Fox says it revived Tim Allen's Last Man Standing because it was "emboldened" by Roseanne's ratings, not politics

Deadline

“Everyone took a good hard look at the success of Roseanne,” said Fox Television Group CEO Dana Walden. “It reminded us we have a huge iconic star in our Fox family in Tim Allen. And we have been talking to Tim through the year ... So yeah, we were emboldened by the performance of Roseanne,” Walden said. “It made us think this is a good opportunity for broadcast viewers." He said it was easier to bring back a "beloved star" than to launch a brand-new comedy. Walden also said that just like ABC's cancelation decision had nothing to do with politics, Fox's pickup of Last Man Standing wasn't about the show being a hit with conservatives.