We begin with Fool Time on location: Tim, Al and Heidi show off the new, state of the art Tool Time van with every tool accessory a man could ask for. Not relevant to the plot by any means, just filler before the intro. After the intro, as they tool around (pun intended) in the Toolmobile, playing the show's theme over speakers like an ice cream truck, and instantly excited men run up, waving dollars in their hands. Tim is then put to work clearing weeds around a tree, and despite the fact the blade doesn't get anywhere near the tree trunk, it still falls over. Maybe it fainted out of embarrassment. Anyway, it turns out Al has invited Tim and Jill to dinner at his new girlfriend Trudy's house, or rather it's a big-ass mansion. It's been in the family for years, ever since Trudy's grandfather was run over by a Rockefellar. And amazingly, Al isn't wearing anything flannel, so this MUST be a special occasion. Trudy is a very sweet person and Al is nuts about her, so I'd say it's truly a match made in heaven. After dinner, and after Tim plays around in the mansion's bowling alley, Al and Trudy exchange gifts. He gives his lady a lovely pendant with a scorpion, and she gives her lover boy the keys to a 1966 Ferrari, only with those keys, comes the actual car! Al is speechless, while Tim wishes he were in his shoes right about now.
When Tim and Jill get home, she starts ranting about how Trudy giving Al the Ferrari was so inappropriate. Hey, who said it was any of your goddamn business?! Tim tries to be the voice of reason, countering her complaints with logical points, even though all he had on his mind was that Ferrari. The next day, Al drives the aforementioned automobile to Tool Time, where he tells Tim how uncomfortable he feels having accepted the gift. Tim tries to console him by talking him into forking over the keys so he could take it for a joyride. Good, I hope he gets in an accident. Al meanwhile, goes to talk to a real voice of reason, Wilson. Long story short, he suggests Al talk to Trudy and let his true feelings be known. That's when the moron returned with the Ferrari, still on a high, and speaking of high, he got a speeding ticket. So, Al and Trudy have a heart-to-heart, saying she means more to him than the car, which he gives back. So luckily that worked itself out in only a few minutes, and then we cut to Tim writing Trudy a letter, re: the Ferrari. He signs it, "Sincerely, Tim Taylor, the man who controls whether Al works weekends." Up yours, Tim.
Oh, and there was a subplot about Brad wanting to grow a beard to look cool for the chicks, but the script doesn't pay enough attention for us to care. This episode was so stupid, sacrificing story and character for stupid gags, again! We were presented with a terrible script written by Tracy Gamble, and although Richard Karn and Megan Cavanaugh turned in great performances, Tim Allen completely mugged and hammed it up the entire time. I know he's used to doing that, but for God's sake, man, chill out! Home Improvement probably should have ended after Season 7, because Season 8 is really full of duds, and this is one of them. It had potential, however. Al meeting a new girl, who turns out to be a sweetheart, they make beautiful music together, then they have some conflict...and it all gets tossed aside so we can get more schtick with Tim and the car! And where the hell does Jill get off trying to judge a gift Trudy gives Al? That's why I hate her character, she's so freakin' nosy. We should have seen more of Al and Trudy together here, instead of Tim Allen making an ass of himself, another thing he loved to do. I say just skip this piece of garbage, because thankfully Trudy comes back and she and Al become more serious down the line. Oh, and the Tool Time van opening sucked too because it had no purpose or tie-ins with the story, just more filler! Next up, a GOOD episode: Season 5's "The Look".
When Tim and Jill get home, she starts ranting about how Trudy giving Al the Ferrari was so inappropriate. Hey, who said it was any of your goddamn business?! Tim tries to be the voice of reason, countering her complaints with logical points, even though all he had on his mind was that Ferrari. The next day, Al drives the aforementioned automobile to Tool Time, where he tells Tim how uncomfortable he feels having accepted the gift. Tim tries to console him by talking him into forking over the keys so he could take it for a joyride. Good, I hope he gets in an accident. Al meanwhile, goes to talk to a real voice of reason, Wilson. Long story short, he suggests Al talk to Trudy and let his true feelings be known. That's when the moron returned with the Ferrari, still on a high, and speaking of high, he got a speeding ticket. So, Al and Trudy have a heart-to-heart, saying she means more to him than the car, which he gives back. So luckily that worked itself out in only a few minutes, and then we cut to Tim writing Trudy a letter, re: the Ferrari. He signs it, "Sincerely, Tim Taylor, the man who controls whether Al works weekends." Up yours, Tim.
Oh, and there was a subplot about Brad wanting to grow a beard to look cool for the chicks, but the script doesn't pay enough attention for us to care. This episode was so stupid, sacrificing story and character for stupid gags, again! We were presented with a terrible script written by Tracy Gamble, and although Richard Karn and Megan Cavanaugh turned in great performances, Tim Allen completely mugged and hammed it up the entire time. I know he's used to doing that, but for God's sake, man, chill out! Home Improvement probably should have ended after Season 7, because Season 8 is really full of duds, and this is one of them. It had potential, however. Al meeting a new girl, who turns out to be a sweetheart, they make beautiful music together, then they have some conflict...and it all gets tossed aside so we can get more schtick with Tim and the car! And where the hell does Jill get off trying to judge a gift Trudy gives Al? That's why I hate her character, she's so freakin' nosy. We should have seen more of Al and Trudy together here, instead of Tim Allen making an ass of himself, another thing he loved to do. I say just skip this piece of garbage, because thankfully Trudy comes back and she and Al become more serious down the line. Oh, and the Tool Time van opening sucked too because it had no purpose or tie-ins with the story, just more filler! Next up, a GOOD episode: Season 5's "The Look".
