Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Few stars are as ubiquitous nowadays as Tim Allen, the actor and comedian who redefined family television with “Home Improvement” and found lightening strike all over again on “Last Man Standing.”

In between, he became the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the “Toy Story” franchise and led “The Santa Clause” series, amongst what feels like a million more movies, all while actively maintaining a stand-up comedy career that briskly sold out the Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana and added to its ever-expanding list of cultural icons.

Granted, the Tim Allen of the 21 and over stage is a lot different than on the squeaky-clean screen, but it’s never been a secret and nearly everyone seemed to be in on the joke throughout 80 edgy minutes.

The headliner definitely didn’t mince words, from a steady stream of f-bombs, to a series of politically incorrect observations capable of sparking a social networking war, though in that regard, the 70-year-old finds inspiration in old school button pushers George Carlin, Richard Pryor and Lenny Bruce.

Yet Allen was funniest when drawing upon personal experiences, such as going to jail for selling drugs, some of which are now, ironically, completely legal, and quickly learning how to pick up a bar of soap by foot while being locked up.

The 27-years sober headliner was even more hilarious recalling his wife and her friends trying on and trading each other’s unwanted clothes during get-togethers, something he facetiously tried rolling by the fellas to absolutely no avail.

However, anything about a childhood of centered around seven boys, two girls and terrible food from the English, German or Irish traditions truly took the cake, especially the hijinks of lighting farts on fire and semi-intentionally shooting Grandma with a BB gun.

Allen may be most readily linked to many characters he portrays and this performance was generally the opposite, but those who watched him hold court inside the Hard Rock nonetheless got to see the A-lister in the flesh for a laugh fest they won’t soon forget.

For additional information on Tim Allen, visit TimAllen.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana include Marlon Wayans (Feb. 2); George Lopez (Feb. 3); Rod Stewart (Feb. 10); Hannah Berner (Mar. 1); Bill Burr (Mar. 8); Peter Frampton (Mar. 18); Nikki Glaser (Mar. 22); Leela James (Mar. 30); Chippendales (Apr. 5-6); Matt Fraser (Apr. 11); Anthony Jeselnik (Apr. 18); Godsmack (Apr. 20); Chelsea Handler (Apr. 26); Trace Adkins (Apr. 27); David Foster & Katharine McPhee (May 4); Ben Schwartz (Jun. 14); Kevin James (Jun. 15) and Jason Mraz (Jul. 19). For additional details, visit HardRockCasinoNorthernIndiana.com.

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