September 17: Tim the Tool Man

On this day in 1991, a new sitcom called Home Improvement debuted on ABC-TV. Produced by Touchstone Television/Wind Dancer Productions, it starred comedian Tim Allen as Tim Taylor a Detroit family man and host of his own home improvement show called "Tool Time."

Distributed by Buena Vista Television (now Disney-ABC Domestic Television) the series centered on the Taylor family: father Tim, his spouse Jill (Patricia Richardson) and their three sons Brad (Zachery Ty Bryan), Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) and Mark (Taran Noah Smith). The comedy also featured Earl Hindman as their neighbor Wilson and Richard Karn as Al Borland, Tim's "Tool Time" co-host.

Not only did the series kick-start Allen's career but the series led to Jonathan Taylor Thomas voicing the role of young Simba in The Lion King. In the first two seasons of Home Improvement, Pamela Anderson played the role of Tim's assistant Lisa. She left to star in another series called Baywatch and actress Debbe Dunning stepped in as Tim's new "Tool Time girl."

Home Improvement became one of the most watched sitcoms of the 1990s, running for 8 seasons. Allen went on to have a successful acting career - supplying the voice for Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear and starring in The Santa Clause series of films.

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