Tim and Al are the ultimate dynamic duo, inseparable pals, their chemistry is unmatched, and it's their duality that makes Tool Time the hit that it is...okay, bad example. But still, through thick and thin, they get through it together. If ever there was an attempt to separate the two, well, it could only spell disaster. Especially if somebody inexperienced with dangerous situations ends up working with Tim. However, it seems as though they might become separated if Binford's new owner has anything to say about it. After a Tool Time that salutes the unsung heroes at the job site, today being the man who maintains the porta-potties, Al stops by Tim's house to tell him some big news: Binford's been bought by a corporate big-wheel named Bud Harper, who owns a chain of tire stores. This worries Al because since Davidson has already been fired as president, he's worried he or Tim might be next. As if Bud were listening to this conversation, he happens to call right on cue and invites Tim out to breakfast. Not too bad, right? Does a guy take you out to breakfast to fire you? Jill says yes, as it's happened to her dozens of times...somehow I'm not surprised. Most likely if the employer only orders coffee, he wants to get out of there quick.
Next morning, very early, Tim waits at the diner, trying to do the maze on the kiddie menu, when in came Bud Harper, a no-nonsense, but condescending businessman. When he only orders coffee, Tim gets worried and orders the whole left side of the menu. Doloris, the waitress, actually takes him seriously. Bud immediately gets down to brass tacks: he loves Binford and he loves Tool Time, and he wants to take it nationally. It all sounded too good to be true. However, here comes the catch: there's one aspect of the show Bud despises and feels it's holding it back. The 'it' being a 'him'. In short, he doesn't like Al. It seems he did some audience testing and Al tested poorly, but Tim tested better...and Heidi tested "higher than Santa Claus." This moment contradicts that little running gag in the first two seasons whenever Tim met a Tool Time fan, they'd say they liked Al, meaning Al was more popular than Tim. If anything, Bud just picked the first schmucks he found who didn't even know what Tool Time was to be tested. Anyway, despite Tim's protests, Bud was dead-set against getting rid of Al, and worse yet, he wants Tim to fire him because he's too much of a smarmy coward to do it himself, and besides, his grandmother loves Al. So poor Tim was put in a hell of a spot: his friendship with Al vs. more money...and more tools. So Tim and his numerous leftovers head home and he breaks the news to Jill, just as Al barges in, wondering how Tim's meeting with Bud went. He tells him about Tool Time going national, but not about the firing thing, and he told Bud he wasn't interested. So, Al gets hysteric-AL and yells at Tim for being "selfish". Tim couldn't bring himself to tell Al he did it to save his flannel ass. Next day at Tool Time, Al happens to overhear a conversation between Tim and Bud, and he learns the truth. A reluctant Bud lets Al stay and gives the show two new markets, but he hopes they can produce results. So, Tim and Al's friendship was put to the ultimate test, and it won. To celebrate, Tim installs a motor in a porta-potty, because...why not?
Well, we're introduced to Binford's new boss, Bud Harper. Charles Robinson is a very good character actor, you may remember him as Mac on Night Court. Needless to say he's very convincing here as a bureaucratic douchebag who only cares about money and the bottom line. He will appear off and on for the remainder of the series, usually doing something to shun Al or try to get Tim to do something he wants. He's not a very likable character IMO, and I would not want somebody like that for a boss, but sadly, I think a lot of people do. But the main point of this episode is showing just how strong Tim and Al's friendship is. Tim gave up a great deal for the flannelman, and it proves that all the times Tim jokes about firing Al on Tool Time, we know very well he could never seriously do it. So, if you like their dynamic relationship, you should definitely see this episode.
Next morning, very early, Tim waits at the diner, trying to do the maze on the kiddie menu, when in came Bud Harper, a no-nonsense, but condescending businessman. When he only orders coffee, Tim gets worried and orders the whole left side of the menu. Doloris, the waitress, actually takes him seriously. Bud immediately gets down to brass tacks: he loves Binford and he loves Tool Time, and he wants to take it nationally. It all sounded too good to be true. However, here comes the catch: there's one aspect of the show Bud despises and feels it's holding it back. The 'it' being a 'him'. In short, he doesn't like Al. It seems he did some audience testing and Al tested poorly, but Tim tested better...and Heidi tested "higher than Santa Claus." This moment contradicts that little running gag in the first two seasons whenever Tim met a Tool Time fan, they'd say they liked Al, meaning Al was more popular than Tim. If anything, Bud just picked the first schmucks he found who didn't even know what Tool Time was to be tested. Anyway, despite Tim's protests, Bud was dead-set against getting rid of Al, and worse yet, he wants Tim to fire him because he's too much of a smarmy coward to do it himself, and besides, his grandmother loves Al. So poor Tim was put in a hell of a spot: his friendship with Al vs. more money...and more tools. So Tim and his numerous leftovers head home and he breaks the news to Jill, just as Al barges in, wondering how Tim's meeting with Bud went. He tells him about Tool Time going national, but not about the firing thing, and he told Bud he wasn't interested. So, Al gets hysteric-AL and yells at Tim for being "selfish". Tim couldn't bring himself to tell Al he did it to save his flannel ass. Next day at Tool Time, Al happens to overhear a conversation between Tim and Bud, and he learns the truth. A reluctant Bud lets Al stay and gives the show two new markets, but he hopes they can produce results. So, Tim and Al's friendship was put to the ultimate test, and it won. To celebrate, Tim installs a motor in a porta-potty, because...why not?
Well, we're introduced to Binford's new boss, Bud Harper. Charles Robinson is a very good character actor, you may remember him as Mac on Night Court. Needless to say he's very convincing here as a bureaucratic douchebag who only cares about money and the bottom line. He will appear off and on for the remainder of the series, usually doing something to shun Al or try to get Tim to do something he wants. He's not a very likable character IMO, and I would not want somebody like that for a boss, but sadly, I think a lot of people do. But the main point of this episode is showing just how strong Tim and Al's friendship is. Tim gave up a great deal for the flannelman, and it proves that all the times Tim jokes about firing Al on Tool Time, we know very well he could never seriously do it. So, if you like their dynamic relationship, you should definitely see this episode.
