Why Last Man Standing's Kristin Baxter Was Recast After Season One

Alaina April 16, 2025

You know how sometimes you're watching a show and something just feels... different? That’s exactly what happened with Last Man Standing!

For years, fans have been scratching their heads, wondering what happened to Kristin Baxter, the original character played by Alexandra Krosney in the first season. Well, buckle up, because here's the scoop: the role was recast with Amanda Fuller after that first season. And if you're anything like me, you're probably thinking, "Wait, what? Why did that happen?"

A Closer Look at the Recast

kristin baxter 'last man standing' getty images

Alexandra (left) and Amanda (right) on Last Man Standing. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

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Let me break it down for you. Alexandra Krosney was the original actress who brought Kristin Baxter to life in the first season back in 2011. But after that season wrapped, Amanda Fuller stepped into the role, and she carried it all the way until the show's cancellation in 2017. Now, you might be wondering why the change happened, and it’s a story worth diving into.

The Reason Behind the Change

As it turns out, ABC had some creative reasons for making the switch. They felt that Amanda Fuller, who you might remember as Dr. Alex Karev’s intern on Grey’s Anatomy, was a better fit for the role because of her age. The network believed that casting an older actress would give them the chance to tweak the family dynamic a bit. It sounds like a small change, but in the world of TV, even the tiniest tweak can make a big difference.

However, fans of the show know that sometimes these changes don’t always lead to long-term success. In fact, Last Man Standing ended up being canceled in May 2017, leaving star Tim Allen heartbroken. He took to Twitter to express his shock, writing, “Stunned and blindsided by the network I called home for the last six years. #LastManStanding.”

What Really Happened Behind the Scenes?

Now, here's where things get interesting. While cast changes can definitely shake things up, the official reason given by ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey was "scheduling reasons." In other words, the network decided to shift their focus away from Friday night comedies, and unfortunately, Last Man Standing was caught in the crossfire.

Dungey explained the tough decision in an interview, saying, “A large part of these jobs are managing failure and we’ve made the tough calls and canceled shows that we’d otherwise love to stay on the air. That’s the job.” He went on to add, “Last Man Standing was a challenging one for me because it was a steady performer in the ratings, but once we made the decision not to continue with comedies on Fridays, that was where we landed.”

Despite all the changes and challenges, fans held out hope that another network might pick up the series. Unfortunately, both CMT and NBC passed on the opportunity. But hey, we’re not giving up just yet!