· Tara Price · Lifestyle
Shifting Gears: Tim Allen’s ABC Comeback with Kat Dennings is More Than Just Nostalgia
The Premise: Classic Cars and a Clashing Family
Shifting Gears TV show isn’t just another Tim Allen sitcom—though it definitely leans on some familiar tropes.
The show follows Matt (Tim Allen), a stubborn, old-school mechanic running a classic car restoration shop.
When his estranged daughter Riley (Kat Dennings) and her two kids move back into his home, the real work begins: fixing a family that’s been running on empty for years.
ABC’s latest multi-camera comedy thrives on its odd-couple energy. Matt, the Reagan-era traditionalist, and Riley, a sharp-tongued, independent single mum, spend most of the show butting heads.
The tension between them isn’t just about parenting styles or workplace drama—it’s about decades of unresolved baggage.
Riley left years ago, chasing a life outside her father’s rigid worldview.
Now she’s back, and neither of them are particularly thrilled about it.
Watch the official Shifting Gears trailer to get a glimpse of Tim Allen and Kat Dennings in action: YouTube Trailer.
The Shifting Gears Cast: Familiar Faces, Fresh Chemistry
Alongside Tim Allen and Kat Dennings, Shifting Gears brings in a solid supporting cast: Seann William Scott as Gabriel, the shop’s charming wildcard; Daryl “Chill” Mitchell as Stitch, Matt’s right-hand man; Maxwell Simkins as Riley’s son Carter, an anxious teenager navigating life under his grandfather’s roof; and Barrett Margolis as Georgia, his precocious younger sister.
Guest stars like Brenda Song (playing Riley’s high school classmate Caitlyn) add more texture to the world of the show.
Tim Allen Shifting Gears: Reception and Performance
So far, Shifting Gears has been a ratings hit for ABC, pulling in nearly 17 million multi-platform viewers in its first week—a record-breaking launch for the network.
It’s performing well with audiences who grew up watching Allen in Home Improvement and Last Man Standing, though critics have been more divided.
Variety noted that the show leans on predictable sitcom beats and struggles with forced intergenerational humour, but also acknowledged that Allen and Dennings have strong on-screen chemistry.
Meanwhile, RogerEbert praised the show for its heartwarming family themes and Allen’s more subdued comedic delivery.
User reviews reflect this split: some find the show refreshingly simple, appreciating its throwback sitcom structure, while others feel it’s too similar to Allen’s past projects.
What Works—and What Doesn’t
The Strengths:
Tim Allen and Kat Dennings Have Chemistry – The father-daughter dynamic carries the show.
It’s Comfort TV – The multi-cam format, live studio audience, and family-centered humor make it an easy watch.
Nostalgia Without Overkill – It nods to Allen’s sitcom legacy without feeling like a carbon copy (well, mostly).
The Weaknesses:
Clunky Exposition – Some early episodes struggle with heavy-handed dialogue.
Matt’s “Lovable Crank” Persona – It plays things safe, sanding down the edges of Allen’s usual political jabs.
Stereotypical Setup – The intergenerational conflict and workplace humor can feel formulaic.
The Verdict: Will Shifting Gears Last?
ABC is clearly betting big on Shifting Gears, but its future depends on how well it evolves.
If it leans too hard on Allen’s past formulas without taking risks, it could stall.
However, with strong audience numbers and a cast that clicks, the show has the potential to grow into something more than just another family sitcom.
For now, it’s a solid watch—especially if you like your comedies old-school, your characters a little grumpy, and your life lessons wrapped up in 22-minute episodes.
Will you be tuning in?
