The Home Improvement episode “Eye on Tim” is a satire of the TV show and reality show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”. It also pokes fun at home improvement shows in general.
Jill (Patricia Richardson) tries to spruce up the house for the arrival of a visit from her visiting sister Carrie, a newspaper photojournalist. Carrie annoys Jill by passive aggressively insulting the suburbs, their family and their suburban life. Tim’s (Tim Allen) obsession with cars and tools leads him to modify or rebuild a vehicle with his “man’s way”. He often says, “More power!” to which the audience responds, “Darn right more power!”
Despite his expertise as an auto mechanic, Tim is very accident-prone when using power tools. He is constantly spraining his fingers, breaking things and otherwise destroying property with his devices. This is done to demonstrate the risks of improper use of power tools and the importance of safety precautions.
Al Borland (Richard Karn) is a grumpy, slightly overweight neighbor who often has trouble with his own idiosyncratic mannerisms and the ways of the modern world. He is always wearing a flannel, which was his father’s trademark. Al is a straight-forward, practical man who serves as the show’s contrast to the wacky and sometimes irresponsible Tim.
Each episode of the series featured Tool Time, a show-within-a-show hosted by Tim and co-host Al. It featured various projects, pranks and other humorous events relating to the improvement of homes. The show was nominated for multiple awards and won several throughout its run.