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Last Man Standing to head new Friday comedy block May 15 2012

Last Man Standing is heading to Friday nights for its second season, ABC announced today at their upfront presentation. Starting this November, Last Man Standing will air Fridays at 8/7c, kicking off a new one-hour comedy block on Fridays.

The Tim Allen sitcom will be followed at 8:30/7:30c by a new family sitcom from country star Reba McEntire, Malibu Country. Fridays have often been neglected by networks in recent years. ABC is hoping to bring back TGIF, their long-running '90s family-based programming block which included popular shows such as Full House, Boy Meets World and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

ABC has tried to revive the Friday night format before. In the mid-2000s, ABC attempted to ressurect TGIF with sitcoms 8 Simple Rules and Hope & Faith but the ratings were not strong. ABC isn't the only network looking to Fridays though; NBC has also announced its plans to move its sitcoms Whitney and Community to the night.

ABC's new comedy block will only be an hour-long, so it's not quite a return to the solid two-hour family block of the '90s. On the new schedule, reality show Shark Tank - which sees eutrepeneurs go before a panel of wealthy investors - will air at 9/8c. According to reports, ABC also has no immediate plan to bring the TGIF brand back.

ABC renews Last Man Standing May 12 2012

ABC yesterday renewed Tim Allen's Last Man Standing for a second season. The freshman sitcom had to sweat it out for a few more days following ABC's decision to renew many of its most popular shows. Hit shows such as Modern Family were officially renewed on Wednesday, with Last Man Standing absent from the pick-up list. The show's fate has now been confirmed and the family comedy will be returning for its sophomore season.

Last Man Standing joins the ranks of Modern Family, The Middle, Suburgatory, Apartment 23 and Happy Endings as ABC's returning sitcoms.  On the drama front, the network has also renewed Body of Proof, Castle, Grey's Anatomy, Once Upon a Time,  Private Practice, Revenge and Scandal. The net is also bringing back the reality shows America's Funniest Home Videos, Dancing with the Stars, Shark Tank and Wife Swap. ABC's canceled shows are Charlie's Angels, GCB, Man Up, Missing, Pan Am, The River and Work It.

Episode 1.24 Ratings May 9 2012

Last night's season finale of Last Man Standing posted modest week-to-week gains in the ratings, ranking third place in its time slot.

The first season closer "Found Money" was watched by 6.62 million people, up by 100,000 people from last week. In the important Adults 18-49 demographic, Last Man Standing scored a 1.7/5 rating, up two tenths of a rating point from last week's 1.5/5 rating. Last Man Standing finished third in the ratings by all key metrics.

Over the course of the its first season, Last Man Standing has posted significant gains in the time slot's ratings compared to last season. The show has increased total viewers in the time-period by 41% and increased the key Adults 18-49 demo by 42%.

Last Man Standing has not yet been renewed by ABC for a second season. The show is thought to be moderately likely to be renewed, with TVByTheNumbers.com assessing the odds of renewal at 60-70%. ABC has so far not issued early renewals for any of its shows. The network looks likely to keep its plans secret until closer to its upfront presentation next Tuesday, May 15.

Episode 1.23 Ratings May 2 2012

Yesterday's episode of Last Man Standing finished third place in total viewers, but fell to another series in low in the 18-49 demo last night.

"The Spotlight", the penultimate episode of the season, was watched by 6.52 million people, up very slightly from the last original episode. The show finished third in total viewers and households, ahead of Fox's Glee and behind CBS's NCIS and NBC's The Biggest Loser finale. Among adults 18-49, Last Man Standing scored a 1.5/5 rating, down from 1.6/5  on April 17, to rank fourth.

As the end of the season nears, attention of course turns to whether Last Man Standing will be returning next season. Although the show is generally expected to be renewed, it's not a sure thing yet and the recent fall in the ratings could affect the show's chances of being renewed. ABC has not formally renewed any shows so far, appearing to be keeping its cards close to its chest. We may not found out the show's fate until the network's upfront presentation on Tuesday, May 15.

Episode 1.24 - Season 1 Finale: Press Release April 23 2012

ABC has issued the press release for the first season finale of Last Man Standing, which will air Tuesday, May 8. Christina Moore (90210, True Blood) guest stars as April, Vanessa's sister, in the episode.

"Found Money" - When Vanessa's sweet but flighty sister, April (Christina Moore), comes to visit, Mike knows she's only coming to ask for yet another loan. Mike would rather use any extra money they have to buy a tank so that he and Ed can take it to a junkyard to run over old cars and boats. Meanwhile, when Kristen and Kyle decide to break up, Kyle is more concerned with what Mike will think, on the Season Finale of "Last Man Standing," TUESDAY, MAY 8 (8:00-8:31 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

ABC has not yet formally renewed Last Man Standing, but the show is expected to be renewed for a second season. ABC has so far refrained from issuing early renewals for any of its shows, even shows considered 'sure things' like Modern Family. The decision could be made as late as mid-May when the networks head to New York City for the Upfronts. The Upfronts are when the networks gather with the press and advertisers to announce their fall schedules and preview their new programming. ABC's Upfront is scheduled for Tuesday, May 15, but the network could still issue early renewals before then.

Episode 1.22 Ratings April 18 2012

Last night's episode of Last Man Standing finished fourth and dropped to series lows in the ratings.

"This Bud's For You", with returning guest star Robert Forster, was watched by 6.51 million people, shedding 330,000 viewers from last week. In the key adults 18-49 demographic, the show scored a 1.6/5 rating, down  from last week's 1.8/6. Last Man Standing finished fourth in the ratings by all key metrics.

Episode 1.23 Press Release April 16 2012

ABC has issued the press release for the May 1 episode of Last Man Standing, the penultimate episode of the season. The show is widely expected to be renewed for another season, but ABC has not yet officially announced a renewal order for the show.

"The Spotlight" - When Mike realizes he unintentionally upstaged Vanessa's announcement about being nominated as the top volunteer school parent, his efforts to make it up to her might cause more harm than good. Meanwhile, Eve is afraid she won't fit in at high school; and Ed wants to release an Outdoor Man action figure inspired by Mike, on "Last Man Standing," TUESDAY, MAY 1 (8:00-8:31 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Episode 1.21 Ratings April 11 2012

Last night's episode of Last Man Standing ranked second in total viewers, but fell to fourth place in the important Adults 18-49 demographic.

"Wherefore Art Thou, Mike Baxter" was watched by 6.84 million people, down only slightly from the last original episode's audience of 6.98. Last Man Standing finished second place in total viewers and households, ahead of Fox's Glee and NBC's The Biggest Loser. Last Man Standing finished fourth place in the Adults 18-49 demo with a 1.8/6 rating, down just slightly from 1.9/6 on March 20.

 Last Man Standing was Tuesday's most watched comedy overall. The show boosted ABC's performance in the half-hour by 21% and added 1.3 million viewers over the program in the slot this night last year (Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution).

Episode 1.22 Press Release April 4 2012

ABC has issued the press release for the April 17 episode of Last Man Standing. Robert Forster reprises his role as Bud, Mike's father, in the episode.

"This Bud's For You" - When Mike's dad, Bud (Robert Forster), moves to town to be the builder on the new Outdoor Man store, Vanessa is concerned that some of Bud's well-intentioned ways might elevate Mike's high blood pressure, on "Last Man Standing," on TUESDAY, APRIL 17 (8:00-8:31 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. 

ABC close to renewing Last Man Standing? March 23 2012

ABC is reportedly preparing to issue early renewals for nine of its scripted programs, including Last Man Standing, according to TVLine.com.

Michael Ausiello reports the network is close to picking up Once Upon a Time, Revenge, Modern Family, Grey's Anatomy, Castle, Suburgatory, Happy Endings, The Middle along with Last Man Standing. The network declined to comment on the reports.

Since its premiere last October, Last Man Standing has averaged almost 9 million viewers each week and has generally posted increases of around 30% compared to the occupant of the time slot last year, No Ordinary Family. TVBytheNumbers.com, a site which follows the ratings, has Last Man Standing at 'more likely to be renewed than cancelled' in their Renew/Cancel index.