Jill Taylor
Encyclopedia
Jillian "Jill" Taylor is a character in the TV sitcom Home Improvement played by Patricia Richardson
. Jill is Tim Taylor's wife. Jill helps Tim raise their three sons (Brad, Randy, and Mark). Jill Taylor has appeared on critics' lists of "top TV" or "most memorable" moms. For this role, Richardson was nominated four times for Emmy Award
s for Outstanding Lead Actress – Comedy Series and also received two nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy.
had initially been reluctant to accept the role, concerned that Jill would be yet another "perfect" TV sitcom mother such as Clair Huxtable of The Cosby Show
. She was reassured after seeing some scripts and talking to the series' producers. Early in the show's run, Richardson said, "What I want for this character is for her to be imperfect. I want her to make mistakes. I want her to be the wrong one in the relationship. I want her to blow it with Tim, and be the one who has to apologize. Because that's what life is like."
Jill and Carrie were close as children, but grew apart in adulthood thus causing them to have trouble getting along due to mutual jealousy
.
, but is also in-tune with her emotions
; she has been described as "the epitome of understanding". However, she is also known to give bad advice with positive intentions. She is also known to not own up to the mistakes she makes, blaming them on something else. Jill loves sophisticated
art forms such as theatre
, ballet
and opera
. Jill offers a dichotomy
to Tim's lovably-inept persona.
to a career-focused working woman. Early in the series, Jill frequently has problems finding employment; in the pilot episode of the series, she laments to Tim about how she was passed over for a job interview. However, Jill ultimately goes back to school, majoring in psychology
.
is emphasized throughout the series, especially in its latter seasons. She and Tim would sometimes argue about a man and woman's "place" in the household
. Despite Tim's frequent reluctance to understand Jill's point of view, he usually tries to compromise
with her.
It is also revealed in "Taps" that Jill is a Democrat
. In other episodes, Jill mentions attending protest
rallies as a young woman without her father's knowledge. However, being the daughter of an Army father has influenced her personality somewhat. For example, in "Tanks for the Memories", she exhibits great skill in driving a tank
.
.
Patricia Richardson
Patricia Castle Richardson is an American television and film actress best known for her portrayal of Jill Taylor on the sitcom Home Improvement.-Early life and education:...
. Jill is Tim Taylor's wife. Jill helps Tim raise their three sons (Brad, Randy, and Mark). Jill Taylor has appeared on critics' lists of "top TV" or "most memorable" moms. For this role, Richardson was nominated four times for Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s for Outstanding Lead Actress – Comedy Series and also received two nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy.
Development
The writers planned from the start that Tim Taylor's wife would have a strong voice. Patricia RichardsonPatricia Richardson
Patricia Castle Richardson is an American television and film actress best known for her portrayal of Jill Taylor on the sitcom Home Improvement.-Early life and education:...
had initially been reluctant to accept the role, concerned that Jill would be yet another "perfect" TV sitcom mother such as Clair Huxtable of The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
. She was reassured after seeing some scripts and talking to the series' producers. Early in the show's run, Richardson said, "What I want for this character is for her to be imperfect. I want her to make mistakes. I want her to be the wrong one in the relationship. I want her to blow it with Tim, and be the one who has to apologize. Because that's what life is like."
Background
Due to her father being in the Army, Jill and her four sisters grew up in a rigid environment. In order from oldest to youngest, they are Tracy, Linda, Jill, Carrie, and Robin. Jill and her siblings appear together in "Jill and Her Sisters" and "Taps".Jill and Carrie were close as children, but grew apart in adulthood thus causing them to have trouble getting along due to mutual jealousy
Jealousy
Jealousy is a second emotion and typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values, particularly in reference to a human connection. Jealousy often consists of a combination of presenting emotions...
.
Personality
It is established early in the series that Jill serves as the voice of reason for her husband and children. Jill is known for her common senseCommon sense
Common sense is defined by Merriam-Webster as, "sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts." Thus, "common sense" equates to the knowledge and experience which most people already have, or which the person using the term believes that they do or should have...
, but is also in-tune with her emotions
Emotionality
Emotionality is the observable behavioral and physiological component of emotion, and is a measure of a person's emotional reactivity to a stimulus. It is often used by psychology researchers to operationalize emotion in research studies...
; she has been described as "the epitome of understanding". However, she is also known to give bad advice with positive intentions. She is also known to not own up to the mistakes she makes, blaming them on something else. Jill loves sophisticated
Embellishment
In sewing and crafts an embellishment is anything that adds design interest to the piece.-Common examples of embellishment in sewing and crafts:* appliqué* embroidery, done either by machine or by hand...
art forms such as theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
, ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
and opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
. Jill offers a dichotomy
Dichotomy
A dichotomy is any splitting of a whole into exactly two non-overlapping parts, meaning it is a procedure in which a whole is divided into two parts...
to Tim's lovably-inept persona.
College and career
Throughout the course of the series, Jill progresses from being a fairly typical housewifeHousewife
Housewife is a term used to describe a married woman with household responsibilities who is not employed outside the home. Merriam Webster describes a housewife as a married woman who is in charge of her household...
to a career-focused working woman. Early in the series, Jill frequently has problems finding employment; in the pilot episode of the series, she laments to Tim about how she was passed over for a job interview. However, Jill ultimately goes back to school, majoring in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
.
Politics
Jill's feminismFeminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
is emphasized throughout the series, especially in its latter seasons. She and Tim would sometimes argue about a man and woman's "place" in the household
Household
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
. Despite Tim's frequent reluctance to understand Jill's point of view, he usually tries to compromise
Compromise
To compromise is to make a deal where one person gives up part of his or her demand.In arguments, compromise is a concept of finding agreement through communication, through a mutual acceptance of terms—often involving variations from an original goal or desire.Extremism is often considered as...
with her.
It is also revealed in "Taps" that Jill is a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. In other episodes, Jill mentions attending protest
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
rallies as a young woman without her father's knowledge. However, being the daughter of an Army father has influenced her personality somewhat. For example, in "Tanks for the Memories", she exhibits great skill in driving a tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
.
Running gags
- Her cooking talent, or lack thereof
- Chastizing Tim for something, but then doing the exact same thing herself, and trying to keep it from Tim
- Whenever she addresses her husband or sons by their full name, it is a sure sign they are in trouble.
- Whenever Tim wants to make changes to an appliance, Jill refuses to let him.
- Tim often makes fun of her on Tool Time, which occasionally leads to arguments
- Jill being an enthusiastic (albeit unsuccessful) matchmakerMatchmakingMatchmaking is any process of matching two people for the purpose of marriage or a sporting contest.-Practice:In some cultures, the role of the matchmaker was and is quite professionalized...
. - Jill being more logical and perceptive than Tim.
- Her propensity to promote the women's movement/feminism
- Psychological counseling/messing up relationships
- Tim's habit of getting into trouble with Jill's cars-taking her Austin-HealeyAustin-HealeyAustin-Healey was a British sports car maker. The marque was established through a joint-venture arrangement, set up in 1952 between Leonard Lord of the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation and the Donald Healey Motor Company, a renowned automotive engineering and design...
without her permission for a joy ride and smashing her Chevy Nomad with a I-beam - Jill saying "You're pathetic" every time Tim did something really dumb and/or insensitive, at one point saying it many consecutive times.
Cultural impact
The relationship between Jill and Tim Taylor has been discussed in academic papers about feminism and the men's movementMen's movement
The men's movement is a social movement that includes a number of philosophies and organizations that seek to support men, change the male gender role and improve men's rights in regard to marriage, child access and victims of domestic violence...
.