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By RICH DREES; Times Leader Correspondent
Tuesday, April 02, 1996 Page:
When a comedy series attempts to tackle a serious theme, the show risks
being preachy at the expense of being funny. Fortunately, tonight’s
installment of “Home Improvement” manages to rise above the trend and present
an episode that deals with a serious situation with just the right mixture of
levity and solemnity.
“Home Improvement” airs Tuesdays on ABC at 9 p.m., locally on WNEP-TV,
Channel 16.
Tonight’s episode tackles a subject that all parents fear, but few will
encounter. And the series writers have managed to deal with it deftly,
blending the dramatic and comedic.
During the course of a routine doctor’s visit, Tim (Tim Allen) and Jill
Taylor (Patricia Richardson) learn that son Randy (Johnathan Taylor Thomas)
has a lump on his thyroid gland that may be cancerous.
The Taylors decide not to tell Randy until they have the results of some
further tests. Unfortunately, their attempts at nonchalance backfire and Randy
confronts his parents asking for the truth. They tell him that in all
probability the lump may just mean he has hyper-thyroidism, a condition that
he could regulate with medication.
They try to hide the fact that the lump may be malignant, necessitating an
operation, but Randy finds out after doing some research in his school
library.
“Home Improvement” has always been a series that gleaned its humor more
from improving family relations rather than from home repairs. For this
particular episode, the writers have managed to skillfully avoid the pitfall
most shows slip into when dealing with a serious issue. All too often the
facts about an issue overshadow the narrative. The script for tonight’s
episode carefully works the information about Randy’s condition into the
dialogue without disturbing the flow of the story. And the this sitcom stays
funny; as Jill becomes upset, Tim is there to diffuse the tension with a small
joke.
Perhaps the true highlight of the episode, though, is Jonathan Taylor
Thomas’ performance. Not often has this young actor been given a chance to
stretch his acting chops and he makes the most of this opportunity, turning in
an impressive performance.
It has been said that comedy is nothing but tragedy viewed from a distance.
With this in mind, hopefully this episode will be able to help families cope
if they ever find themselves in a similar situation.