Tim Allen’s April 25 performance at the OLG Stage at Fallsview was a night that shattered expectations, especially for fans who only know him as the affable “Toolman” from Home Improvement, the voice of Buzz Lightyear, or the jolly Santa Claus. Instead, Allen delivered a raw, unfiltered stand-up set that leaned heavily into adult humour, blue language, and the kind of boundary-pushing observations that have defined his live comedy for decades.
From the outset, Allen made it clear this was not a family-friendly affair. He referenced his own grandmother’s shock at his language, joking, “She said, you’ve said fuck a lot. I don’t know. God doesn’t swear. God makes people like me to swear for you.” The tally for the night? A jaw-dropping 93 uses of the word “fuck”-a statistic that would likely send Disney’s HR department into a tailspin.
Allen’s set was a sprawling, autobiographical journey, blending stories from his blue-collar Michigan upbringing with sharp takes on contemporary culture. He riffed on everything from the perils of California’s “People’s Republic” regulations to the absurdities of kale, okra, and the ever-shifting trends in health food. “What in the fuck is kale? You can’t boil that shit enough to soften that shit up,” he mused, to knowing laughs from the crowd.
The comic’s willingness to wade into controversy was relentless. He dissected language taboos, poked fun at pronoun debates, and even recounted the moment Disney executives asked him to stop swearing in his Santa suit on set in Toronto. “Is that why they’re following me around all day?” he wondered, feigning innocence, before admitting he had to play Santa for the child actors off-camera for nearly a year.
Allen’s signature self-deprecation and everyman relatability were on full display. He recounted his time in prison with a mix of candour and humour, admitting, “I was marketing the wrong shit is what happened to me. What’s really unfair is that it’s just legal now. That’s fucking bullshit.” He wove his sobriety into the act, poking fun at LA’s cannabis culture and the idea of “bar fights in a potluck”.
Family stories were a cornerstone, from his tough, working-class mother and Scottish-German grandmothers to the chaos of raising daughters. Allen’s take on gender roles, childbirth, and masculinity was both irreverent and oddly affectionate, as he marveled at women’s resilience and mocked his own squeamishness in the delivery room: “My wife is crying. She goes, could somebody come over here? Put fucking tool boy on”.
The set’s pacing was loose, even meandering at times, but Allen’s ability to circle back to a punchline-often about bodily functions-kept the audience engaged. A lengthy bit on lighting farts with his brothers as a child was delivered with the same gusto as his critiques of modern politics and social media. “The stupid shit, it always comes back to farts,” he declared, cementing his status as a comic who finds profundity in the profane.
Allen’s reflections on fame, gratitude, and his career arc offered moments of sincerity amid the raunch. He described his conflicted feelings about stardom, his love-hate relationship with Twitter, and the surreal experience of being asked to tone it down for child co-stars. Yet, he never lingered too long in sentimentality, always punctuating with a sharp, often shocking, punchline.
The crowd’s reaction was a mix of delight and disbelief. For those expecting a sanitized, sitcom-ready set, the barrage of expletives and adult themes was a jolt. Yet, Allen’s authenticity and refusal to pander won over even the most startled attendees. His willingness to “push the limits of what he was talking about” gave the show an unpredictable, electric edge.
Social commentary was woven throughout, from Allen’s takes on racial identity and mixed families to his thoughts on gun culture and American history. He lampooned the absurdities of political correctness while also acknowledging the complexities of today’s social landscape. “Sometimes it’s a little confusing today. You know, fucking not. You don’t have any fucking flu,” he quipped, referencing generational divides and shifting norms.
Opening for Allen was Lowell Sanders, whose set provided a perfect warm-up with its sharp observational comedy and easy rapport. Sanders riffed on the absurdities of air travel, the indignities of exit row seating, and the quirks of international vacations. His bit about being offered a blanket in 90-degree Mexican heat-“I’m like getting Kool Aid, Sam, motherfuckers”-set the tone for a night of no-holds-barred humour.
Sanders’ material, while less profane than Allen’s, was equally relatable and incisive. He navigated topics like marriage, racial profiling, and family dynamics with a deft touch, drawing big laughs and easing the audience into the evening’s edgier fare. His ability to find comedy in everyday frustrations made him an ideal counterpoint to Allen’s more abrasive style, ensuring the show started on a high note and maintained its momentum throughout.
