I believe you've been seriously brainwashed, by today's generation material and source of terms. There is nothing anything wrong with Tim Allen and his acting stills. He always have acted like that since Home Improvement and his films. The key matter of facts, the problem is only you not likeing the material and source of terms by play. And the Cast of Last Man Standing and any Sitcom Series of use, they're only acting what's witten down by script based character or storyline plot. Yes, you're seriously overacting quite alot here... You cannot hold their acting character parts/storyline plot against the cast of the show. And say it's how they really act in real life appearance. No, you're wrong if you ever think that they're. And Tim Allen isn't Mike Baxter for one here, Mike Baxter is just a story based character by script play.
And the reason you think Tim Allen isn't much funny anymore and increased in Last Man Standing. That is because they have the outdoor members of Mike Baxer, Ed and Kyle Anderson similar like to The Three Stooges line-up way. So, their acting appearance will bounce back & forth to serious and funny in mins. But while Tim Allen's character of Mike Baxter, is at home with his family than being at work. It's clearly & out can tell Tim Allen is completely funny without his co-works and boss.
And also, like any other family sitcom play out appearance from the 80's and 90's. They manage to compare a supporting character to the main character, like a duel makes things more interesting by play. For a example here, you see how Kyle is on Last Man Standing all goofy & weird. Well, they compare him up to Tim Allen's character as duel team. That will be other reason why how Tim Allen is acting on whole new level base. I guess Tim Allen as Mike Baxter have to come out bit of serious at times because of Kyle's support.
There has been many goofy & weird supporting characters, just like Kyle Anderson into past family sitcoms.
Such as:
- Kimmy Gibbler to Jesse Katsopolis - From Full House
- Eric Matthews to George Feeny - Boy Meets World
- Steve Urkel to Carl Winslow - Family Matters
- Carlton Banks to Will Smith - The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air