Fox was hoping for 80 percent of what we were doing on ABC so about a 1.0.

So Im an idiot.

I dont think anybody expected this.

Its a little hard to absorb.

I looked at the number and I thought it was a misprint.

But yeah, nobody expected this.

Tim is notoriously understated on this stuff but hes obviously thrilled too.

Did you guys hear from anybody at ABC?I didnt.

I heard that our cold opening [mocking ABC for canceling the show] was circulating around ABC beforehand.

Theres no ill will.

We did that [opening] for good fun and because were terrible people.

Its just business and this is what happens.

Actually, thisneverhappens [laughs].

Its probably not the best day over at ABC programming but its a good day for us.

On Twitter, Tim said next weeks episode is better.

Do I think its atypical?

We see ourselves as a family show not a political show.

Were a family show with a conservative character at the center.

So I think its a good example of what we typically do.

The first show was actually a bit more atypical for us.

Did that hurt the actress feelings?

What did you think?We fully expected it.

You dont take a character played by an actress thats beloved and suddenly switch them out.

Im glad they missed Molly Ephraim, thats a good thing.

And theyre going to go through the same process we did in casting.

When Molly McCook walked in we thought, thats not going to work.

Physically thats not going to work.

And then shes just so good.

We thought maybe another character?

Then we thought shes the best actress, lets go with it.

Its a little jarring then you grow to love her.

The actresses feelings were not hurt well, she said very briefly and then she got past it.

We hope the audience starts to feel the way we do.

Youre tackling gun control in an upcoming episode.

How does that go?Were still dealing with that a little bit.

Its a tough subject.

Mike Baxter owns an outdoor store and sells guns there.

We certainly have a viewership that embraces that and we want to be responsible at same time.

Its an ongoing discussion.

I hear youre scrambling to add a Halloween-themed episode?This year we did something a little different.

Trump hasnt said anything about your shows ratings yet.

Would the president speaking out on your behalf be a good thing or a bad thing?

[Laughs] Im gonna let that one go.

Ill pass on that one.

Much like the show, were not going to say his name.

So wait: Not saying Trumps name is going to continue forward on the show?Yeah.

We want to appeal to everybody and thats a polarizing thing.

Well deal with the larger issues.

We want to take a more universal tone and unite rather than divide in these times.

We rather show people on either side of the political spectrum arguing with each other but remaining family.

Last Man Standing airs Fridays on Fox.