Roseanne Barr (left) said making her TV counterpart a Trump supporter made sense for the show about a working-class American family. Tim Allen (right) played played Mike Baxter who is also politically conservative on the canceled show "Last Man Standing." (ABC)
The highly anticipated reboot of "Roseanne" premiered on Tuesday night to stellar ratings and, since the show focuses on a typical middle-class family with conservative-leaning views, some TV watchers are wondering if the successful reception will pave the way for the return of another show that highlights a conservative lead character: Tim Allen's "Last Man Standing."
"Last Man Standing" was memorably scraped from the TV schedule by ABC despite high ratings, with the network claiming there was no room in the schedule for the comedy. Allen, like his character on the show, is a Republican, and many speculated the cancellation had something to do with the views expressed on-screen.
Following the success of the "Roseanne" reboot debut, viewers took to Twitter to ask ABC ‒ or any network ‒ to revive "Last Man Standing."
@ABCNetwork do u see the type of ratings u got for @therealroseanne reboot ? Now think of the ratings for @ofctimallen LAST MAN STANDING and other GR8 SHOWS like them !
— Wolf-Pack F.F.C #IAMTHENRA (@wolviehowlin) March 29, 2018
I love the new Rosanne and I am so happy that there is a show that is helping and promoting the Trump supporter side but where is the fight and support for @ofctimallen for "Last Man Standing I want justice for his show to come back I would love for both to be on!
— Chris Tuttle (@Bigbillshater) March 29, 2018
Bring back "Last Man Standing". Great show, great ratings. Conservative lean-cancelled.
— Mary Banks (@MaryPharaoh) March 29, 2018
The show was great, but wasn't the last man standing cancelled for the same type of views on politics ?
— Chuck Cody (@ChuckCody4) March 29, 2018
“Last Man Standing” is a very funny show with conservative views and it was recently canceled. 😡
— Jennifer Weston (@JenniferWeston3) March 29, 2018
So I guess allowing Roseanne to be a Trump supporter on the show kills the rumor Tim Allen’s Last Man Standing was canceled by ABC because he was a conservative?
— john vincen (@JCallahanNCIS) March 29, 2018
Now let’s bring back Last Man Standing.
— Marv (@felkinsmarv) March 29, 2018
Maybe someone will bring back "Last Man Standing".
— Sharon Hand (@SharonHand) March 29, 2018
When the news first broke that the reboot of "Roseanne" would feature a pro-Trump character, fans also called upon ABC to bring back the show.
Allen told Fox News at the time he was overwhelmed by the support of his fans.
"The support from all the fans to bring back 'Last Man Standing' is truly overwhelming to me and so appreciated," Allen told Fox News exclusively in August. "I, along with the talented writers, wonderful crew and terrific actors, would definitely entertain the idea of bringing the show back as there is so much gas left in the tank, more to be said, and laughs to be had."
ABC has vehemently denied it gave the show the boot over its politics but Allen tweeted at the time the show was cancelled he was "stunned and blindsided by the network I called home for the last six years."
The former "Home Improvement" star has been open about his conservative-leaning politics in the past. Allen told Jimmy Kimmel in March that living in Hollywood right now is akin to Nazi Germany.
"You gotta be real careful around here," Allen noted. "You get beat up if you don't believe what everybody else believes. This is like '30s Germany."
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