 Patricia Richardson, Tim Allen's former "Home Improvement" co-star, guest starred in the episode "Helen Potts", playing the episode's titular character.Richardson is the third "Home Improvement" cast member to guest star on "Last Man Standing" after both Richard Karn and Jonathan Taylor Thomas guest starred previously.Thomas also made a cameo appearance at the end of the "Helen Potts" episode, not as John Baker (the character he previously played on "Last Man Standing"), but as Helen's son Randy, a reference to his character from "Home Improvement".