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UPFRONTS 2013: The Overachievers 
After a heated bidding between ABC and CBS that stretched over the weekend, Man Up, a new half-hour project from veteran comedy writer-producer Jack Burditt (30 Rock) and a potential starring vehicle for Tim Allen, has landed at ABC with a put pilot commitment. Word is new ABC programming chief Paul Lee was personally involved in the network’s efforts to get the comedy that would bring Allen back to ABC where he toplined one of the network’s biggest comedies, Home Improvement. Man Up, from 20th TV and studio-based 21 Laps/Adelstein, is a multi-camera family comedy about a guy fighting for his manhood in a world of women. Burditt is writing as well as executive producing along with Marty Adelstein, Shawn Levy and Becky Clements. Allen has been looking to return to TV and met with a number of writers in the past few months.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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This sounds great! Gotta say, Tim Allen has always been one of the funniest people on the planet. His stand-up recently has been amazing. Can’t wait.
This just in, Middle America will be tuning into ABC next Fall.
For a minute I thought the photo was Martin Short. LOL
Having grown up with five sisters (no brothers) and now with two daughters, I can relate. It ain’t easy being us.
Recommend reading: Michael Lewis’ Accidental Parenthood. First chapter very funny.
And that’s just home life. The recession has allegedly hit men harder than woman. Yep, the glass ceiling is breaking- a bunch of guys just fell through it.
What you notice about the good comics, the ones who last, is that they are always working on material, always willing and able to face a paying crowd, and always relevant.
I saw Mr. Allen at the Laugh Factory recently where he has performed on a regular basis. It’s the tried and true method of staying relevant in the art of the Stand-Up: practice, perform, adjust,add, then practice and perform.
Good for him.
Tim Allen is a natural, he’ll always do great, but if ABC was smart, they’d put him on Better With You. He’d push an already good show over the top to hit-status. Smarter than starting all over from the beginning, dontcha think?
Sounds like a rehashed plot. Thought Burditt might come up with something more original, but maybe he’ll have a fresh spin on this. I would have liked to see Allen replace Carrel in The Office for a season or two before headlining his own show again.
Me too, but as long as Tim’s on TV I’m happy.
This new show MAN UP is quite original, Burditt most likely came up with the idea because he lived in a house with 4 girls until his youngest child, his son, was born. Which brings up the concept of the show. So therefore, it actually is quite original.
A guy returning to sitcoms after a huge hit is always a risk – look at Kelsey Grammer – but maybe it’s been long enough since “Home Improvement” that Allen isn’t completely associated with it. And he is a genuine star in a way that, say, Bob Saget isn’t.
Glad he’ll (if he does this pilot) be performing in front of an audience still instead of going single-cam like everyone else. I can see why people like Paul Reiser and the Friends-niks want to do single-cam but we need to get some of these performers in front of a crowd.
Kelsey Grammer tried too hard to distance himself from Frasier with boorish characters that were more like Regular Joes. I doubt Allen will stray from the act that brought a lot of success.
Hearing Tim might be interested in a CBS comedy as well this season, which might be a better bet since CBS is the number one network in his demographic. This headline looks like someone trying to manipulate the situation.
Is Allen beefing up for The Santa Clause 4? That is not a flattering photo! but I will admit- ALlen can do this role in his sleep and shoudl nail this one outta the park. Good for ABC- it seems like a good fit for both
A “flattering photo” is in the eye of the beholder. Tim’s every-man looks serve him well in the roles he chooses.
I had the opposite reaction to that photo: he looks like a guy who’s had a little too much work done. Not exactly the “Man Up” look that Middle America wants from Tim Allen in the age of HD…
I wouldn’t know what to think about the idea of Tim Allen returning to TV, however after seeing him kill at The Laugh Factory the other week, I am certain that guy has still got it. Lookin’ forward to Manning up with Tim!
My fiance and I were in Hollywood for a 2 week vacation. We went to the Laugh Factory and Tim was the headliner. He was so fresh, honest and most of all hilarious. I was shocked that he could do stand up so well after having been a movie star for so long. What a talent.
This will be a HUGE hit. Really great idea for him.
Tim Allen may your pilot prosper mightily and reach syndication.
Had no idea Tim was still doing stand up, and then I saw he was doing a regular show on Thursdays at the Laugh Factory and I was very impressed. Went and checked it out for myself and as the person a few comments below me said he was still very funny and extremely relevant. A true classic, ABC is making a great move. I also agree that it would be hilarious to see him replace Carrel on The Office.
Tim has been crushing it at the Laugh Factory. Guy does over an hour of solid material and switches it up week to week trying new stuff. Total pro. This show is right up his alley. Great producers too.
Agree Tim should be on CBS. They have taken over broad, middlebrow, multi-cam humor. ABC has the best comedy on TV in Modern Family. They should try to find suitable companions for that rather than what worked for them many many moons ago.
That’s wonderful! Saw him perform at the Laugh Factory a few weeks ago. He’s Hilarious! GO TIM!
I’d like to see a new GALAXY QUEST movie instead! It’s built up a really big and adoring fan base on DVD and cable, I bet a sequel would do pretty good.
Wow. This is awesome! Tim Allen is a legend!
Good for Shawn he works way to hard not to have a hit TV show on the air – Go Marty get it done!
Allen is solid with the right material. He knocked it out of the park with “Galaxy Quest” (being surrounded by equally game actors and a very clever script didn’t hurt any). I hope he does well.
His film, “Crazy on the Outside” wasn’t bad at all, yet it was dumped by the distributor. It’s worth a look.
I like Tim and I wish him well but… is that a current photo of him? Because when I looked at it “The Santa Clause” came to mind because his face has gotten fat. Sorry, Tim. But I think it’s time to go on a diet and get down to your previous television weight because I am getting real tired of looking at skeletal women and FAT men on tv. Give us girls a treat, will ya?
As long as he doesn’t do those stupid grunts I might watch, I could not stand Home Improvement but I do like Tim Allen as an actor.
Another misogyny-themed show. How appealing!… not!
Ah yes, the plight of the “oppressed” man losing his “manhood” because of all these empowered women. Poor guy! If the burger/beer/car commercials have taught us anything, it is that, indeed, men are oppressed, what with women asking them to partake in their fare share of housework, asking for equal pay, asking not to be raped (and now, sometimes, knowing how or being able to fight back against rape and assault), and wanting to have a voice in politics and mass media. Poor, poor oppressed men.
Is the season finale going to have his wife barefoot in the kitchen and pregnant, at the very least?