Season 8 (1998/99)
- Starting with the episode "All in the Family", Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Randy Taylor) is no longer a series regular; he is also removed from the opening credits effective with that episode, with the exception of "Home for the Holidays", which he reprises his character as a guest star.
- Zachery Ty Bryan (Brad Taylor) is absent for 1 episode.
- Taran Noah Smith (Mark Taylor) is absent for 3 episodes.
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 177 | 1 | "Whitewater" | Geoffrey Nelson | Bruce Ferber & Lloyd Garver | September 22, 1998 (1998-09-22) | A56/801 |
| Will this be Tim's last birthday? Jill's surprise birthday gift of a river rafting adventure trip with Heidi, Al, and Wilson, to Kernville, California goes against Tim's well thought out plans of watching a NASCAR race in Indianapolis, which he had VIP tickets for. Meanwhile, Mark, who has completely abandoned his darker ways, and Brad make a hard-to-get-out soda stain on the couch after arguing over Tim's new massage recliner. | ||||||
| 178 | 2 | "Adios" | Geoffrey Nelson | Jon Vandergriff | September 29, 1998 (1998-09-29) | A56/802 |
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The Taylor family has to say some tough goodbyes to Randy after he is unexpectedly accepted into a year long environmental study program in Costa Rica. Meanwhile, Tool Time holds auditions for a group to write lyrics to the Tool Time theme music. Notes: Jonathan Taylor Thomas's final episode with Randy as a regular. He returns for another episode later in the season. |
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| 179 | 3 | "All in the Family" | Geoffrey Nelson | Elliot Shoenman & Marley Sims | October 6, 1998 (1998-10-06) | A56/803 |
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Jill's sister and Tim's brother get a little too friendly, which interrupt Tim and Jill's plans to spend some intimate time together. Absent: Zachery Ty Bryan as Brad Taylor and Taran Noah Smith as Mark Taylor |
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| 180 | 4 | "Taylor Got Game" | Geoffrey Nelson | Jonathan Pollack | October 13, 1998 (1998-10-13) | A56/804 |
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Brad is worried about his SATs. Wilson's friend, who is an English soccer team owner, visits and tells Tim that Brad is good enough to play professionally, Brad seriously considers it. Absent: Taran Noah Smith as Mark Taylor |
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| 181 | 5 | "Al's Fair Lady" | Geoffrey Nelson | Tracy Gamble | October 20, 1998 (1998-10-20) | A56/805 |
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The Tool Time gang take their show on the road in Tim's new community fix-up van. Tim and Jill are introduced to Al's new, very rich girlfriend... and Tim doesn't understand what is so wrong about Al accepting very extravagant gifts from her... of course, the gift is a car. Absent: Taran Noah Smith as Mark Taylor |
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| 182 | 6 | "Bewitched" | Geoffrey Nelson | Jennifer Celotta & Adam England | October 27, 1998 (1998-10-27) | A56/806 |
| The Taylors' holiday tradition of Halloween pranks continues when Jill springs the ultimate on Tim, feigning the disappearance and death of Wilson. | ||||||
| 183 | 7 | "Not-So-Great Scott" | Peter Bonerz | Laurie Gelman | November 3, 1998 (1998-11-03) | A56/807 |
| Jill tells Tim that she thinks one of her patients is seeing Heidi's husband Scott (Mark Dobies). Unfortunately, Tim accidentally spills this little tidbit of confidential information to Heidi. | ||||||
| 184 | 8 | "Tim's First Car" | Peter Bonerz | Kim Flagg & David Maples | November 10, 1998 (1998-11-10) | A56/808 |
| Jill decides to find Tim an exact replica of his first car after it is junked. Mark helps Brad out in his search for colleges by making a video for him to send out to prospective schools. | ||||||
| 185 | 9 | "Mr. Likeable" | Peter Bonerz | Adam England | November 17, 1998 (1998-11-17) | A56/809 |
| Al gets a role in a TV movie, starring with Morgan Fairchild. Tim has trouble convincing everyone he's happy for Al, who beat Tim in the TV popularity ratings for the area. Mark thinks a girl's sobbing on him makes her like him because of Brad's advice. | ||||||
| 186 | 10 | "Thanks, but No Thanks" | Peter Bonerz | Jonathan Pollack | November 24, 1998 (1998-11-24) | A56/810 |
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Tim invites his brother, Marty, and his six-year-old twin daughters to stay at the Taylor household when he discovers that Marty and his wife are separated and Marty is staying at the Hardware Store. First and only time Wilson's very big basement is shown. |
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| 187 | 11 | "Home for the Holidays" | Peter Bonerz | Jonathan Pollack | December 8, 1998 (1998-12-08) | A56/811 |
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Randy returns home unexpectedly for Christmas and discovers all the changes that have gone on in his absence, he then feels not welcome, but enlists help from Tim and Jill. Tim discovers that his biggest rival in the annual neighborhood lighting contest is Al. At the end, Randy feels welcome again and Al and Trudy get stuck on the roof after winning the lighting contest. Final appearance of: Randy Taylor |
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| 188 | 12 | "Ploys for Tots" | Peter Bonerz | Laurie Gelman | December 15, 1998 (1998-12-15) | A56/812 |
| Tim and Jill try to teach Marty the best way to parent when one of the twins keeps throwing tantrums to get her own way. | ||||||
| 189 | 13 | "Chop Shop 'Til You Drop" | Shawn Shea | David Maples | January 5, 1999 (1999-01-05) | A56/813 |
| Tim and Jill buy Brad a car, which is done on Tool Time where Al drops boysenberry jelly on the manifold. However, when it is stolen and stripped for parts, Tim and Al go undercover to catch the thieves, by finding the berry stain Al made. | ||||||
| 190 | 14 | "Home Alone" | Geoffrey Nelson | Jennifer Celotta & Adam England | January 19, 1999 (1999-01-19) | A56/814 |
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Tim is alone for the weekend so that he can write a book for Binford. However, he is distracted by dreams of fame and fortune but does get some work done before the weekend is over. Guest Star: Oprah Winfrey, Jay Leno and Leeza Gibbons, although they were credited as "Special Thanks" |
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| 191 | 15 | "Knee Deep" | Peter Filsinger | Jonathan Pollack | February 2, 1999 (1999-02-02) | A56/815 |
| Brad blames Tim for possibly ruining his soccer career when he injures his knee after tripping on rolled up carpet during a Tool Time shoot at the house. Tim wins Car Guy of the Year at a cheese banquet. The magicians Penn & Teller appear on Tool Time. | ||||||
| 192 | 16 | "Mark's Big Break" | Geoffrey Nelson | Tracy Gamble | February 9, 1999 (1999-02-09) | A56/816 |
| Tim commissions Mark to film a video to celebrate the completion of the hot rod. However, Tim is unhappy with the results, so instead Mark directs a dance number, starring Tim, Jill, Al, Heidi, Wilson, Sparky and Eddie the body shop guy, set to "Greased Lightning", a musical number from Grease. | ||||||
| 193 | 17 | "Young at Heart" | Geoffrey Nelson | Bruce Ferber & Lloyd Garver | February 16, 1999 (1999-02-16) | A56/817 |
| The plans for Tim and Jill's 19th wedding anniversary go awry when Tim is caught on security cameras in a compromising position with his new female mechanic named Alex (Jenny McCarthy). | ||||||
| 194 | 18 | "Love's Labor Lost (Part 1)" | Peter Bonerz | Elliot Shoenman & Marley Sims | February 23, 1999 (1999-02-23) | A56/818 |
| Plans for a ski trip are put on hold when Jill needs an emergency hysterectomy, thanks to Jill's busy schedule which she failed to visit the doctor in several years. Tim helps her face the situation, but becomes frightened when complications arise during surgery. | ||||||
| 195 | 19 | "Love's Labor Lost (Part 2)" | Peter Bonerz | Elliot Shoenman & Marley Sims | March 2, 1999 (1999-03-02) | A56/819 |
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Tim waits for news on Jill's surgery. Jill will be fine, although she had to have her ovaries completely removed, not partially as was first thought. Jill's mother comes to visit, to help with her daughter's care and with her mood swings. Final appearance of: Lillian Patterson. Note: In the entire eight-year run of Home Improvement, this is the only two-part, non-back-to-back, episode (not counting "Tool Time After Dark"). |
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| 196 | 20 | "Neighbors" | Patricia Richardson | Drew Levin | March 16, 1999 (1999-03-16) | A56/820 |
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Tim and Wilson's friendship is tested when Wilson wins $10,000 at a Red Wings game that Tim buys Wilson for his birthday and decides to build an elaborate Victorian greenhouse in his backyard - which blocks the Taylor family's view. Mark tries to woo a girl. Notes: The is the only episode directed by Patricia Richardson. She is also the only female to direct an episode. |
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| 197 | 21 | "A Hardware Habit to Break" | Peter Bonerz | Jon Vandergriff | March 30, 1999 (1999-03-30) | A56/821 |
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Harry announces that he is retiring to Arizona and selling the hardware store. Tim organizes a fundraising party for the store, but ends up buying it himself. But when the customers dry up, Tim begins to wonder what he is doing wrong. In the end, Marty and Jeff take the store off of Tim's hands, reminding him he has a tool show. Brad tries to go to Florida for spring break. Final appearances of: Harry and Delores, though they return in the series finale. |
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| 198 | 22 | "Loose Lips and Freudian Slips" | Tim Allen | Kim Flagg | May 4, 1999 (1999-05-04) | A56/822 |
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Jill's thesis is before the committee. During Mark's student film viewing, Jill's psychology professor sees her criticize him and she is worried that this will affect the thesis committee's decision. Note: This is the only episode of the series directed by Tim Allen. |
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| 199 | 23 | "Trouble-a-Bruin" | Andrew Tsao | Tracy Gamble & David Maples | May 11, 1999 (1999-05-11) | A56/823 |
| Troubles brew on Tool Time when Bud mandates that no non-Binford products are to be used on the show and makes major changes that get Tim worked up. Brad has to decide whether or not to play soccer earlier than he is scheduled to when he has an opportunity to play for a UCLA soccer coach/scout. Jill, worried for Brad's safety, goes against it. | ||||||
| 200 | 24 | "Dead Weight" | Geoffrey Nelson | Jennifer Celotta | May 18, 1999 (1999-05-18) | A56/824 |
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Tool Time continues to be a "jewel" despite the continued excess presence of the Binford name, and the new producer Morgan Wandell tries to give Tim a hard time. Things rapidly turn sad when Al decides to take his mother out to dinner to tell her he's going to get married to Trudy... and she has a heart attack and dies. Final appearance of: Bud Harper (Charles Robinson) |
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| 201 | 25 | "The Long and Winding Road (Part 1)" | Andy Cadiff | Laurie Gelman | May 18, 1999 (1999-05-18) | A56/825 |
| Tool Time's new producer, Morgan, stages a Jerry Springer-style fight on the show. When Tim learns Bud left Binford and Morgan refuses to stop degrading the show, Tim quits, along with Al and Heidi soon after. Jill's psychology professor offers her a great job - in Indiana. | ||||||
| 202 | 26 | "The Long and Winding Road (Part 2)" | Jim Praytor | Carmen Finestra & Billy Riback | May 25, 1999 (1999-05-25) | A56/826 |
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Taking place during the ride to school, Tim and the boys reminisce about some of the good times they've had, with clips from previous shows. Note: Kenny Rogers recorded the song "We've Got It All", which was made exclusively for this episode. |
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| 203 | 27 | "The Long and Winding Road (Part 3)" | John Pasquin | Bruce Ferber, Lloyd Garver & Marley Sims |
May 25, 1999 (1999-05-25) | A56/827 |
| Tim records his final Tool Time, with a host of guests—and a pregnant Heidi, which garners huge ratings. Morgan offers Tim more money and an executive producer credit to stay with the show, but Tim refuses because of Jill, who is having second thoughts. As the two host Al's marriage to Trudy in their backyard, they discuss their respective opportunities and decide if they want to stay in Detroit or not. | ||||||
| 204 | 28 | "Backstage Pass" | Geoffrey Nelson | Chris Carlisle & Billy Riback | May 25, 1999 (1999-05-25) | A56/828 |
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A look back at the past eight years of Home Improvement, with cast interviews, outtakes, scenes for the final taping—and Wilson's entire face. Note: This is the only episode of the series that is not shown in the regular syndication cycle, with "The Long and Winding Road (Part 3)" generally considered the finale of the series. The episode however is included in the season 8 DVD set. |
Read more about this topic: List Of Home Improvement Episodes
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