Tim Allen’s New Comedy “Shift Gears” Welcomes Notable Guests

Tim Allen’s upcoming ABC comedy, Shift Gears, is set to feature a number of familiar faces, as showrunner Michelle Nader is eyeing stars from the hit series The White Lotus.

“A number of people have expressed interest in joining the show,” Nader mentioned. “I can’t say exactly who might fit each role, but there are certainly folks we’re keen to have,” she shared during the ABC summer event on September 5.

But that’s not all. Nader hinted at some exciting surprises built into the series, particularly when it comes to Easter eggs.

“We’ve been very deliberate with our choices because we aim to incorporate elements of modern TV, like serialization and streaming,” she elaborated. “We wanted to take our time with these relationships, almost in a romantic comedy style. So yes, viewers can expect some tangible outcomes from those Easter eggs.”

Set to premiere in January, Shift Gears revolves around Matt (Allen), who runs a car restoration shop and seeks to mend his fractured relationship with his daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings). Along the way, a few familiar guest stars, including Jenna Elfman, Brenda Song, and Nansitravis, will appear.

Elfman, who plays Allen’s love interest, had nothing but praise for her co-stars and the show itself. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Tim before, so I know he’s great. He really excels at what he does,” she remarked in February. “It’s almost as if you don’t notice it happening until, suddenly, it becomes something special.”

She further noted, “The series addresses how families, culturally and politically, can be divided across generations. It’s a sitcom, but it features talent that really knows how to act and deliver comedy.”

Travis, who previously played Allen’s wife on Last Man Standing, described her experience on set as a reunion. “Tim is incredibly loyal, so walking through that set felt familiar, seeing most of the crew from the last show,” she told Weekly. “I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the cast from that show, including Kat Dennings from Two Broke Girls, made an appearance.”

Shift Gears is set to debut on ABC on Wednesday, October 1, at 8 PM ET, with episodes available for streaming on Hulu the next day.