Did you know that Amateur Radio is featured in some plot lines on the prime time network comedy "Last Man Standing" starring Tim Allen as Mike Baxter? Several of the characters have been given fictitious callsigns, carefully coordinated with the ARRL and FCC so they don't overlap with actual licensed hams.
Pictured on the front page of our website this month is Mandy Baxter, KF0XIE, a character on "Last Man Standing" played by Molly Ephraim.
Other characters in the show are Kyle Anderson, KD0XCS, played by Cristoph Sanders, and of course Mike Baxter, KA0XTT, played by Tim Allen.
The producer of the show is a ham, John Amodeo (NN6JA), as are many of the technical staff on the show. They endeavour to show an accurate portrayal of amateur radio, within the limits imposed by Hollywood fiction, both in occasional subplots on the show, and with background props, including a real operational HF station in the corner of Mike Baxter's office, and in the basement of his home. Although the station does not really transmit while the show is being filmed, it is fully operational, and has been used by licensed hams on the staff during special events.
Dayton Hamvention - Bringing Amateur Radio to Primetime Network Television by John Amodeo, NN6JA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCCCBkdGQQY
Ham Nation - "Last Man Standing" - Episode 217, "The Fight" - Behind The Scenes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ggKcisR7CU
Tim Allen wrote his exam, and now has a real callsign KK6OTD.
http://www.arrl.org/news/actor-tim-allen-gets-his-ham-ticket-for-real
More discussion about the show and the equipment seen there can be found on a Facebook page set up specifically for the character Mike Baxter, KA0XTT.
http://www.facebook.com/KA0XTT
