Off-screen, Taylor revealed that she wanted to focus on college and education, and the workload of Home Improvement wouldn't have allowed it. However, Jonathan Taylor Thomas' refusal to return for the Home Improvement finale caused some tension between him and the cast. You can see Thomas starring in movies like I'll Be Home for Christmas, Speedway Junky, Common Ground, and An American Town. Thanks to his role in Home Improvement, Jonathan Taylor Thomas was one of the most popular child stars of the 90s, but what happened to the actor afterwards has been largely a mystery.
Oddly enough, although Thomas directed Tim Allen in the series, Allen never directed Thomas despite having directed episodes of Home Improvement and Last Man Standing. However, in the fourth season, episode 12 of Last Man Standing, Helen Potts made a cameo appearance as a character named Randy, as well as in her role as Home Improvement, as the son of a woman played by her former comedy mother Patricia Richardson. Fans of Home Improvement know all too well that the show's final season was clearly missing Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Jonathan Taylor Thomas was one of the biggest teenage stars of the '90s thanks to Home Improvement, but he's been out of the spotlight ever since.
This caused some tension with Tim Allen because Thomas didn't have time for Home Improvement, but he continued to star in movies, but sometimes that's how programming works for one-off projects instead of full-length programs.
