Last Man Standing’ Renewed for Season 8 at Fox

In one of the most obvious decisions of the broadcast season, Fox has renewed Tim Allen comedy Last Man Standing. The pickup is for the multicamera comedy’s eighth season overall and the second on Fox.

“Hard to believe Last Man Standing hits 150 episodes this week, and it gets better with another upcoming season at Fox,” Allen said. “Great news for all of us who are creating these stories and working our pants off to make you all laugh. It’s another big high five to the legions of loyal fans who have faithfully kept us front and center and huge on the radar. Thanks to our family at Fox, who continue to make us feel so at home. Man, if we keep this up, they might have to call our show Last Man Unable to Stand.”

Last Man Standing was considered a slam dunk to return at Fox given the newly independent network’s focus on broad multicamera comedies that appeal to middle America and broad procedurals (like the already renewed The Resident and 911).

The comedy has a fascinating backstory that continues to be illustrative of the nature of broadcast television. The series is produced by 20th Century Fox TV and aired its first six seasons on ABC, with the Disney-owned broadcaster having to pay a licensing fee to 20th TV to air the show. ABC canceled the series two years ago after the price of the show continued to escalate (star Allen commands a top fee) amid diminishing ratings returns.

A year later, Fox revived the show for a seventh season — an easy decision for the network given that Last Manwas, at the time, owned by its studio counterpart. Now ABC actually owns the show, as 20th TV was among the assets transferred to Disney as part of its $71.3 billion Fox asset buy. And Fox will have to pay Disney a licensing fee for Last Man.

“Last Man Standing roared out of the gate on Fox and has maintained its ratings dominance ever since,” said Fox Entertainment president Michael Thorn. “Much of that credit goes to the incredibly funny and talented Tim Allen, not to mention Nancy [Travis], Hector [Elizondo] and the rest of the show’s great cast. We’d like to thank [exec producers] Kevin [Abbott], Matt [Berry] and the entire crew, along with our partners at 20th Century Fox Television, for overseeing one of television’s most popular comedies. We’d also like to congratulate them all on reaching 150 episodes — a milestone that’s well-deserved.”

Hollywood Reporter