Shifting Gears Trailer: Tim Allen Takes Charge Alongside Kat Dennings
ABC’s Shifting Gears demonstrates that this is Tim Allen‘s sitcom universe, and we’re all just participants in it.
The official trailer for the forthcoming series made its debut on Monday, December 30, showcasing Us Allen’s character Matt, a widowed father aiming to reconnect with his estranged daughter Riley (Kat Dennings).
“I’m crawling home because I’m broke and need a place to stay until I figure out the next chapter of my life,” Riley confesses in the teaser, to which Matt responds affirmatively. “Really? Because I haven’t exactly changed!”
The living arrangement has its highs and lows — particularly when Riley’s two children move in. “Can we try to communicate like rational adults?” Riley requests, while Matt jokes, “Have you seen the news lately? That’s not really a thing anymore.”
Matt emphasizes his “specific way of doing things,” which frequently leads to conflict between him and Riley.
“If I want to do something that doesn’t sit well with you, just look at the roof over your head and say, ‘OK,’” Matt later states. Riley, however, retorts, “I’m not sure you quite grasp how bridges function.”
Alongside Dennings, 38, and Allen, 71, Shifting Gears features Seann William Scott, Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, Maxwell Simkins, and Barrett Margolis.
Before returning to sitcoms, Allen became an iconic TV father as Tim “The Toolman” Taylor on the ABC series Home Improvement, which aired from 1991 to 1999. He later took on the role of Mike Baxter for nine seasons on Last Man Standing.
“What keeps me going is the word ‘grateful.’ I love what I do. I find far more pleasure in entertaining people than in monetary gain,” Allen shared exclusively with Us Weekly in 2020. “I cherish the live audience we have. I tell them every night, ‘This is old-school television — the essence of what broadcast began with.’ While I can’t predict the future, this [show] is truly unique.”
Allen commended Last Man Standing for not attempting to reinvent the wheel.
“We approached this the same way we did with Home Improvement. It’s all about relationships — we steer clear of topical issues. But since I’m surrounded by strong women, it’s interesting to see how a man’s perspective differs,” he elaborated. “We never belittle each other. It’s a loving family atmosphere. I appreciate that we both honor and poke fun at things like marriage, parenting, and life’s little moments, all while showing respect.”
Dennings, for her part, portrayed Max on CBS’ sitcom 2 Broke Girls from 2011 to 2017. Shifting Gears also marks Scott’s third series regular role after featuring in Welcome to Flatch and Lethal Weapon.
Shifting Gears is set to premiere on ABC on Wednesday, January 8, at 8 p.m. ET, with episodes available for streaming the following day on Hulu.
