The Real Reason Al From Home Improvement Was Recast

During the '90s, network sitcoms like Friends ruled the airwaves and made audiences laugh, cry, and everything in between. Home Improvement, based on Tim Allen's stand-up comedy material, was among the most successful shows of the era. However, Home Improvement did face some casting issues with one of its principal characters, Al Borland , who very nearly didn't exist.

Home Improvement premiered on September 17, 1991, and stayed on the air until May 25, 1999. Its impressive eight-season run was filled with memorable moments, one-liners, and home repair projects that didn't always pan out. Allen was already a successful comedian when ABC ordered the Home Improvement pilot in early 1991, but the show's success catapulted him to a new level of stardom. And Allen's leading turn as Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor was just part of the reason why Home Improvement worked so well. The series' charm was found in its cast's chemistry. Viewers didn't just tune in for the jokes. They also tuned in for family struggles, at-work tension, and plenty of neighborly wisdom from across the fence.

The most fondly remembered scenes are often the ones between Allen's Tim Taylor and his television partner Al Borland, played by Richard Karn. The two foils had a comedically antagonistic relationship on their show-within-the-show, Tool Time. At the end of the day, though, Tim and Al were friends who grew to care about one another over their years working together.

As it turns out, Al wasn't originally meant to be Tim's sidekick on Tool Time. During the development of Home Improvement, casting troubles resulted in changes to the show. The original script included a character named Glen to act as Tim's sidekick on Tool Time. John Bedford Lloyd almost took the role, but he was also being eyed for the part of Wilson W. Wilson, the Taylors' elusive but wise neighbor, and he wanted that role more than he wanted to play Glen. After landing the part, Lloyd's attitude changed when he realized the catch to playing Wilson was that his face wouldn't be shown on screen, and would usually be hidden by a tall fence. Lloyd ultimately exited Home Improvement prior to the start of shooting, and actor Earl Hindman wound up playing Wilson instead.

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