Tim Allen’s back on ABC, and he’s brought his tool belt. Though, instead of grunting about power tools and masculinity, he’s…well, he’s still grunting, but this time it’s about classic cars. In “Shifting Gears,” Allen plays Matt, a widower and classic car restoration enthusiast whose quiet life gets a turbo boost when his estranged daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), and her kids show up needing a place to crash. Hilarity, presumably, ensues.
This family sitcom premise is as familiar as a worn-out socket wrench, but Allen’s brand of grumpy-but-lovable dad humor has proven remarkably resilient. “Shifting Gears” seems custom-built for audiences nostalgic for “Home Improvement” or “Last Man Standing.” The series will undoubtedly feature plenty of Allen’s signature eye-rolls, exasperated sighs, and mumbled pronouncements about “the good old days.” Whether or not this latest vehicle can shift into high gear and become a sitcom classic – well we will have to wait and see.
“Shifting Gears” premieres Wednesday, January 8, 2024, at 8/7c on ABC.
“Shifting Gears” is a 20th Television production for ABC. Executive producers include Tim Allen, Mike Scully, Julie Thacker Scully, Michelle Nader, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Richard Baker, Rick Messina, John Pasquin, Jim Patterson, Bob Daily, and John Amodeo. Kat Dennings is a producer.
