Patricia Richardson wasn’t the first Jill on Home Improvement

Before Patricia Richardson, Frances Fisher was cast as Jill Taylor on Home Improvement. As the show turns 35, here’s who almost played Jill, Al and Wilson, and where to watch now.

Patricia Richardson became one of TV’s most famous moms as Jill Taylor on Home Improvement. But she wasn’t the first actress cast in the role.

That job originally went to Frances Fisher. The show recast the part early on, and the casting stories have resurfaced as the sitcom hits its 35th anniversary.

Home Improvement premiered on ABC on Sept. 17, 1991.

What was Home Improvement about?

Tim Allen played Tim Taylor, the accident-prone host of a cable show called Tool Time, sponsored by Binford Tools. At home in suburban Detroit, he juggled three sons, a smarter-than-him wife and a lot of power tools.

The show grew out of Allen’s stand-up act, which leaned on jokes about men and their tools. It became one of the biggest sitcoms of the 1990s.

Who was originally cast as Jill on Home Improvement?

Frances Fisher was the first Jill, TVLine reported in a 35th-anniversary look back at the show. She was replaced by Richardson.

Richard Karn, who played Al Borland, explained the switch on the Pod Meets World podcast. He said Fisher “wasn’t getting the right laugh,” according to Parade.

Richardson was a better match for Allen’s Tim Taylor. “It was like she was his equal,” Karn said.

That balance became the heart of the show. Tim broke things, and Jill called him on it.

Who almost played Al and Wilson?

Jill wasn’t the only role that changed hands, TVLine reported.

• Al Borland: Stephen Tobolowsky was set to play Al but had a scheduling conflict. Karn got the part.

• Wilson: John Bedford Lloyd backed out of playing the neighbor. Earl Hindman took over and made the role famous, mostly from behind a fence.

Hindman’s face was rarely fully shown on the show, which turned into one of its best running gags. He died in 2003 at 61.

Why did Patricia Richardson leave Home Improvement?

Richardson stayed for all eight seasons, but she turned down a ninth, and the show ended in 1999.

Her TV son, Taran Noah Smith, opened up about her exit on a podcast in late September. Pirates & Princesses covered what he said on Oct. 5.

Richardson earned multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for playing Jill.

Is the Home Improvement cast still friends?

Yes, and they’ve worked together again in the past year. Richardson, Karn and Debbe Dunning guest-starred in the Season 2 premiere of Allen’s ABC sitcom Shifting Gears, which aired Oct. 1, 2025, Deadline reported.

The three were also booked for a panel together at ‘90s Con in Connecticut in March 2026.

Dunning played Heidi, the Tool Time assistant, after Pamela Anderson left the role of Lisa following the first two seasons.

Where can you watch Home Improvement?

That’s gotten trickier. All 204 episodes landed on Netflix in 2025, but they left the service on Aug. 1, 2026, ComingSoon reported.

Where the show streams next hasn’t been confirmed. Home Improvement aired on ABC, which Disney owns, so Disney+ or Hulu would be a natural home. Disney hasn’t announced anything.

What is Tim Allen doing now?

Allen is still busy. ABC renewed Shifting Gears for a third season, TV Series Finale reported in May.

He’s also still Buzz Lightyear. Allen voiced Buzz again in Toy Story 5, which hit theaters on June 19, 2026.

That’s a pretty good run for a guy whose signature move was a grunt. More than 30 years after Tool Time, Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor is still part of the Disney family.

Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• TVLine, Sept. 17, 2026: 35th anniversary, original casting for Jill, Al and Wilson

• Parade, Sept. 8, 2025: Richard Karn’s Pod Meets World quotes

• Deadline, Aug. 2025: Shifting Gears reunion episode

• People, Oct. 28 and Dec. 1, 2025: ‘90s Con panel, Netflix arrival, Tool Time girls, Earl Hindman

• ComingSoon, July 3, 2026: Netflix departure

• Fox News, Sept. 27, 2026: eight seasons, 204 episodes

• TV Series Finale, May 1, 2026: Shifting Gears renewal

AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.