Tim Allen's Shifting Gears: Cast, Story & Everything We Know About The Sitcom

Shifting Gears is Tim Allen’s new sitcom and there’s been a lot of news about the cast, story, and more. First, there was Home Improvement and then there was Last Man Standing, then there came The Santa Clauses, and now there’s Shifting Gears, Tim Allen’s fourth TV show. With one Emmy nomination, five Golden Globe nominations, one Golden Globe win, a voice role in one of the most successful animated movie franchises ever, and the star part of a beloved series of Christmas movies, Allen has proven himself one of the most reliable actors working.




While he may not be talked about like Mindy Kaling, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Giancarlo Esposito, and other TV actors who have been massively successful across multiple years and TV series, every show that Allen has been a part of has seen some degree of success. In most shows he leads, Allen plays an average, blue-collar man who is somewhere between exhausted and amused with the people around him. His new TV show, Shifting Gears, looks to follow that same formula considering the news that has been rolling out about the series.


Shifting Gears Latest News

Michelle Nader Has Joined The Series As Showrunner


In mid-September, it was announced that Michelle Nader was tapped as showrunner for Shifting Gears (via Deadline). The showrunner came in to replace Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully, who served as the writers and producers for the Shifting Gears pilot but exited the series when it was picked up. Nader’s other show credits include Kath & Kim, Spin City, and The King of Queens. She was also the showrunner for 2 Broke Girls and Dollface, which means Shifting Gears is a reunion for Nader and series co-star Kat Dennings.

Shifting Gears Is Confirmed

Shifting Gears Will Arrive Sometime In 2025

Luther Krank (Tim Allen) smiling by a Christmas tree in Christmas with the Kranks

Shifting Gears was confirmed in March 2024 with a pilot order (via Variety). The pilot was warmly received and in July 2024, Shifting Gears was ordered for a series by ABC (via TheWrap). It’s anticipated that the show will air no sooner than early 2025 (via TVLine).


Shifting Gears Cast

The Main Cast For Shifting Gears Has Been Revealed

The main cast for Shifting Gears has been announced with only one change since the initial reveal. Tim Allen will star as Matt, a stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. Kat Dennings plays his estranged daughter, Riley. Maxwell Simkins and Brett Margolis play Carter and Georgia, respectively, Riley’s teenage children. Daryl “Chill” Mitchell will play Stitch, a mechanic at the shop. Riley’s younger brother Nick was originally supposed to be played by Froy Gutierrez, but the part is now being recast (via Variety).


Shifting Gears Cast & Characters

Actor

Character

Notable Roles

Tim Allen

Matt

Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story, Tim Taylor in Home Improvement

Kat Dennings

Riley

Darcy Lewis in the MCU, Jules Wiley in Dollface

Maxwell Simkins

Carter

Nick Ganz in The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Kevin in The Sleepover

Brett Margolis

Georgia

Debut performance

Daryl “Chill” Mitchell

Stitch

Wendell in Fear the Walking Dead, Patton Plame in NCIS: New Orleans

Shifting Gears Storyline

Matt’s Life Is Shaken Up When His Estranged Daughter Comes To Town

Mike Baxter (Tim Allen) holding his arm out with a smile in Last Man Standing.

The pilot announcement for Shifting Gears came with the synopsis,

“Allen plays Matt, the stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. When Mattโ€™s estranged daughter and her teenage kids move into his house, the real restoration begins.”


Shifting Gears is looking to be a classic Tim Allen sitcom with comedy, heart, and more.