Jenna Elfman Unpacks the Career Easter Egg in Shifting Gears
Shifting Gears cleverly paid homage to Jenna Elfman‘s career — did you catch that hidden reference?
In the episode aired on Wednesday, February 26, of the popular ABC sitcom, Elfman’s character Eve is unveiled as a choreographer who owns a dance studio situated opposite the classic car restoration shop managed by Tim Allen‘s character, Matt. Eve is shown showcasing her dancing abilities when Matt bursts in to address an issue concerning their shared alleyway, a scenario inspired by Elfman, 53.
“I was thrilled to get the chance to dance in the episode. Dance was my first professional achievement [where I learned about] mastering a skill,” Elfman shared exclusively with Us Weekly. “I was a professional dancer [earlier in my career], and it was such a joy to return to a multi-camera setup with so many familiar faces and dance again.”
Elfman described it as “a complete bucket of joy” that Shifting Gears incorporated her personal passions, adding, “Now that you mention it, I realize how often they reference things involving Tim and have special guest stars as well. That’s truly enjoyable. You don’t come across this in many sitcoms.”
She further stated: “Easter eggs are rare, and I feel like they are redefining the limits of sitcoms. They are introducing [new] elements while preserving what makes a sitcom work — all the while expanding it to fit our contemporary culture and humor. It’s just effective. It’s fantastic.”
Reflecting on her recurring role, Elfman praised Shifting Gears, noting, “We all appreciate a good sitcom, but it’s become challenging to achieve that with streaming and social media overshadowing the classic sitcoms of the past. I genuinely love the format. I’ve always been interested in participating in one, but I doubted it could be executed well or with a fresh perspective.”
The actress credited showrunner Michelle Nader for crafting a standout show.
“I had previously collaborated with Tim on a film, so I know he’s wonderful. He excels at his craft. It’s as if you don’t even notice it happening, and then suddenly it’s just brilliant. However, Michelle Nader and I had a phone conversation where she discussed her approach to the sitcom and how she intended to make it feel innovative, which is quite difficult,” she recalled. “Thanks to Michelle — and the entire cast and crew — they are doing phenomenal work. It’s exceptional. She aimed to provide a fresh perspective on what a strong woman embodies. Everything she expressed resonated with me. It felt like home.”
Elfman conveyed her enthusiasm for reprising the role of Eve later this season, remarking, “I adored her perspective on engaging with the family at the heart of the series, addressing the cultural, political, and emotional generational divides. It’s a sitcom, yet it’s grounded with talented performers who excel at delivering comedy. Simultaneously, the writing truly supports that. Everything felt perfectly aligned for me to join in, and I’m so glad I did because I had a fantastic experience. We just wrapped filming the final episode last night, and it’s exceptional.”
Shifting Gears airs on ABC on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET, with episodes available for streaming the following day on Hulu.
