It took a year, but "Last Man Standing" fans finally saw their beloved sitcom get new life when Fox renewed it Friday. Funnily enough, they sort of have ABC -- the network that canceled the Tim Allen sitcom in the first place -- to thank.

Fox Television Group Chairman and CEO Dana Walden spoke to reporters via phone Monday, according to "Roseanne." She credited the revived ABC comedy with being a factor in Fox's decision. It seems "Roseanne" reminded the network's execs of the power of a popular comedian.

"Obviously I think everyone took a good hard look at the performance of 'Roseanne,'" she said. "It did so well and it certainly did remind us that we have a huge iconic comedy star in our Fox family in Tim Allen."

That said, Walden wanted to clarify that Fox's interest in saving "Last Man Standing" didn't stem solely from "Roseanne." The network looked into saving the sitcom shortly after ABC canceled it last May, well before the ABC revival premiered this March. According to Walden, she and other execs "always felt like ABC didn't really prioritize 'Last Man Standing'" and "wondered how it would do if it was given a better opportunity."

Fox has been in contact with Allen over the course of the past year and now plans to give his show that opportunity. The decision did come at the expense of "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," but now that NBC has saved the latter, it seems most viewers have come away happy.

[via: EW]