Who is the real star of Tool Time? Some say it's Tim, as he's the host, while others feel that it's Al, because not only is he the more competent of the two, but he does most of the work. As far as running Tool Time, Tim is pretty much the leader, and despite his best efforts, the show actually manages to get things done, and because of this, his ego has swelled to the size of a hot-air balloon. However, this may soon change, as Tim's world is about to be rocked, and the Tool Man will reluctantly be taken down a peg. It all started on the day Tim and Al were unveiling the new project house that they were going to renovate top to bottom. Sounds pretty exciting, eh? After the show, Maureen Binford, a young, exuberant redhead, stops by to inform Tim that Mr. Binford has appointed her as Tool Time's new producer. He didn't inform Tim ahead of time because he's preoccupied with a new trophy wife: Miss Black and Decker. Now, if you thought Tim was a questionable choice as being put in charge of a TV show, Maureen puts him to shame. If Binford thought this girl would make a good producer, I'd say the old man's got a few screws loose. Right away, Maureen moves in on Tim's project house, making changes here and there. Mainly adding a breakfast nook, and kiss-ass Al agrees with every word she says. At home, after Jill sets a poor example for the boys by sneaking sweets before dinner, she gets a call from the magazine. She got a job! This means she'll be at work during the day for a whole week, which means Tim will have to mind the house. She shows appreciation for her husband by not even listening to him when he tries to tell her about the show's new producer.
The next morning, Jill heads off for her first day at work while Tim bustles about the kitchen, trying to get the boys ready for school. Al stops by, and it seems he's trying to get chummy with Mo, as he's now calling her. Tim questions his co-worker and semi-friend's loyalty, especially when he discovers Al had been talked into wearing a Hawaiian shirt. So now, on to the project house, where Maureen has already started setting up, and going with the breakfast nook, against Tim's wishes. He lashes out at her right then and there, saying it's his show and he'll do as he darn well pleases. So he climbs up to the roof for his introduction, despite Maureen warning him it was unsafe. He wouldn't listen, he was too full of male pride and an inflated ego, which unfortunately did not act as a parachute when Tim predictably fell through the roof and broke his neck. He's okay afterwards, and goes to have a talk with Wilson later that night, telling him how uncomfortable he is with all these changes. Wilson simply tells him that sometimes change is good, and then hurries off to take an herbal bath. So Tim tries to talk to Mark, but he proves to be little help. When Jill gets home, she's gloating about the best first day she's ever had, everything's all hunky-dory. However, she comes down from her high long enough to finally hear about Tim's problems. Jill feels fisticuffs would be an answer. Jill vs. Maureen, I'd LOVE to see that. Tim has a better idea, though. He suggests a new sweatshirt line for Binford and volunteers Maureen to show them off at a Chicago hardware store. That'll keep her out of his hair for a week. Tim congratulates himself, knowing who the REAL boss of Tool Time is...and then he looks at one of the sweatshirts to find Al's mug, NOT his, on the front.
Maureen Binford appears in two more episodes, and then she thankfully disappears. What a poorly written character she was, with a gimmick of undermining Tim just because she's the producer, and constantly shouting that out, like, "pro-DUCE-err!" Good God, that gets annoying! Sure, Tim often makes ill-advised decisions, simply because he's in charge, but at least there's a purpose for making those decisions and more often than not, they pay off. With Maureen, there is NO motive. Just that she's "pro-DUCE-err." That's it! As far as Home Improvement's side characters, Maureen Binford is definitely one of the worst. This whole episode was annoying. Maureen was annoying, Jill was annoying, Tim was kind of annoying. If the point of making this one was to be annoying, then they certainly achieved what they set out to do. I wouldn't really recommend May the Best Man Win, it's just a very unpleasant episode to sit through.
The next morning, Jill heads off for her first day at work while Tim bustles about the kitchen, trying to get the boys ready for school. Al stops by, and it seems he's trying to get chummy with Mo, as he's now calling her. Tim questions his co-worker and semi-friend's loyalty, especially when he discovers Al had been talked into wearing a Hawaiian shirt. So now, on to the project house, where Maureen has already started setting up, and going with the breakfast nook, against Tim's wishes. He lashes out at her right then and there, saying it's his show and he'll do as he darn well pleases. So he climbs up to the roof for his introduction, despite Maureen warning him it was unsafe. He wouldn't listen, he was too full of male pride and an inflated ego, which unfortunately did not act as a parachute when Tim predictably fell through the roof and broke his neck. He's okay afterwards, and goes to have a talk with Wilson later that night, telling him how uncomfortable he is with all these changes. Wilson simply tells him that sometimes change is good, and then hurries off to take an herbal bath. So Tim tries to talk to Mark, but he proves to be little help. When Jill gets home, she's gloating about the best first day she's ever had, everything's all hunky-dory. However, she comes down from her high long enough to finally hear about Tim's problems. Jill feels fisticuffs would be an answer. Jill vs. Maureen, I'd LOVE to see that. Tim has a better idea, though. He suggests a new sweatshirt line for Binford and volunteers Maureen to show them off at a Chicago hardware store. That'll keep her out of his hair for a week. Tim congratulates himself, knowing who the REAL boss of Tool Time is...and then he looks at one of the sweatshirts to find Al's mug, NOT his, on the front.
Maureen Binford appears in two more episodes, and then she thankfully disappears. What a poorly written character she was, with a gimmick of undermining Tim just because she's the producer, and constantly shouting that out, like, "pro-DUCE-err!" Good God, that gets annoying! Sure, Tim often makes ill-advised decisions, simply because he's in charge, but at least there's a purpose for making those decisions and more often than not, they pay off. With Maureen, there is NO motive. Just that she's "pro-DUCE-err." That's it! As far as Home Improvement's side characters, Maureen Binford is definitely one of the worst. This whole episode was annoying. Maureen was annoying, Jill was annoying, Tim was kind of annoying. If the point of making this one was to be annoying, then they certainly achieved what they set out to do. I wouldn't really recommend May the Best Man Win, it's just a very unpleasant episode to sit through.
