Patricia Richardson's Pay Gap Fight and Home Improvement's Legacy
Home Improvement was a hit sitcom that ran for eight seasons, but fans will never see a ninth due to a pay gap between Patricia Richardson and co-star Tim Allen.
Home Improvement was a big hit that brought the Taylor family to many television screens. The show, which ran for eight seasons, followed Tim "The Toolman" Taylor (Tim Allen) as he juggled his home improvement show, Tool Time, with his family life.
Patricia Richardson Refused to Do Home Improvement Season 9 After Huge Pay Gap with Tim Allen
When executives wanted to do a ninth season, they proposed a 25-episode season with $2 million per episode for Tim Allen and $1 million per episode for Patricia Richardson. Allen accepted, but Richardson refused to accept the dramatic Pay Gap.
Richardson proposed that she get an executive producer credit and the same pay per episode as Allen. She told the LA Times:
I knew that Disney would in no way pay me that much. That was my way to say 'no' and was a little bit of a flip-off to Disney. I'd been there all this time, and they never even paid me a third of what Tim was making, and I was working my a off. I was a big reason why women were watching.
The producers rejected Richardson's proposal, which ended the plans for Home Improvement season 9. According to executive producers Carmen Finestra and Elliot Shoenman, the show couldn't continue without Richardson.
- "Some shows would have had the mom die. I don’t remember one discussion where we said, ‘How can we keep this going without Pat?’ It just couldn’t have worked." - Carmen Finestra
- "Without her, it just didn’t make any sense." - Elliot Shoenman
Richardson walked away from a $25 million payday and, according to her, received no support from Allen, her co-star of eight years. She said:
I was mad at Tim because he was leaving me alone being the only person saying no, which made me feel terrible and like the bad guy, and he was upset with me for leaving.
Home Improvement ended with the Taylor family moving to Indiana, allowing Jill (Richardson) to pursue a new career.
While Richardson and Allen had a contentious relationship after Home Improvement ended, they reunited on Allen's sitcom, Last Man Standing, where she played Helen Potts in two episodes.
Richardson Blames Allen's Conservative Politics on Home Improvement's Lack of Legacy
Despite its popularity, Home Improvement hasn't maintained the legacy its popularity suggested it would have. Richardson believes that this is due to the controversies surrounding Tim Allen, particularly his conservative politics and support of the Republican party. She said:
I think it’s about Tim, and it’s about his politics. Of course, I don’t like his politics.
Allen has also faced other controversies. In her 2023 memoir, "Love, Pamela," Pamela Anderson alleged that Allen flashed her on set. These controversies may have turned viewers off from rewatching Home Improvement.
While Richardson may be correct in blaming Allen, Home Improvement may simply not be as memorable as its contemporaries. Shows like Seinfeld and Friends are still popular today due to their unique storylines and characters. However, Richardson's fight for equal pay during the 90s was a significant moment for female actors.
