Tim Allen’s Former Co-Stars Who Deserve Cameos on Shifting Gears
Tim Allen has made his mark in the sitcom world with Home Improvement and Last Man Standing, so it’s only fitting that his previous costars show up on his latest venture, Shifting Gears.
Allen began his career as a comedian in the ‘70s and transitioned to acting with the iconic role of Tim “The Toolman” Taylor in ABC’s Home Improvement, which earned him a Golden Globe Award. The series ran from 1991 to 1999, solidifying Allen as a household name.
Continuing his streak, Allen portrayed America’s quintessential TV dad, Mike Baxter, on Last Man Standing from 2011 to 2021. After the show concluded, he took a four-year hiatus before making his sitcom comeback with Shifting Gears.
“It was a complicated decision. At the time, I was involved in Disney+’s Santa Claus series and thought, ‘I really can’t focus on this right now,’” he revealed exclusively to Us Weekly in January 2025. “Do I really want to go back to linear TV? I was disheartened by how streaming has impacted traditional television. If I were to do it, I’d want to elevate it.”
Reflecting on his previous roles, Allen stated, “I’ve done Mike Baxter [on Last Man Standing] and Tim Taylor [on Home Improvement]. So if I do this again, I pitched three ideas: a guy recently widowed dealing with grief; a man with a dysfunctional family; and a custom car shop owner.”
During the discussion, Allen expressed excitement about portraying a character “not like the others.”
“He’s closer to my personality. I consider myself an artist, a design student, and a philosopher. My standup comedy often plays with people in a light-hearted way,” he explained. “I grew up in a family led by women, so my view of men is unique. I don’t believe we are the ones in charge. I want this character to reflect that idea. He’s not the typical ‘man’s man’ and isn’t trying to conform to that.”
Allen embraced his creative freedom in Shifting Gears by inviting familiar faces such as former co-stars Nancy Travis and Jay Leno.
Keep reading to discover more about Allen’s past sitcom colleagues who could make an appearance now that Shifting Gears has been greenlit for a second season:
Patricia Richardson
After portraying Allen’s first sitcom wife, Richardson reunited with her Home Improvement husband for several episodes of Last Man Standing. Her cameo even included a nod to her Home Improvement character when she shared scenes with Allen and their on-screen son Jonathan Taylor Thomas.
While Home Improvement may not be returning anytime soon, having Richardson guests star on Shifting Gears would be a fitting alternative.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Thomas joined Home Improvement at its inception but departed early to focus on his education. He later stepped away from acting but reunited with his on-screen dad for four episodes of Last Man Standing and directed three episodes.
Although Thomas has kept a low profile since his childhood fame, Allen hinted at a potential collaboration for Shifting Gears.
“Everything is possible,” Allen exclusively told Us regarding Thomas making a guest appearance on his new show. “He stopped by the set during the last episode we filmed.”
Allen expressed his desire to work with Thomas again, stating, “He’s truly like my kid. I raised him for eight years on Home Improvement.”
Taran Noah Smith
Smith, another one of Allen’s on-screen sons, has also stepped back from acting. Shifting Gears presents him with the chance to make a brief return after collaborating with Allen on Home Improvement.
Richard Karn
After their time on Home Improvement, Karn made a two-episode guest appearance on Last Man Standing. It would be delightful to see Karn and Allen together once more, this time on Shifting Gears.
Nancy Travis
Travis appeared in one episode of Shifting Gears as a possible romantic interest for Allen’s character. While a long-term pairing is developing between Allen’s Matt and Jenna Elfman‘s character, Eve, Travis should still find a way to reprise her role in season 2.
“It was a great experience not playing the wife [this time]. It was really fun to come in and leverage my existing rapport with Tim. My comedic timing and storytelling ability, honed through years together, were beneficial in portraying Charlotte,” Travis shared with Us in February 2025. “One has to wonder how Nancy Travis can re-enter the Shifting Gears universe, and I believe it’s been cleverly engineered.”
She added, “I enjoy collaborating with him but appreciate exploring fresh dynamics between characters. It’s very meta—perhaps too meta. However, I love the complexities of what they’ve crafted with this distinct relationship.”
Alexandra Krosney and Amanda Fuller
During their respective runs on Last Man Standing, Krosney and Fuller shared the role of Allen’s eldest daughter. Why not have them both play the same character on Shifting Gears? Shows like Roseanne and The Conners have successfully done this with Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke—and why shouldn’t Shifting Gears follow suit?
Molly Ephraim and Molly McCook
The same concept applies to Ephraim and McCook, who both shared the role of Mandy on Last Man Standing.
Kaitlyn Dever
Since her role as Eve on Last Man Standing, Dever has garnered acclaim in series like Apple Cider Vinegar and The Last of Us. Still, many fans are holding out hope for her to reunite with her on-screen sitcom parents in Shifting Gears.
“Tim is incredibly loyal. Walking onto that set and seeing most of the crew from Last Man Standing was wonderful,” Travis shared with Us. “The director John Pasquin was a regular on Last Man Standing and is a close friend of mine. The atmosphere felt like a reunion.”
Travis didn’t dismiss the possibility of more Last Man Standing cameos on Shifting Gears, remarking, “I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone from Last Man Standing appears in some form on Shifting Gears. If Tim has his way, he’ll even ensure that everyone from Kat Dennings’ 2 Broke Girls joins too.”
Christoph Sanders
Sanders won fans over as Kyle on Last Man Standing, so many are eager to see him and Allen collaborate again on screen.
Jordan Masterson
Masterson took over the role of Ryan on Last Man Standing after it was briefly portrayed by Nick Jonas. A reunion on Shifting Gears should definitely include more Last Man Standing alumni.
Héctor Elizondo
Viewers of Last Man Standing got accustomed to the weekly interactions between Allen and Elizondo. As Shifting Gears gears up for its second season, they should consider adding Elizondo to their roster of potential guest stars.
