Comedy icon Tim Allen is revving back up for his return to ABC, the network that launched his legendary TV career in the 1990s. The alphabet network has given a series order to the multi-camera sitcom “Shifting Gears,” which will star Allen and rising star Kat Dennings.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Tim Allen back where it all started with ‘Home Improvement,'” said ABC president Craig Erwich. “His signature blend of humor and heart is exactly what we’re hoping ‘Shifting Gears’ captures.”
In “Shifting Gears,” Allen will play Matt, a recently widowed gearhead who owns a classic car restoration shop. His orderly world is turned upside down when his estranged daughter Riley (Dennings) and her two teenagers temporarily move back in. As Riley and the kids bring modern chaos to Matt’s garage, they all might finally shift into a higher gear as a family.
Joining the show’s leads is Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, who reunites with Allen after their cult classic roles in Galaxy Quest together. Newcomers Maxwell Simkins and Barrett Margolis also round out the ensemble. The series will be overseen by creative powerhouses Mike and Julie Scully, with Home Improvement veteran John Pasquin set to direct.
For Dennings, the role shows her versatility between film and television. After breaking out in Raising Dad, she starred in movies like Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist before a long run on 2 Broke Girls. More recently, she’s proven her comic chops in the MCU and Hulu’s Dollface.
Sources say Shifting Gears will shoot this spring for a planned 2025 premiere on ABC and subsequent streaming on Hulu. With Allen’s proven track record of hit sitcoms under his belt, this new series could just shift ABC’s comedy lineup into high gear.
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