Binford continues to tighten its grip on Tool Time, forcing them to put the company name on virtually anything. Howevever, this was only the beginning. Something rotten is stirring in the tool box. Today, Tim and Al welcome a special guest who's a professional diamond cutter. He demonstrates the process of cutting and shaping a perfect diamond, then he stupidly lets Tim hold the priceless stone. Noticing a scratch, he tries to buffer it out when suddenly the diamond flew from his hands, bounced all around the room and came to a safe landing in Heidi's cleavage. That is one lucky diamond. Following the show, Bud Harper stops by to introduce Tim to Satan, er, Morgan Wandell, Binford's new VP of media production. He's been chosen personally by Bud to supervise Tool Time. Morgan is fresh off of reality shows and wants to emphasis the danger element on the show, i.e. wanting Tim to blow up more stuff. Tim refuses, saying he takes pride in the accidents caused by his own stupid mistakes. So while Tim may be miserable, Al was on cloud 9. He has decided the time was right to propose to Trudy. But before he pops the question, he wants to take his mother out to dinner and break the news to her. How does Mama Borland take the news? Unfortunately, it wasn't the reaction Al had hoped for. Poor Alma suffered a heart attack and died right there at the restaurant.
Poor Al was devastated. His best friends, Tim and Jill, were right there for him, and so was Trudy, but Al started acting indifferent towards her. Why would that be? As Tim deduces, he associate's her with his mother's death, or rather that's what Al told him. So now, on to the funeral where Jill tries her hand at therapy, which produces some negative results. Al and Cal are too emotional to make a speech, so it looks as though that honor will be bestowed upon none other than Tim. As you all know, Alma had been the butt of so many of his jokes, well post Season 2 because before that all the fat jokes were aimed at his mother in-law. Tim makes a surprisingly heartfelt speech, with a few veiled jokes thrown in, but acknowledges that Alma had a big sense of humor. In closing, he encourages Al to share the love his mother gave him with someone he loves, and so, confidence restored, Al proposes to Trudy right there at the funeral. She says yes! Wilson, who was officiating the ceremony, declares this to be a very happy day and then proceeds to call up the pallbearers: every male in the room. At home, Tim talks to Jill about having Al's wedding in the backyard. Apparently they couldn't do it in his own backyard because the landlord (Tim) keeps car parts back there. Under the threat of having that crap moved into the Taylor's yard, Jill agrees. Well, one big change...actually several big changes have already begun, but this was only the first step down that long and winding road...
Al's mother makes her first...and last appearance on the show, even though we don't see her face. Actually, the first time we got a good look at her was in Season 5's "Oh Brother" where we see a picture of her and little Al. The unseen fat lady gag seems to have carried over from Married with Children when Peggy's mother moves in with the Bundys in Season 10. We never saw her, just went by descriptions of how big she was. But unlike her, Al's mother was kind of nice. So, if you're gearing up to watch the 3-part series finale of Home Improvement, I suggest starting with this episode that puts everything in motion. This episode had some good dramatic moments, and there were times when the studio audience's laughter was inappropriate, such as Al bursting into tears at the funeral. We may not have known Alma Borland, but we've known Al for years and some of us may know what it's like to lose a parent, so we can sympathize with him. Anyway, check out Dead Weight.
Poor Al was devastated. His best friends, Tim and Jill, were right there for him, and so was Trudy, but Al started acting indifferent towards her. Why would that be? As Tim deduces, he associate's her with his mother's death, or rather that's what Al told him. So now, on to the funeral where Jill tries her hand at therapy, which produces some negative results. Al and Cal are too emotional to make a speech, so it looks as though that honor will be bestowed upon none other than Tim. As you all know, Alma had been the butt of so many of his jokes, well post Season 2 because before that all the fat jokes were aimed at his mother in-law. Tim makes a surprisingly heartfelt speech, with a few veiled jokes thrown in, but acknowledges that Alma had a big sense of humor. In closing, he encourages Al to share the love his mother gave him with someone he loves, and so, confidence restored, Al proposes to Trudy right there at the funeral. She says yes! Wilson, who was officiating the ceremony, declares this to be a very happy day and then proceeds to call up the pallbearers: every male in the room. At home, Tim talks to Jill about having Al's wedding in the backyard. Apparently they couldn't do it in his own backyard because the landlord (Tim) keeps car parts back there. Under the threat of having that crap moved into the Taylor's yard, Jill agrees. Well, one big change...actually several big changes have already begun, but this was only the first step down that long and winding road...
Al's mother makes her first...and last appearance on the show, even though we don't see her face. Actually, the first time we got a good look at her was in Season 5's "Oh Brother" where we see a picture of her and little Al. The unseen fat lady gag seems to have carried over from Married with Children when Peggy's mother moves in with the Bundys in Season 10. We never saw her, just went by descriptions of how big she was. But unlike her, Al's mother was kind of nice. So, if you're gearing up to watch the 3-part series finale of Home Improvement, I suggest starting with this episode that puts everything in motion. This episode had some good dramatic moments, and there were times when the studio audience's laughter was inappropriate, such as Al bursting into tears at the funeral. We may not have known Alma Borland, but we've known Al for years and some of us may know what it's like to lose a parent, so we can sympathize with him. Anyway, check out Dead Weight.
