Exclusive: Tim Allen is returning to the UK. Multiple sources are telling me that Sky1 has closed a deal with Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution to acquire the exclusive first run UK broadcast rights to ABC’s comedy series Last Man Standing.
Created by Jack Burditt, Last Man Standing follows husband and father of three Mike Baxter. When Mike’s wife accepts a promotion at work, he has to step up to the mark and act as the primary parent in his home dominated by his three daughters. Mike trys to inject some masculinity back into his home life, while at work he has to adapt when he jumps from being an on-the-road salesman to the director of marketing for the outdoor sporting goods store he works at in Denver, Colorado. The comedy series, which has been renewed for a second season by ABC, stars Tim Allen, Nancy Travis, Alexandra Krosney, Molly Ephraim, Kaitlyn Dever, Christoph Sanders and Hector Elizondo.
Word that Sky1 had picked up the rights to Last Man Standing first reached us late last night and I have spent the past twenty four hours trying to confirm the deal with both BSkyB and Fox. “They bought the rights around the time of the LA screenings back in June”, one source told me late last night. “In fact, I was surprised to see that the series wasn’t announced along with the likes of The Following and Arrow.” Representatives of Sky1 have now confirmed to TVWise that they have picked up the rights to the series and will begin airing Last Man Standing from Tuesday October 2nd at 6pm, with a double-bill. New episodes will then continue to air on weekdays in the 6pm time-slot.
TVWise’s Acquisitions Scorecard has been updated with this new information.
