Home Improvement was one of the better sitcoms in the 90’s and, unlike other long running shows (such as Seinfeld) it never jumped the shark. It remained consistently funny through 8 seasons and this set contains every episode of the show. The DVD transfer is pretty good too. While it’s not razor sharp, there is minimal ghosting and the picture looks as if it was shot for TV in the first place. The Dolby Digital English 2.0 stereo mix sounds pretty good too, with clear dialogue and limited spatial effects.
The extras are a bit sparse but there are some worthwhile items here. There’s a 6-minute blooper reel (it wouldn’t be Home Improvement without them) and a behind-the-scenes look at the final taping of an episode. There’s also a short documentary on the show’s creator, Tim Allen. And the set is rounded out by a series finale and a 2-hour Christmas special.
As far as the episodes are concerned, they are presented in the original aspect ratio they were filmed and aired in (fullscreen). They’re not the best looking shows ever – there is some occasional moire and the resolution is a little less than razor sharp, but that’s to be expected from a show that was filmed on video in the first place. However, it’s a good transfer and certainly better than what we’ve seen on previous sets of the series.
In terms of extras, the highlight is the full-length reunion special that was taped in 2003 (with the exception of a brief clip from one of the original seasons). Tim Allen, Richard Karn, and Debbe Dunning are all present for the hour-long program which includes clips from the series’ run, personal reflections, and questions from the audience. The only thing missing is a guest appearance by the late Earl Hindman, who died shortly after this reunion was recorded.
Home Improvement was a good, well-written sitcom that remained entertaining throughout its eight-season run. It’s unfortunate that it wasn’t able to find a better home than the DVD format, but as it is this is still a fine box set worth picking up for anyone who enjoyed the show. The only downside is the lack of a commentaries or other bonus features on the discs. Hopefully, future releases of the other season sets will include more bonus material. And for those who haven’t picked up the Home Improvement box set, do so as soon as possible – you won’t regret it. 9.5 out of 10.