Molly Ephraim, the actress who played the first Mandy on “Last Man Standing,” chose not to return after the show was revived on Fox. She was replaced by Molly McCook.
When “Last Man Standing” was initially cancelled by ABC after six seasons, the cast and crew dispersed and sought other opportunities. Molly Ephraim, who portrayed Mandy Baxter, the middle daughter of the show’s protagonist Mike Baxter (played by Tim Allen), moved on to pursue other acting roles. During this hiatus, Ephraim committed to other projects that conflicted with the “Last Man Standing” schedule when Fox picked up the show for a seventh season.
As a result of her unavailability, the producers had to recast the role of Mandy. Molly McCook was chosen to take over the character. This change was acknowledged in the show itself, with the characters making light-hearted references to Mandy’s new look to ease the transition for the audience. Despite initial mixed reactions from fans due to the attachment to Ephraim’s portrayal, the show continued with McCook as part of the Baxter family until the series concluded after its ninth season.