By Gavin Boyle
More than 25 years after HOME IMPROVEMENT aired its final episode, Al Borland remains Richard Karn’s most popular character, though he may have never existed if not for Karn’s dad.
“I remember his mother, my grandmother, saying if you become a builder, I am going to wrap you in that rug and I am going to throw you in Lake Washington. I didn’t quite understand what that meant because I was in 5th grade, but I can tell you if I had a nail gun back then, I might be a contractor today,” Karn told Women’s World. “I do recall memories of getting down on my knees to manually try to get a nail properly into the floor. As for my dad, he was very confident. He didn’t showboat it but if he did something he was proud of he would say, ‘Yup, that’s how they do it uptown.’”
Since then, Karn has become a celebrity in the world of home improvement and now even serves as a spokesperson for DoMyOwn.com, one of the largest suppliers of home improvement products in the world. At the same time, Karn and Tim Allen have reunited in the past to host a real life home improvement competition show where they took on many of the characteristics of their famous characters.
“This is the most unusual experience,” Allen said about their reunion. “But [Karn] was able to bring it back down and be exactly like we were at ‘Tool Time.’ It’s amazing how this is an expansion of that relationship.”
The pair are soon to reunite on screen again, this time on Allen’s new show SHIFTING GEARS.
Related: Tim Allen and Richard Karn to Reunite in New Competition Show, ASSEMBLY REQUIRED
“We did do another show for The History Channel called MORE POWER, which was a competition building show. We did that for two years and had a lot of fun. I am now getting ready to film an episode of Tim’s newest show SHIFTING GEARS,” Karn teased.
As for a reboot of HOME IMPROVEMENT, Karn and Allen have both expressed interest, but legal challenges are currently blocking any real progress from taking place.
“I see Richard Karn a lot,” Allen told The Messenger in 2023. “And I talk to the boys…and I’m there as one of their friends. We keep talking about [a spinoff]… one of the conversations we’ve had recently is how weird it would be if HOME IMPROVEMENT would be about the kids’ kids. Like if all of them had children, and I’m a grandparent. HOME RE-IMPROVEMENT or something like that. It’s come up.”
Whether or not Allen and Karn are ever able to reprise their HOME IMPROVEMENT roles, they pair has still made a lasting impact on the real life home improvement community and inspired millions to take on DIY projects themselves.
Read Next: HOME IMPROVEMENT Stars Tim Allen And Richard Karn Team Up For ‘More Power’ In New TV Show
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