the Memories".[117] Bill Engvall guest starred in the episode "The Marriage Doctor", reuniting with his Bill Engvall Show co-star Nancy Travis.[118] 041b061a72