Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Jonathan Taylor Thomas left TV's "Home Improvement" to focus on school, but his fans can catch his familiar, family-oriented comedy skills in the Disney movie "I'll Be Home for Christmas." For a switch, though, the 17-year-old also took an unfamiliar casting as a tough street kid in "Speedway Junkie," a gritty indie coming next year with Gus Van Sant as executive producer.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas will guest star on Tim Allen's "Last Man Standing. " Yes, the young heartthrob whose mug was splashed all over Bop and YM covers during his run with Allen on the '90s sitcom "Home Improvement" will appear in the series, a spokeswoman for ABC confirmed to the Ministry on Friday. Thomas will play the manager of a high-end restaurant who becomes entangled with Allen's Mike Baxter when his daughter Kristin (Amanda Fuller) applies for a job at the restaurant.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas will guest star on Tim Allen's "Last Man Standing. " Yes, the young heartthrob whose mug was splashed all over Bop and YM covers during his run with Allen on the '90s sitcom "Home Improvement" will appear in the series, a spokeswoman for ABC confirmed to the Ministry on Friday. Thomas will play the manager of a high-end restaurant who becomes entangled with Allen's Mike Baxter when his daughter Kristin (Amanda Fuller) applies for a job at the restaurant.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas left TV's "Home Improvement" to focus on school, but his fans can catch his familiar, family-oriented comedy skills in the Disney movie "I'll Be Home for Christmas." For a switch, though, the 17-year-old also took an unfamiliar casting as a tough street kid in "Speedway Junkie," a gritty indie coming next year with Gus Van Sant as executive producer.

Jonathan Angel: "Saved by the Bell: The New Class," Saturdays, 10 a.m. NBC. Will Friedle: "Boy Meets World," Fridays, 8:30 p.m. ABC. William James Jones: "California Dreams," Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. NBC. David Lascher: Formerly of "Blossom" and in the upcoming NBC movie "Foster's Field Trip." Rider Strong: "Boy Meets World," Fridays, 8:30 p.m. ABC. Christian Oliver (Starting in the fall): "Saved by the Bell: The New Class," Saturdays, 10 a.m. NBC.

What's safe for small fry in the coming months? Here's what studios hope will attract all ages: Friday: "Buddy." Jim Henson Pictures presents this purportedly true story about a 1920s ape advocate played by Rene Russo. June 25: "Hercules." Tate Donovan, James Woods and Danny DeVito head the vocal cast of Disney's 35th animated feature, with songs by Alan Menken ("Beauty and the Beast") and David Zippel (Broadway's "City of Angels"). July 2: "Wild America."

Jonathan Taylor Thomas scarcely looks his 14 years. At 4-foot-11, the pixieish actor could pass for 10 or 11. Until he opens his mouth. Then you'd swear he was 45. He talks about narrow-mindedness and superficiality in the movie and television business as if he were a longtime Hollywood veteran. "It's kind of odd," Thomas said in an interview last week.

It's a rehearsal day on the set of "Home Improvement," and Jonathan Taylor Thomas, who plays Randy, the middle son, has in a matter of minutes sung several versions of the Albanian national anthem, grabbed a cable and cracked it like a whip, circled the set at high speed about a dozen times--and still hit his marks and his lines perfectly. But when it comes time for the energetic, soon-to-be 13-year-old to take a break for an interview, Thomas manages to sit still for at least 20 minutes.

Danielle Fishel is opening up about a rather awkward encounter with "Full House" patriarch Bob Saget that happened while she and others from the "T.G.I.F. " crew - ABC's '90s Friday-night lineup comedies - were en route to the Magic Kingdom. "One time we were all on a private jet going to Disney World, and my mom, dad and brother were also with me," the "Boy Meets World" actress said in a Q&A with Maxim. "We had these four seats facing each other with curtains, so we had our own little private family area.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar and his new wife, Catriona McGinn, are expecting their first child together. This will be the "Franklin & Bash" star's third child and the first for the advertising exec, whom he married in July 2012 at a Santa Ynez winery. The "Saved By the Bell" alum, 39, and McGinn "are thrilled to announce they're expecting their first child together in September," his rep told People. PHOTOS: The Hollywood baby boom "We are all really excited for the arrival of our new addition," Gosselaar told People.

What's safe for small fry in the coming months? Here's what studios hope will attract all ages: Friday: "Buddy." Jim Henson Pictures presents this purportedly true story about a 1920s ape advocate played by Rene Russo. June 25: "Hercules." Tate Donovan, James Woods and Danny DeVito head the vocal cast of Disney's 35th animated feature, with songs by Alan Menken ("Beauty and the Beast") and David Zippel (Broadway's "City of Angels"). July 2: "Wild America."

Jonathan Taylor Thomas scarcely looks his 14 years. At 4-foot-11, the pixieish actor could pass for 10 or 11. Until he opens his mouth. Then you'd swear he was 45. He talks about narrow-mindedness and superficiality in the movie and television business as if he were a longtime Hollywood veteran. "It's kind of odd," Thomas said in an interview last week.

It's a rehearsal day on the set of "Home Improvement," and Jonathan Taylor Thomas, who plays Randy, the middle son, has in a matter of minutes sung several versions of the Albanian national anthem, grabbed a cable and cracked it like a whip, circled the set at high speed about a dozen times--and still hit his marks and his lines perfectly. But when it comes time for the energetic, soon-to-be 13-year-old to take a break for an interview, Thomas manages to sit still for at least 20 minutes.

Jonathan Angel: "Saved by the Bell: The New Class," Saturdays, 10 a.m. NBC. Will Friedle: "Boy Meets World," Fridays, 8:30 p.m. ABC. William James Jones: "California Dreams," Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. NBC. David Lascher: Formerly of "Blossom" and in the upcoming NBC movie "Foster's Field Trip." Rider Strong: "Boy Meets World," Fridays, 8:30 p.m. ABC. Christian Oliver (Starting in the fall): "Saved by the Bell: The New Class," Saturdays, 10 a.m. NBC.

Tickets are still available for a benefit screening and party Saturday of the new film "Tom and Huck." Jonathan Taylor Thomas ("Home Improvement") is one of the film's stars and will be on hand for the event, which will benefit the National Tuberous Sclerosis Assn., at the TV Academy Theatre, 5230 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. $50. Information: (310) 201-5033.

Actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas will host a special screening of his upcoming Disney movie "Tom and Huck" at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Academy Theatre, 5230 N. Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Co-star Rachel Leigh Cook will also attend. The screening is a benefit for the National Tuberous Sclerosis Assn., which aids children afflicted by the genetic disorder, which causes benign tumors in all major organs, including the brain, heart, kidneys, eyes, skin and lungs.