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Tim Taylor
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Full Name
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Timothy Taylor
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Family
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Michael Taylor (father; deceased)
Lucille Taylor (mother; deceased) Jeff Taylor (brother) Marty Taylor (brother) Rick Taylor (brother) John Taylor (brother) Steve Taylor (brother) Brian Taylor (brother) Danny Taylor (brother) Jill Taylor (wife) Brad Taylor (son) Randy Taylor (son) Mark Taylor (son) Nancy Taylor (sister-in-law) Gracie and Claire Taylor (twin nieces) Colonel Fred Patterson (father-in-law; deceased) Lillian Patterson (mother-in-law) Linda Patterson (sister-in-law) Tracy Patterson (sister-in-law) Carrie Patterson (sister-in-law) Robin Patterson (sister-in-law) Katie Patterson (sister-in-law) Carol (sister-in-law) Sloan (niece) |
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Occupation
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First Appearance
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"Pilot"
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Last Appearance
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Actor
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Status
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Alive
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Timothy "Tim" Taylor, also known as "The Tool Man" is the main character of Home Improvement who is portrayed by Tim Allen.
Tim Taylor is the husband of Jill Taylor and the father of Brad, Randy, and Mark. They all live in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Most of his time in his garage, working with his large collection of tools on his hot rod. He is also the host of the popular show Tool Time.
Biography[]
Tim Taylor was born on June 13, 1953 to Michael Taylor and Lucille Taylor in Chicago, Illinois. He is the 2nd oldest of 8th brothers. He has an older brother Jeffery and six younger brothers; Brian, Steve, John, Rick, Danny, and Martin "Marty" Taylor. In 1964, when Tim was only 11-years-old, his father Michael passed away. Leaving Tim to become a father figure to his younger brother Marty.
Tim and Jill were married in 1979. On October 22, 1981, Tim and Jill welcomed their first-born son Bradley Michael Taylor. 14 months later, they welcomed their second-born son Randall Michael Taylor. On March 17, 1985, Tim and Jill welcomed their youngest and final child, Marcus Jason Taylor.
Tool Time[]
On September 17, 1991, Tim became the host of his very own show Tool Time. He has his male assistant Albert "Al" Borland who assists him on the show and his female assistant Lisa who announces him. After a while, Lisa is replaced by Heidi Keppert when Lisa leaves to attend college.
Before becoming the host of Tool Time, Tim was a traveling salesman for Binford Tools. While Tim considers himself to be the star of the show and is a celebrity in Detroit, Al eventually becomes the more popular one with the viewers. Tim's rival is real-life home improvement specialist Bob Vila, who made a few guest appearances on the show. A running gag is when Tim accidentally causes destruction to anything he touches -- from the world's smallest car to running over golf carts --- with a Marine Corps tank.
Family[]
Michael Taylor - Father (deceased)
Lucille Taylor - Mother (deceased)
Jeff Taylor - Older brother
Brian Taylor - Younger brother
Steve Taylor - Younger brother
John Taylor - Younger brother
Rick Taylor - Younger brother
Danny Taylor - Younger brother
Marty Taylor - Younger brother
Jill Taylor - Wife
Brad Taylor - Eldest son
Randy Taylor - Middle son
Mark Taylor - Youngest son
Extended Family[]
Colonel Fred Patterson - Father-in-law (deceased)
Lillian Patterson - Mother-in-law
Nancy Taylor - Sister-in-law (Marty's wife/Ex-wife)
Gracie and Claire Taylor - Nieces (Marty and Nancy's daughters)
Linda Patterson - Sister-in-law (Jill's sister)
Traci Patterson - Sister-in-law (Jill's sister)
Carrie Patterson - Sister-in-law (Jill's sister)
Robin Patterson - Sister-in-law (Jill's sister)
Katie Patterson - Sister-in-law (Jill's sister)
Carol Patterson - Sister-in-law (Jill's sister)
In the series finale, Jill, Brad, and Mark are featured in the audience as Tim, Al and Heidi shoot the final episode of Tool Time. Instead of setting the entire state on fire due to Morgan's order, the three decide to go out on their own terms; they introduce a bevy of past favorite guests, including the guys from K&B Construction as the "All-Tool-Band" and Mario Andretti on car horn performing a cover of the Talking Heads 1983 hit "Burning Down the House," using tools and appliances as musical instruments.
Al and Tim both ignite acetylene torches, and when the song was over, Tim sets fire to the "Farewell to Tool Time" banner as two firemen come on stage to put out the flames. At the Taylor family home, Tim is talking with Wilson while setting up chairs in his backyard for Al and Trudi's wedding. When Tim mentions that they could double up space by taking down the privacy fence between his and Wilson's yard, Wilson happily agrees. As they are taking down the fence, Tim tells Wilson that his last day of Tool Time was a ratings smash, and that Morgan is now begging him to stay on, offering a big raise and an executive producer credit. Wilson begins to think that Tim will be staying in Michigan, but Tim reveals that he turned down Morgan's offer, but hasn't told Jill because he doesn't want it to affect her decision; Wilson admires Tim's selflessness.
Before the wedding began, some of Tim and Al's friends make a wager as to whether or not Al will go through with it; Tim appears by the idea, but then bets a hundred on Al, and then another $40 that Al is wearing a flannel thong. Meanwhile, Jill is in the kitchen directing the catering when Morgan arrives with a cheese basket for Tim and Jill. Morgan identifies himself to Jill and then reveals that he's been trying to get hold of Tim to get him to reconsider leaving Tool Time, audaciously mentioning that he will lose his job if he loses Tim. Jill is touched that Tim turned Morgan down because of her job offer, but when Morgan tries to guilt Jill into getting Tim to reconsider, Jill is offended and throws Morgan out of the house, and Al and Trudi's wedding goes off as planned, with Wilson covering up the half of his face with a bible. Before the wedding starts, Jill takes Tim to the garage after affirming her gratitude at Tim's sacrifice, she reveals that now she doesn't want to move to Indiana. Later, after the reception is over, Jill, in a quiet moment alone with Tim, finally admits that she's ready for the next step in their lives. When she wistfully says that she can't imaging leaving the house, Tim begins thinking that they won't have to, envisioning carting the entire house on a truck and trailer, and then on a barge towed by a tugboat.
Also, Jill gets offered a psychology job in Bloomington, Indiana where she would be working with children. Tim and Jill contemplated the move at first, but decided to move so Jill could finally follow her dreams. She becomes Dr. Jill Taylor, Ph.D. of Psychology.
Relationship with Wilson[]
Living next door to the Taylor's is Wilson W. Wilson, Jr., the man who Tim sees as a father figure and helps him with his problems by quoting philosophers and historical figures. Tim first met Wilson when his middle child, Randy, had colic. Wilson gave Tim an herbal remedy and it helped him out a lot. Tim, who is apparently not as intelligent as his wife Jill, has trouble understanding what Wilson tells him but eventually manages to figure it out on his own. However, he tends to mix up the words when trying to repeat Wilson's quotes, always to humorous effect. Tim, or any of the other Taylors, have a crisis ending conversation with Wilson in nearly every episode, even when traveling considerable distances. In one episode, Wilson points out that "Tim Taylor" spells out "mortality" when rearranged.
Relationship with Al[]
Though ultimately good friends, there was a tense relationship between Tim and Al. Al was portrayed as a slightly geeky character, usually having more knowledge, skill, and audience popularity than Tim. His catchphrase, as an opposition to Tim's ill-advised ideas or jokes, was "I don't think so, Tim." He also came up with many puns and giggles and snorts when a joke is made at Tim's expense. The cautious, insecure, brighter Al always bores the brunt of Tim's jokes and constant put-downs. Al is frequently taunted by Tim because of his weight, beard, in Tim's eye bland personality, his overweight mother, poor sense of humor and his preference of flannel shirts (and often other flannel items such as an oversized pair of flannel briefs in the episode ("The Karate Kid Returns"). Tim typically uses his television show to vent about numerous problems that he is having in his personal life, and Al is usually very annoyed by this. A running gag for Tim is commenting on Al's overweight mother, who was often referred to but was never seen throughout the series (although in the penultimate episode of the series, ("Dead Weight"), she died, and the characters were shown paying their respects at her "extra-wide" coffin which show her body, but not her face. Also, prior to her death, her arm can be seen waving (with a leg of chicken in hand).
Personality and Interests[]
A hot rod enthusiast, Tim is knowledgeable on all things related to cars, and is fond of listing the different parts inside a particular car that catches his attention. Tim is also obsessed with building things. This is usually followed by his trademark grunting. He is also somewhat obsessed with modifying machines and household appliances for "more power" (a favorite catchphrase of his), because he likes doing things the "man's way". Most of the time, the rewired machines will backfire and cause some kind of accident. Nevertheless, he tries to pass these qualities to his sons. It has been shown on some occasions, most notably at the end of the episode ("Ye Olde Shoppe Teacher"), that if Tim pays attention and follows instructions without trying to give things more power, he can be an effective craftsman. He is also a big fan of the Detroit Lions, Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings. And he is also known as trusting, industrious, mature, thoughtful, altruistic, understanding, loving, optimistic, relaxed, tidy, independent, meticulous, truthful, accountable, fatherly, observant and reasonable.
Running gags[]
- Tim's love of cars and tools.
- The simian, manly "grunt" he makes when he says, hears or sees something manly.
- His comedic catchphrase "More power!". Usually when the audience says this line, Tim says afterwards, "You're darn right more power!".
- Other people mentioning Tim being in the emergency room after an accident.
- Tim's subconscious or consciousness to make destruction (i.e., blow up the dishwasher or the water heater).
- His long runs in the bathroom.
- His comedic personality.
- His mangling of Wilson's advice (one variation is an episode where Tim actually gives good advice and astonishes everyone).
- Tim getting frustrated over people commenting that they love Tool Time for Al. Sometimes saying, "Al is my assistant, he assists me."
- Whenever Tim goes in the basement, he hits his head on a pipe. A variation was when Tim hits his head while going down the steps of a U.S. aircraft carrier.
- When he tries to bench weight.
- Tim's attempting to upstage Bob Vila.
- Tim joking about Al's mother.
- Tim building various "Man's [rooms]" on the Tool time set (with those rooms being a Bathroom, Kitchen, Dorm Room, Bedroom, and Gym).
- After he built his first hotrod, then sold it, answering after showing various characters, such as Tim's mother, who all say "It's beautiful! What happened to it?," to which he replied by saying "I sold it!" then the other character would say something to the effect of "Glad I'm not a part of your family!"
Trivia[]
- In the episode "Say Goodnight Gracie", Tim is shown holding up a Buzz Lightyear toy while he is playing with Gracie, which is a reference to the character he voices in the Toy Story film franchise.
- It is revealed in the episode "Whose Car Is It, Anyway?" that Tim and Jill married in 1979.
- Some of his catchphrases aside from "More power" and the grunts are, "Back the (truck, truth trolley, etc.) up!", and "Shut up, Al!".
- In the episode "The Colonel", Jill's father, Fred states that Tim should have bought a 1961 Lincoln the day it went for sale. Tim responded by saying he was 6, meaning he was born in 1955.
Gallery[]
