Shifting Gears
Shifting Gears
Now Showing

Shifting Gears

"Family in mirror is closer than they appear."

6.5
Yr 2025
Status Returning Series
Comedy
Your Verdict
Unrated

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Series Brief

Overview

Matt is a stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. When Matt's estranged daughter Riley and her teenage kids move into his house, the real restoration begins.

Status

Latest

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 45 /100

Critical reaction to Shifting Gears is decidedly mixed, with several reviewers noting that the ABC sitcom is designed almost exclusively for fans of Tim Allen's established brand of television comedy. Outlets such as USA Today and ScreenRant observe that the show relies heavily on familiar multi-cam tropes and Allen's usual brand of conservative masculinity, making it an easy sell for his fanbase but unlikely to win over detractors.

Despite the formulaic setup, the core partnership between Tim Allen and Kat Dennings receives widespread appreciation. Outlets like RogerEbert.com and TVLine highlight their strong screen chemistry as an estranged father and daughter, finding genuine humor and emotional grounding whenever the two butt heads.

Negative critiques from the Boston Globe and Variety point out that the show's premiere feels choppy and struggles to fully justify its central estrangement premise. However, reviewers note that the series leaves room to grow as it further explores its supporting characters and family backstory.

“Allen and Dennings are believable as an estranged father-daughter pair trying to work it out.”

“Tim Allen And Kat Dennings Are Dueling Spark Plugs In ABC's Family-Feud Sitcom”

“It's not good, but it's not terrible.”

Signal Feed

In the news

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Crave
CA
Spectrum On Demand
US
YouTube TV
US
Show 4 more
Disney Plus
CA • US • UK
Crave Amazon Channel
CA
Hulu
US
fuboTV
US
Why fans love it

Shifting Gears leans into the clash between rigid routines and chaotic family dynamics. At the center of the humor is Tim Allen playing a classic car enthusiast whose orderly life in the shop is disrupted by a sudden household expansion. The comedy relies on the friction of three generations sharing a living space rather than the mechanical work happening in the garage.

The show earns its witty reputation by focusing on the predictable mess of estranged family members forced to coexist. Because the domestic adjustments are presented as a more difficult project than any vehicle restoration, the sitcom finds its rhythm in the awkward banter between the household members. It avoids sentimentality in favor of sharp exchanges that highlight how little these relatives actually know about each other.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 55
Regulars 3
Longest run 10 eps
Tim Allen
Tim Allen
as Matt Parker
Kat Dennings
Kat Dennings
as Riley Parker
Seann William Scott
Seann William Scott
as Gabriel
Daryl Mitchell
Daryl Mitchell
as Stitch
Maxwell Simkins
Maxwell Simkins
as Carter
Barrett Margolis
Barrett Margolis
as Georgia
Cynthia Quiles
Cynthia Quiles
as Frankie
3 episodes
Eileen Gonzales
as News Anchor
1 episode
Show 47 more
Brenda Song as Caitlin Baker 1 episode Bianca Lopez as Ms. Esposito 1 episode Cesili Williams as Mom 1 episode Alicyn Packard as Female Voice (On the Speaker) 1 episode Felipe Esparza as Bob 1 episode Tasia Valenza as Soothing Voice(voice) 1 episode Chelsea London Lloyd as Emma 1 episode Jim Conroy as Robot(voice) 1 episode Nancy Travis as Charlotte 2 episodes Oriana Siphanoum as Dancer 1 episode Jenna Elfman as Eve 10 episodes Isaiah Morgan as Teen 1 episode Jay Leno as Jay Leno 1 episode Lucas Neff as Jimmy 2 episodes Richard Karn as Roger 1 episode Patricia Richardson as Grief Group Member 1 episode Debbe Dunning as Grief Group Member 1 episode Gabriel Iglesias as Fluffy 1 episode Carson Fagerbakke as Amelie 6 episodes Isabella Feliciana as Lily Martinez 5 episodes Andy Ridings as Tom 1 episode Steph Tolev as Exterminator 1 episode Lori Greiner as Lori from Shark Tank 1 episode Pamela Adlon as Molly 2 episodes Leo Lam as Lincoln 1 episode Lilly Singh as Jen 1 episode Pam Trotter as Nurse Mooney 1 episode Ayla Manji as Olivia 1 episode Mookie Betts as Mookie Betts 2 episodes Al Madrigal as Keith Rodriguez 1 episode Jesse Williams as Andy 4 episodes Jim Rash as Damien 1 episode Tuc Watkins as Pete Holterman 1 episode Luke Macfarlane as Sam 1 episode Angela Kinsey as Lynn 1 episode Maria Bamford as Amy 1 episode Camden Brooks as Benji 1 episode Gracie Faris as Sofia 1 episode Mason Cook as River 1 episode LaNisa Renee Frederick as Becca 1 episode Celeste Pechous as Judy 1 episode Anand Mahalingam as Feraz 1 episode Traci Belushi as Helen 1 episode Michael Osborne as John 1 episode Dwayne Colbert as Peter 1 episode Kenny Cooper as Jackson 1 episode Ambrit Millhouse as Jeanine 1 episode
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Shifting Gears overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

sitcom witty
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
January 08, 2025
Status
Returning Series
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
77