ABC renews Tim Allen’s ‘Last Man Standing’ for Season 5

“Last Man Standing” will stand again. ABC on Sunday confirmed that it will pick up Tim Allen’s family sitcom for a fifth season.

The network announced most of its returning shows last week. But “Last Man” was conspicuously left off the list, leading to speculation that the show might not make the cut.

Ultimately ABC was able to clinch a deal with 20th Century Fox Television, the studio behind the series, that enabled “Last Man” to get another round.

“Last Man” finds Allen, the former star of ABC’s “Home Improvment,” playing a traditional-minded man who works as a marketer for a chain of outdoor stores. Nancy Travis is his long-suffering but understanding wife.

“Last Man” has helped ABC create a strong lineup on Friday nights, although its ratings have, like those of most broadcast series, ebbed sharply the last couple years. The season finale in April drew just a little over 6 million viewers, according to Nielsen. That was less than half the size of the audience that showed up for the premiere back in 2011.

ABC will officially announce its 2015-16 TV schedule this week in New York.

What do you think of “Last Man Standing”?

Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT