Ep 20. It Was The Best Of Tims, It Was The Worst Of Tims

In the season 3 episode 20 of Home Improvement titled "It Was The Best Of Tims, It Was The Worst Of Tims", Tim Taylor, played by the talented Tim Allen, finds himself in a bit of a dilemma. Tim has been nominated for the prestigious Detroit Car Man of the Year award. He is ecstatic and believes that he is the best candidate for the honor. However, Tim is unaware that there are increasing chances of him being passed over due to his recent behavior.

The episode starts with Tim and his family getting ready for the big night. Jill, played by Patricia Richardson, is more than excited for her husband and believes that he will win the award. However, the rest of the family is not so convinced. Brad, played by Zachery Ty Bryan, and Randy, played by Jonathan Taylor Thomas, believe that their father is not the best candidate and that he has no chance of winning. Mark, played by Taran Noah Smith, on the other hand, is more concerned about his pet rat, who has been missing since the previous night.

As the day progresses, Tim's chances of winning the award seem to be decreasing. He almost loses his temper at a parking attendant while looking for his keys, and also causes a small commotion at a hardware store due to his arrogance. His behavior is not only getting him in trouble but also putting his chances of winning the award at risk.

Later, at the award ceremony, Tim’s fortunes take another turn when he discovers that his strict father, played by Dick O'Neill, has entered the same contest and could take the coveted title of Car Man of the Year away from him. Tim is suddenly worried that he might not win and it seems that he is at his worst, displaying his typical lack of humility.

Throughout the episode, Tim is forced to reflect on his actions, and he starts to understand that his attitude and behavior might have been the reason behind his father’s poor parenting skills and their strained relationship.

The episode touches on the theme of humility and how even the best of us can fall short when we become too arrogant. Tim ultimately learns this lesson and comes to accept that he might not be the best candidate for the Detroit Car Man of the Year award after all.

Meanwhile, the subplot involving Mark's missing pet rat is also resolved, albeit in a comical manner.

Overall, "It Was The Best Of Tims, It Was The Worst Of Tims" is a delightful episode that showcases the humor and warmth of the Taylor family while also delivering a meaningful message about the dangers of arrogance and the importance of humility.