Pilot Review: Family Tools

Family Tools (ABC)
Premiered May 1 at 8:30pm

All things considered, “Home Improvement” was a pretty good show. It was never entirely innovative or spectacular, but its title’s double meaning was fun, and so was the show. This attempt to recapture a similar repair-oriented glory, however, is a mess. Kyle Bornheimer does not have good luck when it comes to his TV career, and this now marks his second ABC venture after two ill-fated, short-lived series on other networks, NBC’s “Perfect Couples” and CBS’ “Worst Week.” I actually didn’t mind the first installment of his last ABC effort, “Romantically Challenged,” but quickly realized that the show wasn’t worth watching after viewing episode two. Here, Bornheimer is quirky and irritating as Jack, the black sheep of the family who has literally shot himself in the foot more than once. Leah Remini returns to TV after another failed ABC show, “In the Motherhood,” this time without the laugh track that she had to rely on with CBS’ long-running and not so funny “The King of Queens.” J.K. Simmons, the one reliable member of the cast who has proven comedic talent, is given much to do and makes the best of it with what I would probably rank as his least compelling performance. This show recycles many familiar sitcom ideas, and none of them are entertaining or effective. I’m not sure this show had any potential to begin with, but it certainly doesn’t deliver. The premise doesn’t suggest that a second half-hour will change that at all either, and I don’t plan on checking in to find out.

How will it work as a series? Simmons’ patriarch Tony isn’t likely to give up his role in the business anytime soon, despite his sister trying to get him to take it easy, and that means that Tony is constantly going to be fighting Jack on everything he does while Terry tries to smooth it over by sending supportive messages from Tony’s phone. That doesn’t seem like an appealing concept to me, and I’m not taken with supporting characters Darren or Liz either.
How long will it last? ABC has a few certifiable hits on Wednesday nights, and it’s buried most of the shows it deems less successful without giving them much of a chance. “Cougar Town” has already moved over to another network, and it looks like “Happy Endings” might too. The lowest-rated comedy debut ever on ABC makes it certain to be cancelled, especially since new series “How to Live with Your Parents” is doing much better. With ten episode ordered, I suspect that four may air.

Pilot grade: F