Toy Story 5 played into the idea that everyone’s favorite cowboy doll Woody is getting older — showcased best by his blindingly reflective bald spot — alongside not only the franchise’s fanbase, but also the iconic actor who’s voiced the role for the past 30 years. But I don’t think we can blame aging on the fact that Tom Hanks was apparently clueless that entire time about Woody having a last name.

The character, who wasn’t originally written into the fifth movie, is as beloved as Pixar and Disney characters get, but I can’t deny how easy it is to totally miss out on the lawman’s moniker amounting to more than just the five letters composing his first name. So I won’t be the first one to judge Hanks for being out of the loop, especially since his reaction to the news is so danged funny to watch, as seen below.

When presented with the new-to-him information that Woody isn’t just a single-named entertainer like Cher or Madonna, he was surprised, and offered up maybe the world’s best guess for what Woody’s surname might be.

Is "The Sheriff" a single last name in the vein of De Niro or Del Toro, or is "The" meant to be Woody's middle name there? Either way, a classic response from the acting legend.

As was this display of incredulity after learning that Woody's last name is actually "Pride." To which he responded with:

While this didn't get addressed within that interview from BBC Radio, Woody's full name was initially revealed by Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich, who stated at the time that the identifier had been a discussed and established detail since the development phases on 1995's Toy Story. So it wasn't just something tacked onto the character years later. (Toy Story 5's most emotional sequence plays into name-based reveals, so this interview clip feels pretty on-point for the sequel.)

More fun was had when the topic came up that Jessie's last name is also Pride, which has sparked plenty of internet fan theories about how closely the two characters are related. That was something that Tim Allen said he'd come across online in the past, noting that he'd seen fans talking about Woody and Jessie being brother and sister.

Turns out Tom Hanks doesn't want the two toys to be that closely linked. As he put it:

If the sibling bit is true, it wouldn’t change anything TOO much, and isn’t nearly as bothersome as it’d be to learn that Buzz and Jessie share the same bloodline. Or that Forky and Karen Beverly are related. Oh wait, that one might track...can plastic utensils be related?

Another more pertinent question: can Toy Story 5 continue its box office dominance into its second week in theaters, or will the upcoming DC movie Supergirl push it down to #2? [Cue Smarty Pants cracking up.]

Toy Story 5 has finally arrived, and it has quite a bit to offer fans. Not only will franchise devotees get to revisit with the core characters play by most of the OG voice cast, but the Taylor Swift has a new single for the sequel! There was a lot of secrecy surrounding that new track, which is called "I Knew It, I Knew You" and, per Tim Allen, the cast even found out in a unique way. What makes Allen's story about that particularly funny, though, are the humorously endearing cranky old man vibes that accompany it.

To provide some context first, though, Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton initially debunked rumors that Taylor Swift had an end credits song. Swifties were not convinced, though, especially when a “TS” billboard was exposed with a lyric caption from Swift’s “Shake It Off.” Ultimately, the film's original song was confirmed when a Toy Story-themed countdown clock appeared on Swift's official website on June 1st.

It's unclear exactly when Allen and co. learned about the Swift news for himself amid that timeline. The actor and comedian recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (as shared to Instagram), where he recalled the moment someone first attempted to tell him the Grammy winner would be involved with the 2026 movie schedule release, and it's too funny:

I love that! I mean, come on, Tim Allen, TS! The Swifties out there know who that is. I find it absolutely hilarious that the Home Improvement star didn’t catch on to the meaning of the coded initials and came back to Toy Story. But I’ve got to say, it’s a funny coincidence that the “Love Story” singer shares the same initials as the famed Pixar franchise, and that did help maintain a level of ambiguity amid the marketing.

Allen didn't specify exactly who tried to tell him and Hanks about Taylor Swift's involvement, though I'm thinking it was probably a media rep, or maybe it was marketing exec. Regardless, I'm chuckling, because Allen was seemingly thrown for a loop before realizing the truth:

Taylor Swift crafting a song for a Toy Story movie is huge, so I can understand the level of scrutiny. As so many of her songs already sound like they belong in a Toy Story movie, she's the perfect fit for the film. “I Knew It, I Knew You,” is all about reuniting with an old friend, with distance never allowing that person to ever leave their heart. The tune also ties into the film's subplot of Jessie the Cowgirl missing her first owner, Emily. Fan reactions to T. Swift’s song have also been positive.

Someone else who's been high on Swift's involvement is Tom Hanks, and he revealed to Variety at the L.A. premiere of the Disney flick that he didn’t know Taylor Swift recorded the song until hours before it dropped:

I'd say that Tom Hanks was right there with Tim Allen in regard to giving off cranky old man energy, which I love. Still, it's also great that since the two were alerted to Taylor Swift's involvement, they've expressed excitement. There were even gracious enough to sign Swift's VHS copy of the OG film at the premiere. If anything, this seems to prove that the power of Swift knows no bounds, even when it comes to seasoned celebrities who can be cranky at times.

Make sure to catch Toy Story 5 in theaters now, and feel free to check out other movies in the Disney+ subscription.

It’s hard to believe it’s been over 15 years since Toy Story 3 came out and emotionally wrecked audiences. Like so many people, I’ll never forget how the movie perfectly capped off the story of a bunch of toys and their person, Andy, as he officially leaves childhood behind and goes off to college. It was the perfect ending for the franchise, but then a fourth movie came out, and now Toy Story 5 is the latest upcoming Disney movie on the way. Is the franchise officially past calling it quits now?

I decided to ask Andrew Stanton this very question: Will Toy Story ever reach a final conclusion? He's been a creative voice behind the scenes on every Toy Story movie and is the director behind the latest, and he says the nature of toys is that they can be passed along, at least for a good while.

So, as long as audiences turn up for a new Toy Story movie and the creatives over at Pixar continue to be inspired by the property, we’re not going to have to say farewell to this franchise. For how long? As his Toy Story 5 co-writer Kenna Harris added:

Pixar made an all-time great trilogy with the first three Toy Story movies, but as Andrew Stanton has said to haters of future Toy Story sequels: “nobody’s being robbed of their trilogy” and they don’t have to watch more if they don’t want to. Since Toy Story 3, they’ve found a way to continue the storyline through their move to Bonnie's room. I'm also happy to hear this movie in particular is already booming with positive reviews (save one) from critics who are calling it “a smart examination of evolving technology and its effect on children." It's "heart" and "conviction" are also being called out in reviews.

It’s certainly not easy or common for a movie to reach five films, and it's especially surprising to do this many with such high acclaim. Yet,Toy Story keeps proving its capable because the Pixar creatives keep finding new ways to keep these iconic characters around and expand the world of toys they’ve built.

This time around, the movie finally gives Jessie the center stage to explore her origins (and has added a sweet new Taylor Swift track to go along with it). In our interview with Tom Hanks, he got candid about being hesitant about Toy Story 5 before he learned the concept behind the movie. The animated flick tackles how technology is affecting children growing up nowadays.

I’m so curious about how Pixar will go from here after this new installment. Or will this one be the last after all? Either way, I personally find it nice that it's been kicking around for thirty years and new films get to be enjoyed by other generations. I wonder if I'll feel the same way in my old age if Toy Story 24 comes out.

You can see Toy Story 5 for yourself when it hits theaters this Friday, June 19.

Whether or not you were as hesitant as Tom Hanks about another Toy Story, it’s hard to deny the excitement that a new story featuring Buzz, Woody and Jessie brings. Toy Story 5 is hitting the 2026 movie calendar more than 30 years after the original, and I honestly can’t say I’m surprised that critics are giving the newest installment a big thumbs up. There’s always one detractor, though, isn’t there? Let’s take a look at Toy Story 5 reviews and see what people like (and don’t like) about the animated flick.

The newest chapter sees the return of all of our favorite voices — Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Tony Hale, etc. — as well as some exciting new additions including Conan O’Brien, Greta Lee, Craig Robinson, Bad Bunny and Alan Cumming. The new toys are exciting, as our old friends will see competition from Bonnie’s high-tech devices. Germain Lussier of Gizmodo says Toy Story 5 exceeds expectations as a more-than-welcome addition to the franchise:

David Ehrlich of IndieWire grades the movie a B+, boldly calling it the “best Pixar sequel since 1999.” Conan O’Brien’s role voicing the Smarty Pants potty training device is “one of the funniest voice performance roles in Pixar history,” but the movie’s biggest message is one that’s going to affect every parent in the theater. Ehrlich says:

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY rates it 3 stars out of 4, saying Jessie really steps forward into the lead role of this movie, embarking on a journey of self-discovery that’s even more engaging than Woody and Buzz’s battle against the screens back home. This critic also mentions that Conan O’Brien was born to play the role of Smarty Pants, delivering both potty humor and character depth. Overall, it’s another successful outing for Disney/Pixar, Truitt says, writing:

David Rooney of THR says in his Toy Story 5 review that it’s hard to resist the movie’s captivating sweetness as it delivers a message about screentime that can always bear repeating. Rooney writes:

The family friendly film is already Certified Fresh with 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. So if you’re wondering what’s going on with that leftover 6%, I present to you Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian. His review of Toy Story 5 gives it just 2 out of 5 stars, and the issue seems to be with the redemption of some of the tech toys, as mentioned in the previous review. Bradshaw says:

If you want to form your own opinion on the Toy Story universe’s take on screens vs. physical play, you don’t have to wait long now! The upcoming Disney movie is set to hit theaters on Friday, June 19. In the meantime you can also catch up on the previous movies in the franchise, which are available to stream with a Disney+ subscription.

With Shifting Gears, Tim Allen opted in on playing a sitcom widower for the first time in his career, and that distinction has of course led to his character Matt Parker entering the dating pool for the first time in years. His most obvious chemistry has been with Jenna Elfman’s Eve, with the Season 2 finale leaving the door open for a bigger romance in Season 3. (Despite Elfman’s other series-leading role.) Their age gap has been addressed on the show, but how does Allen feel?

As it turns out, the actor is of two minds about it. On the one hand, it’s something he’s dealt with in part due to the 14-year difference between him and his wife Jane Hajduk, to whom he’s been married since 2006. But on the other hand, he gets that it’s the kind of thing that can come off as…less-than-wonderful, particularly when it comes to how he and Elfman look together. Speaking with US Weekly, he shared:

So if you show the Home Improvement vet a pic of him looking more grayed and haggard than normal, where Elfman looks fresh as a daisy, he might have souring feelings about the age gap. But when faced with pics where they're both looking spiffy, it's less of an issue.

Which, at least to me, is an almost surprisingly candid take on it. He didn't just brush the idea aside as if it wasn't a thing, knowing full well age gaps in Hollywood (both on-screen and off) are an oft-discussed topic. And he also didn't give a jokey answer that would also serve as a distraction.

Not that he avoided joking about it entirely. When addressing his scenes with Eve, the 73-year-old actor cracked that he looks "probably 68" under great light. He admitted he doesn't want the pairing to come across as "creepy," and isn't all that delighted when the characters draw attention to the age difference, even if he understands. As he put it:

It also helps that Allen's character Matt Parker is a proud father and grandfather who owns his own business, and isn't a drug-addled hermit who can braid his eyebrows together, because that might tip the scales into creepy territory when Eve is looking at her best.

The Shifting Gears creative team does seem set on keeping Matt within a certain age range with his dating life, seeing as how they brought in The Office vet Angela Kinsey,, who's the same age as Jenna Elfman, to date Matt. So long as he doesn't start wolf-whistling at any of Riley's friends, I think we're all good here.

While waiting for Shifting Gears to hit ABC’s midseason schedule after being absent from its fall lineup, both current seasons can be streamed via Disney+ subscription

The toys of the Toy Story movies may be there until the end of the line for Andy and Bonnie, but how about the voice actors behind them? Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are Woody and Buzz, but is there a future where they won’t be? Luckily, there isn’t one right now, but Hanks did get honest about asking “why” they should do Toy Story 5.

When CinemaBlend’s own Jeff McCobb sat down with the stars of Toy Story who’ve been voicing these characters since the original movie 30 years ago, Hanks commented on his initial reaction to reprising the role of Woody for the fifth movie. Check out the exchange (also in the video clip above):

Tom Hanks: “In all honesty, when they say, ‘Would you like to do another Toy Story?’ My question was, ‘Well, why? What are you going to talk about?’ And Andrew [Stanton] had the thing of, ‘Well, we're sort of going to take on tech because Bonnie now has a device.’ ‘Got it!’”

Tim Allen: “And really low key. You go wow!”

Tom Hanks: “All the writers and producers are, you know, preoccupied with other stuff that's going on. They just kind of give us the bare bones.”

Very few franchises get to the fifth film and retain the quality of the original movie. And sometimes, it even leads to cast members who started with the leading characters being swapped out because it’s no longer what it used to be. When Hanks was first approached for Toy Story 5, it sounds like he wasn’t totally sure about another one, but then he was quickly grabbed by the concept.

Toy Story 5 follows the toys, previously of Andy’s room, as they navigate Bonnie getting a tablet named Lilypad. When the tech device starts to demand all her attention, the toys start to freak out about an impending doom where they are stored away in a box collecting dust in the garage, and Jessie tries to fix things. You can check out the latest Toy Story 5 trailer below:

The latest of the upcoming Disney movies tackles a timely concept of how screen time is not only affecting young children these days, but everyone. It totally makes sense why Tom Hanks and Tim Allen would instantly be drawn in to return to their iconic characters thanks to some ingenuity by the Pixar filmmakers. They've also clearly built years of trust after all the great Toy Story movies.

In addition to Toy Story 5 tackling technology, it also gives Jessie a central plotline she never got to have before. In a previous interview with the Toy Story 5 filmmakers, director Andrew Stanton told us that the first draft for the sequel didn’t include Woody at all. However, he missed the cowboy in the mix, and he felt like it would make sense for Jessie to ask for help from the toy even if he’s enjoying a retirement elsewhere with Bo.

Toy Story 5 had its world premiere last week, and first reactions to the fifth Toy Story are calling it a “genuine home run”, “deeply profound” and “top tier.” You can see it yourself in theaters starting this Friday, June 19.

There are some celebrity fun facts you expect to hear on a red carpet. Someone kept a costume piece. Someone has a framed poster. Someone’s kid stole a prop from set. What I did not have on my Toy Story 5 bingo card, as the film approaches its release amid the 2026 movie schedule, was Tim Allen apparently owning a profane Buzz Lightyear toy that his wife would very much like to keep hidden away.

Just recently, Entertainment Tonight posted a video from the Toy Story 5 red carpet, where Allen and his wife, Jane Hajduk, were asked whether they had any Toy Story memorabilia around the house that her husband may have taken from set. The answer, it turns out, is yes and no. It's not an item from a set, and it's not exactly the kind of wholesome Pixar keepsake you’d expect from the voice of Buzz Lightyear. In the video below, you can hear Hajduk describe a very NSFW item the long-time Disney collaborator has under lock and key:

When the interviewer brought up memorabilia, Hajduk immediately made it clear that one Buzz item in particular stands out. She said:

The Santa Clause franchise star quickly tried to jump in with, “I didn’t…” but Hajduk kept going. She explained that the toy was not sold to the public, and it definitely is not something you’ll see in the Toy Story 5 trailer. Apparently, one of fans’ favorite characters gets a bit naughty, or, as she put it, “Buzz can get a little” inappropriate. The whole exchange had the unmistakable rhythm of a spouse revealing the exact home detail the other spouse was hoping would stay between them.

Allen then clarified the backstory, saying there are actually only two of these not-so-family-friendly Buzz Lightyear figures in existence. According to him, former Disney CEO Michael Eisner has one, and the Galaxy Quest actor made it for Eisner as a birthday joke. The actor explained:

Hajduk’s response was maybe the best part: “And this man loves it.” Of course he does. This is Tim Allen, a comedian whose family-friendly image has always co-existed with a much more adult stand-up sensibility. The man has voiced Buzz Lightyear since the original Toy Story in 1995, but he also made his name at comedy clubs before becoming the star of one of the '90s' biggest sitcoms. The idea of an off-brand, locked-away, cursing Buzz toy living somewhere in the couple's household is both shocking and completely believable.

The Home Improvement veteran seemed to know how weird it sounded, too. He said he loves the toy but keeps it locked up so no one else can hear it, adding that it is “really weird.” Hajduk then shut the whole thing down with a perfect final ruling:

That is probably for the best. Toy Story is still one of Disney and Pixar’s most beloved family franchises, and Buzz Lightyear yelling profanity around the house is not exactly the kind of tie-in merch you’ll find at Target next to the talking Woody dolls. Still, the story is a hilarious reminder that some of the funniest franchise memorabilia is the stuff fans will never get to buy.

The NSFW Buzz story also lands at a funny time because Toy Story 5 is already introducing some delightfully strange new characters. As Conan O’Brien’s Toy Story 5 role goes from a pair of pants to something even weirder, the former late-night host voices Smarty Pants, a potty-training toy that eventually became a toilet paper roll.

Allen, meanwhile, is back on the big screen as Buzz alongside the returning Toy Story crew, with the sequel hitting theaters June 19. The movie is expected to continue the franchise’s mix of childhood nostalgia and existential toy dread. And while I’ll admit I have been anti-Toy Story sequels since Toy Story 3’s perfectly emotional ending, it sounds like Toy Story 5 is bringing the goods. The story focuses more on Jessie and her emotional backstory and, based on early reactions, the movie sounds well worth a trip to the cinema.

But when it comes to Buzz Lightyear memorabilia, Allen’s might go to profanity and beyond. It is absolutely not safe for work or for children.

While Tim Allen fans will be able to hear the comedian’s (definitely not “old”) voice loud and clear as Buzz Lightyear in the long-awaited Toy Story 5, we’ll be waiting a bit longer to see him return to the small screen for Shifting Gears Season 3. The sitcom was absent from ABC’s Fall TV lineup, and won’t be returning for the 2026 TV schedule at all, as it’s being held as a midseason premiere alongside High Potential. Thankfully, Allen dropped a few update-related breadcrumbs.

Allen spoke with US Weekly about several of his most iconic projects and characters, with the bulk of the conversation geared towards Pixar’s next mega-sequel. But the conversation did gets steered towards Shifting Gears, which will officially kick off the third season’s production in July, with Allen suggesting he wants the show to follow in the footsteps of another sitcom he enjoys. But first, he teased a possible romantic dilemma coming Matt’s way involving Jenna Elfman’s Eve after his shocking decision to join her European trip in the Season 2 finale. As he put it:

We still have yet to see Matt and Eve back on U.S. soil, and he’s talking about possibly moving in with her?!? I guess Tim Allen mentioning it is different from “Matt” talking about it, but it still seems like good intel. I’m having the same aghast reaction thinking about Eve moving in with Matt’s fam in Season 3. I mean, wasn’t Matt literally on a date with another woman in the finale when he and Eve crossed paths again?

Interestingly enough, Jenna Elfman landed a lead role in another new TV show, Fox’s The Interrogator, but she’s since said that she’ll be able to “go play” with the Shifting Gears cast and crew without worries about conflicting. That obviously doesn't mean they definitely getting together for the long haul in the nearest future, especially if Allen's desire for them to take things slowly is taken into account.

How Tim Allen Wants Shifting Gears To Take Note From The A+ Sitcom Kim's Convenience

Stemming from his thoughts about living situations possibly changing in Season 3, Tim Allen namechecked the beloved Canadian comedy Kim's Convenience, which helped turn Simu Liu into a bigger star, when sharing how he'd like the Parkers' dynamic to change up. As he put it:

It's an interesting comparison to make, all things considered, but both shows are about working blue-collar characters, so it matches up well enough.

In Kim's Convenience, the Kim family's apartment is just above the titular shop, making for quite convenient location changes, while Janet eventually moves into her own, with Jung living with his bestie Kimchee in another apartment.

With Matt's long-gone son Sam (played by Luke Macfarlane) returning near the end of Season 3, it's certainly possible that Matt's house will be a little too full for comfort. But if Riley is able to put money together for her and the kids to move out, or if Matt moves in with Eve and gives his kids the family home, that could ease some of the pressure.

Here's hoping Shifting Gears Season 3 goes the whole nine yards by not only taking inspiration from Kim's Convenience for the characters' living quarters, but by actually bringing in stars Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Jean Yoon for cameos.

Stay tuned for more Season 3 details, and stream the first two seasons of Shifting Gears via Disney+ subscription.

Tim Allen revealed he had an uncomfortable conversation with Toy Story 5's crew when they began sessions and came to understand that Buzz sounded "a little old." The actor confessed he feared he was going to lose out on the role he's voiced for decades. However, the staff found a way to help him get his classic voice back again.

As we wait for the Pixar movie's release on the 2026 movie schedule, Tim Allen spoke to Deadline about how he found out his voice sounded a little weathered, and how troubling the situation got once he was made aware of it:

Toy Story 5 originally didn't feature Woody, but now it seems as though it'll address the toy's "age" with a few jokes. As for Buzz, he still looks pretty good for a '90s toy, but again, he was manufactured way later than Woody. In that sense, it makes sense that Buzz would still have a young voice, especially if Tom Hanks didn't sound older when bringing back his character.

Being older presumably hasn't come back to bite Tim Allen thus far. His series Shifting Gears, which was recently renewed for Season 3, even leans into it. He didn't want to sound old for Toy Story 5; however, fortunately, the crew brought in an expert to get his voice back in shape:

At first, I didn't see this as a big deal. Personally, I think Toy Story 5 is being made for the generations that grew up with the franchise, many of whom are well aware that the voice actors are getting older. I think that's evident enough in the slightly darker tone being pitched for the movie, with the understanding that some of these viewers are bringing their kids with them.

On the other side of the coin, I think back to when I caught up with more recent seasons of The Simpsons with my Disney+ subscription. As someone who grew up watching these characters, it's impossible to ignore how distinctly different they sound decades down the road. Given that, I can understand why Tim Allen feared he'd be replaced and they'd find a soundalike to take over for Buzz.

It's ironic that Allen feared being replaced, given that Toy Story 5's plot is centered around a new tablet that may replace them as Bonnie's primary source of entertainment. Worried, the toys radio in Woody, which was a surprise considering many thought he was gone after the previous movie. I'm eager to see how the rest of this story plays out and what big message we're meant to take away at the end of it.

Toy Story 5 is in theaters on June 19th, and I'm thrilled to take my child to see it. I'm also thrilled that Tim Allen was able to get his voice to where he wanted it for this.

Tim Allen has spent decades voicing Buzz Lightyear, which means he knows a thing or two about making a character sound right. But apparently, some of the stranger actorly warm-up rituals he picked up came from a very different project, one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time. In a new interview, Allen hilariously recalls working with the late great Alan Rickman on Galaxy Quest and the voice warm-up lessons he learned from his fellow Quest cast members.

While Allen and Tom Hanks were discussing their voice prep for Woody and Buzz during a promotional appearance for the upcoming Toy Story 5, the Shifting Gears star brought up the odd vocal exercises he witnessed while making Galaxy Quest with Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Sam Rockwell and Tony Shalhoub. In a hilarious clip from the EW interview showing the longtime Pixar duo promoting the upcoming sequel on the 2026 movie calendar, Allen breaks down his approach as:

Allen added that he still did not fully know what the exercise was supposed to accomplish, but the image of Signorney Weaver doing it clearly stuck with him. He continued:

That sounds exactly like the kind of backstage detail that makes Galaxy Quest even more lovable. For anyone who somehow missed it, the flick is a sci-fi comedy about Star Trek-style actors who get mistaken for the real heroes they once played on TV and are pulled into an actual alien war. Knowing Allen was standing around between takes, watching Rickman, Weaver and the rest of the cast fire off tongue-twisting vocal drills only adds another layer of theater-kid chaos to the whole thing.

Galaxy Quest starred Allen as Jason Nesmith, the self-satisfied former lead of a canceled sci-fi series whose cast gets dragged into a real intergalactic conflict. Rickman played Alexander Dane, a classically trained actor permanently irritated by his prosthetic-headed alien role and his inescapable catchphrase. The 1999 film has since become a cult favorite, especially among Star Trek fans who recognize it as both one of the best ‘90s sci-fi movies and a testament to the affection underneath it. Some fans even consider it unofficially one of the best Star Trek movies.

The funny thing about Allen’s story is that it fits Rickman’s Galaxy Quest character almost too well. Alexander Dane is exactly the kind of actor who would have strong opinions about vocal technique, breath work and not shredding one’s instrument while surrounded by rubber aliens and spaceship sets. Rickman, of course, brought real stage gravity to the part, which is why Dane’s exasperation was so funny. He played the absurdity straight enough that the joke had bones.

Allen sounds both amused and genuinely bewildered by the full-body seriousness of the warm-ups that took place around him. That contrast is pretty much Galaxy Quest in miniature. The movie is about one actor wondering what in the world everyone is doing while the movie around him somehow turns the nonsense into gold. Is the movie meta on more than one level? Absolutely.

Now, these days, Tim Allen is back in the voice recording booth beside Tom Hanks for Toy Story 5. The old Galaxy Quest memory serves as a great reminder of the many different kinds of performance he has had to navigate. Sometimes being Buzz Lightyear means protecting the voice with tea and bubble-blowing. Sometimes being a fake space captain means trying not to laugh while Alan Rickman and co. say “yellow bus” like the fate of the galaxy depends on it.

Toy Story 5 hits theaters June 19, 2026. Check your local listings for showtimes and tickets.

After months of worrying about Shifting Gears’s fate on ABC, the network renewed the Tim Allen-starring comedy for Season 3 in April, and without any major casting changes being noted. But then along came Fox’s new drama The Interrogator, with Jenna Elfman taking a co-lead role opposite UK great Stephen Fry. So does that mean Elfman’s Eve won’t be reconnecting with Allen’s Matt in upcoming episodes?

At least for now, it sounds like any worries about Elfman’s potential exit from Shifting Gears are unnecessary. Speaking with US Weekly at Fox’s Upfronts presentation, the Fear the Walking Dead vet confirmed her return to the sitcom for Season 3, simply saying:

It's not exactly a contract signed in blood, but it's something! And actually, this update makes a lot of sense after seeing that ABC's Fall TV lineup didn't have a spot dedicated for Shifting Gears. It'll be returning after all the 2026 TV premieres have concluded, and will be joining High Potential as a 2027 midseason entry. It's disappointing for anyone with predictions for how Riley's romantic foible turns out, but good to know that the delay will seemingly make it easier to bring Elfman back.

The Interrogator is one of Fox's fall debuts, and assuming it doesn't have a 23-episode order already locked down, there's a chance its debut season could be done with its production at a point where Shifting Gears is ramping up filming for Season 3. I don't think anyone expects Eve to appear in every episode, since she's still not a series regular, so even if The Interrogator is still producing new episodes going into the new year, she'll likely be able to reprise Eve in sporadic bursts.

What's more, Elfman already has ideas about getting Tim Allen onto her new show, saying:

I might not ever expect that to happen, though. Allen is not the kind of actor who frequently pops up on other TV shows just for the sake of it, so it may need to be a very special role. Though he might love Stephen Fry enough to do it even without all that.

What Fans Can Expect To See From Jenna Elfman's The Interrogator

The new series was created by Matador and MTV's Scream writers Dan Dworkin and Jay Beattie, and has been described as such:

• Set in Washington, D.C., The Interrogator centers on former MI6 agent Conrad Henry (Stephen Fry) and his handpicked team of brilliant outsiders. When conventional methods have failed, Henry’s quirky charm, superior intellect and mind-bending behavioral maneuvers make him the only man able to lockpick the minds of the world’s most dangerous criminals. Lisa Ann Woodrow (Jenna Elfman) oversees Henry’s cases. Once a rising star within the CIA, her career was derailed after a mission went wrong, leading her to the D.I.A., where she now serves as handler for Henry’s team. Though she challenges him and the two often clash, Conrad is always seven steps ahead while Woodrow is rarely more than five steps ahead.

If Conrad is seven steps ahead of everyone else, I'm afraid Matt Parker would be two or three car lengths behind him if Tim Allen made a cameo. And I can't even do the math on what that actually means. (Not that Allen would be playing Matt in this show, but shhh.)

Here's hoping this new show is a solid gig for Elfman, giving audiences a chance to see her across both Fall and Winter TV without interruption.

Shifting Gears is officially returning to the 2026 TV schedule with Season 3. Amidst cancellation fears for Tim Allen and Kat Dennings' ABC sitcom, it's officially been announced that the comedy will return for more adventures with the Parker family, and Kat Dennings' quick response has me all sorts of revved up for the road ahead.

Dennings reacted not long after the news broke, sharing a quick message on Instagram with followers that was short, sweet, and to the point. Really, it's all she needed to say, as we've waited months to hear these three words from the actress:

Riley has a big storyline set up for Shifting Gears Season 3, after Season 2 ended with both Gabe and her ex-boyfriend Andy professing their love for her. Now, she's caught in the midst of a love triangle, just one season after she successfully celebrated her divorce.

As for Tim Allen's Matt, he was last seen on a spontaneous trip abroad with Eve. They're back together after that big breakup, which put Matt back out on the dating scene for a brief period. As fun as it was to see guest stars from other sitcoms make an appearance as his girlfriend, I'm glad Shifting Gears brought Eve back into the picture.

I'm expecting Shifting Gears Season 3 to be a much more impactful season for Seann William Scott's Gabe, now that he's finally made it known he has feelings for Riley. It's going to be super awkward at the shop now if Matt finds out, especially if Riley ends up rejecting him and going back to date Andy.

I'm of the mind that Gabe and Riley will ultimately end up together, but Shifting Gears has made the situation a whole "will they, won't they" storyline that almost makes it feel too soon for it to happen. But maybe after two seasons sitting on the cancellation bubble, the writers will feel compelled to pull the trigger, sensing that now is their chance to act.

Shifting Gears is back on ABC's fall schedule with Season 3. I can't wait to see what Matt, Riley, and the kids have going on this season, and I hope all the drama at the end of Season 2 works out well.

As we look forward to Toy Story 5's premiere on the 2026 movie schedule, it’s wild to think about how long the Pixar franchise has been going on. And, when Tom Hanks and Tim Allen turned up together at Las Vegas’ CinemaCon on Thursday to talk about the latest animated sequel, they hilariously pointed out how long they’ve been making these movies with a funny little interaction.

The first Toy Story movie came out back in November 1995, making these movies freshly 30 years old as of a few months ago. Hanks brought this up during the recent appearance with Allen, leading to this exchange:

• Tim Allen: "I don't think we look any different. We looked at video of us doing it, and we looked like our grandchildren in the video."
• Tom Hanks: "I thought, did I make the first one when I was in junior high school?"
• Tim Allen: "Horrible."
• Tom Hanks: "We have both had this experience where we've been somewhere in public, and an adult with a little kid has said, 'Oh my gosh, it's Buzz Lightyear! It's Buzz Lightyear! It's Buzz Lightyear! Honey, this is Buzz Lightyear!' And the kid looks up and sees that."

These two probably had no idea that they’d be playing Woody and Buzz Lightyear well into their sixties and seventies (Hanks is 69, and Allen is 72), but they are, and remain beloved for their roles, of course. The actors joked around about looking like their “grandchildren” and like middle school kids when they first made Toy Story three decades earlier, by comparison to today.

Hanks threw the best shade, though, when he told an anecdote about what happens when parents point out to their kids that the actors are Woody and Buzz. He said they are met with a couple of grey-haired guys. Pixar itself kind of has its own wink at how old Woody is getting with the cowboy having a bald spot in one gag in the movie. You can check out the latest Toy Story 5 trailer here:

From what we know about Toy Story 5, this time around, the toys in Bonnie’s room (previously of Andy’s room) will have to fight for attention from a tablet that comes into the kid’s life called Lilypad. All our original favorites are back, including Jessie, Hamm, Rex, Slinky Dog, Mr & Mrs. Potato Head, along with a couple of favorites from Toy Story 4: Forky and Duke Caboom. The movie is helmed by Andrew Stanton, who has been involved in all the previous Toy Story movies. We can look forward to Toy Story 5 hitting theaters on June 19.

Doing the Toy Story movies together has made Tom Hanks and Tim Allen good friends since first starring in the roles back in the '90s. The pair apparently meet for lunch a few times a year to keep things going, and this fun exchange between them definitely is evidence of their fun-loving relationship.

If you’re like me and grew up in the 1990s, then there’s a good chance that Toy Story was played at least once in your household, if not many, many times. Pixar’s first feature-length film opened to critical acclaim in 1995 and spawned a franchise that’s still going strong 31 years later. Ahead of Toy Story 5’s release on the 2026 movies schedule, even Tim Allen, the voice of Buzz Lightyear, is astounded by how the Toy Story property is still so popular after all this time.

The star of ABC’s Shifting Gears voiced this thought directly on X. With the Toy Story 5 press tour having kicked off ahead of its arrival in June, Allen shared this moment he recently had with his co-star Tom Hanks, the voice of Woody:

Same, man. While I know Toy Story wasn’t the first movie I ever saw in a theater (I’m pretty sure that was The Lion King in 1994), it’s definitely one of the earliest ones I saw. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t familiar with Woody, Buzz, Hamm, Mr. Potato Head, Slinky Dog, Rex, Bo Peep and the rest of the gang of playthings that originally lived at Andy’s house. The fact that it’s still so pop culturally relevant after all this time amidst so many shakeups in the film industry is astounding!

While Toy Story could have easily been a one-and-done movie, Disney and Pixar officially announced Toy Story 2 in March 1997. It was originally intended to be direct-to-video, but the Mouse House upgraded the sequel to a theatrical release upon being impressed by the story reels. There’s actually a world where we never got to see Toy Story 2, as it was accidentally deleted from Pixar’s internal servers by one of the animators, and was only saved because technical director Galyn Susman had a backup copy on her home computer. So Toy Story 2 came out in 1999, and its own positive critical reception cemented the public’s interest in following along with these toys across multiple adventures.

Toy Story 3 followed in 2010, then Toy Story 4 in 2019. The franchise also encompasses the Lightyear spinoff, the Buzz Lightyear of Star Command TV series, numerous animated shorts, video games, comic books, theme park attractions, the list goes on. As far as the movies go, Tim Allen and Tom Hanks have stuck with Woody and Buzz for this entire time, which is a testament to how much they care about their characters. I never thought as a kid I’d still be thinking about Toy Story as regularly as I am 30+ years later, but I’m definitely not mad about it!

Toy Story 5 will see eight-year-old Bonnie, who Andy gave his toys to at the end of Toy Story 3, becoming obsessed with a frog-themed tablet named Lilypad. This throws Buzz and the gang for a loop and paves the way for a reunion with Woody, who left with Bo Peep to help abandoned toys at the end of Toy Story 4. Catch the fifth movie in theaters starting on June 19.

Some spoilers about relationships on Shifting Gears can be found in this article, so if you haven’t caught the episode yet, don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Shifting Gears ended its second season this week with a slew of unexpected cliffhangers. Kat Dennings’ Riley ended up in a love triangle with Jesse Williams and Seann William Scott’s characters. Tim Allen’s Matt Parker literally left the country with Jenna Elfman’s Eve in an unexpected and definitely surprising twist of events. It was a real, “if that plane leaves the ground and you’re not with him, you’ll regret it” sort of moment.

Last season, rumors abounded that Shifting Gears was on the bubble, and this season the chatter surrounding the half-hour comedy has been equivalent. The show does pretty well on linear television, and it and Abbott Elementary both tend to explode on Hulu after the initial airing, as well. Though it is germane to point out that Abbott’s premiere this season saw an explosive increase of 134% in additional Hulu viewers, while Shifting was only up 73%.

Because of this, some online flak toward the Tim Allen show has persisted, but I do think there is some reason to have hope for Season 3.

Will Shifting Gears Get Renewed For Season 3?

ABC tends to make renewal decisions for most shows in the spring, though early renewals have come down the pipeline in recent years. Specifically, as a fan of the show, I am hoping for a renewal, but outside of my generally wanting to thing positive things about what’s next, there is some evidence that leans toward potential renewal.

• The first reason? The ratings on television are actually pretty good. In Season 2, it has averaged a consistent 3.5-4.5 million viewers on a weekly basis, and also ranks among the highest telecasts airing on TV on Wednesday nights – even doing better than programming like Survivor and Abbott Elementary. And it does add on quite a bit when it comes to Hulu.
• The second reason? ABC let the show end on two gigantic cliffhangers. This could be a go hard or go home play, or it could mean the showrunners are confident there will be more to come.
• A third intriguing note? The showrunner has spoken out about being excited about what's next. More below on that.

Showrunner Michelle Nader hasn’t spoken about the possibility of a renewal or not, but she did say the cliffhanger ending with Andy and Gabriel was not originally in the cards. However, the writing team got really excited about the possibilities with the characters because of how great Grey’s Anatomy alum Jesse Williams has been. (although CinemaBlend's own Mick Joest has a hot take about this.) Additionally, she told The Wrap she firmly feels the sitcom is going in a good direction and is what the audience wants right now.

Here’s looking at you, Michelle Nader.

Honestly, if we’re getting into the nitty gritty of the finale, and what’s potentially next, the most surprising thing about the finale was not where the two leads ended up in their romantic lives, but how. Gabriel and Riley have been teasing a will-they, won’t-they thing for two seasons, and I’m not sure we needed the extra scene with the love triangle between Gabriel, Andy and Riley tacked onto the end. (Though clarifying the show loves having Jesse Williams makes so much sense, now.) Per Matt and Eve, I long suspected Elfman would be back, but the idea that both Matt and Eve appeared at the same gin joint in the same town (in this case the hilariously large Los Angeles) on the same night was not how I expected that to play out.

So, I do think the finale had a little room for improvement, but I overall really, really enjoy Tim Allen and Kat Dennings’ verbal sparring. I enjoy that Tim Allen has committed to sticking with a live studio audience. I love pretty much all the characters, and I don’t think the series has reached its creative zenith yet. Honestly, it’s not even close.

So, please, won’t you play it [again], ABC?

Tim Allen is known for a lot of things, such as his impressive comedic timing, iconic roles in The Santa Clause, Toy Story, Home Improvement, and Last Man Standing. As well as his current sitcom, Shifting Gears, which is airing on the 2026 TV schedule. There is another thing that he’s known for, though, and that is his viral grunt sound from Home Improvement. And now that’s finally being explained.

Throughout all 200+ episodes of Home Improvement, Allen’s Tim Taylor grunts quite a lot for various reasons. And because of the randomness of the grunt, it’s gone viral. So much so that a TikTok user last year revealed she asked her Hinge matches to send her their best impressions of it. But why exactly did Allen do the grunt in Home Improvement? During an appearance at The Laugh Factory in Hollywood, Allen explained how he was doing a show, and some men in the crowd who were eating dinner were doing nothing but grunting. He couldn’t even get their attention, so he started doing that as well, “and a career was built.”

Considering Home Improvement is based on Allen’s own stand-up material, it’s not so surprising to hear how the grunt made the cut. A lot of stand-up comedians get their jokes through crowd work; Allen’s crowd work just so happened to go viral in the form of his TV show. It’s hard to imagine the series without Tim Taylor’s iconic tic, so the fact that he got it because of audience members savoring scotch and sirloin is really funny.

Anyone who has eaten something delicious probably has grunted one or two times, or very nearly grunted. So perhaps the next time you eat while at a comedy show, it may be best to keep any opinions, especially noisy ones, to yourself, or you may find it in one of Allen’s next projects.

Meanwhile, Allen may have not brought Tim Taylor’s grunt to Shifting Gears, but he did bring something else from Home Improvement. At the start of the second season, there was a big reunion featuring Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn, and Debbe Dunning, and they brought the laughs. Whether or not they will be returning or who else from Home Improvement is going to show up is unknown, but you never know what could happen.

For those wanting to reacquaint themselves with the infamous Tim Taylor grunt, all seasons of Home Improvement are streaming with a Hulu subscription as well as a Disney+ subscription. The viral grunt will probably never go away, so it’s only a matter of time before it finds its way back in another Allen project and is used on a pretty frequent basis. But at least there’s streaming, so it’s like it never left.

Tim Allen has had three successful sitcoms, with Shifting Gears airing on the 2026 TV schedule, and starred in the fan-favorite holiday trilogy The Santa Clause. However, one of his most successful roles has to be Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story franchise. Not surprisingly, there is one sweet Toy Story favor he will do for his former TV co-stars, including Last Man Standing’s Kaitlyn Dever.

Toy Story is still such a big deal that a fifth Toy Story is on the 2026 movie schedule. As the franchise remains a massive hit, Allen is making sure to spread the Buzz Lightyear love while keeping in touch with his former TV co-stars. The actor admitted to Us Weekly that he’s made his on-screen TV kids' kids happy by doing something very sweet related to Toy Story:

Between Home Improvement, Last Man Standing, and Shifting Gears, Allen is certainly keeping himself busy when it comes to the family reunions. The fact that he’s so willing to do the Buzz voice for the kids of his former TV kids, basically his fake grandchildren, is pretty great. Of course, it can be assumed that Allen has done the Buzz voice for a lot of people over the years and a lot of fans, but it’s just sweet that his former co-stars are on the list.

That being said, the Buzz voice is not all that Allen has given to his co-stars. Having been in the business for decades, the actor has quite a lot of wisdom to impart on the people he works with, especially the kids, who don’t have the experience he does. Allen has stepped into a mentor role, and he noted that while reflecting on working with Dever on Last Man Standing. He said:

Considering Dever recently surprised Allen on the Shifting Gears set, it’s not surprising to know that they were mentor and mentee during the Last Man Standing days. It just shows how close Allen was to her and a lot of his former TV co-stars, and it can be assumed that once Shifting Gears ends, hopefully in the very distant future, that closeness will continue.

If one thing is clear, it’s that Allen will never let go of the Buzz Lightyear voice for his co-stars, and he'll continue to serve as a mentor to them and give them advice. It’s also clear that Allen is still close to a lot of his former co-stars, as evidenced by the Home Improvement reunion at the beginning of Shifting Gears Season 2, and hopefully, there will be many more on the way.

Now, if you want to hear Tim Allen do the Buzz Lightyear voice, you can catch Toy Story 5 in theaters on June 16. To see him working alongside his sitcom co-stars, new episodes of Shifting Gears air on Wednesdays on ABC at 8 p.m. ET. You can also stream both the Toy Story movies and the aforementioned sitcom with a Hulu and Disney+ subscription.

TIm Allen has been a TV dad for so long that all of his Home Improvement “kids” are older than his current Shifting Gears offspring, as played by Kat Dennings. (I admittedly didn’t do the math for his Santa Clause rugrats.) With age comes wisdom, as it often goes, and Allen acknowledged that, while he had a great relationship with his trio of TV sons, he was able to serve as a better father-figure mentor to his Last Man Standing co-star Kaitlyn Dever.

With the already wrapped Shifting Gears Season 2 currently airing amidst the 2026 TV schedule, Allen talked with US Weekly about how his on-set presence behind the scenes has evolved over the years from project to project. He addressed his closeness with Dever, who actually stopped by the set of his latest sitcom in 2025, saying that their shared sense of humor was a stepping stone to taking a more active mentoring role. As he put it:

As a parent, one of the most rewarding feelings can be when a child utilizes past advice and wisdom without having made it obvious that they took it to heart. Dever obviously isn’t his real daughter — despite him amusingly referring to his TV co-stars as his wife and daughters — but that just makes it all the more meaningful that she made mental notes of his guidance. Kids are supposed to listen to parents, but not everybody gives their co-workers’ thoughts validation.

Allen talked about the difficulties that came when she exited the cast, as he did truly miss her like one would a close relation. Which just made her infrequent returns as Eve Baxter all the more celebrated on the set.

In contrast, Home Improvement turned Allen from a stand-up comedian popular on the talk show circuit into a household TV superstar. Understandably, it wasn't the most natural behavior to take any kind of a parental role at the time. As he put it:

Certainly worthy of noting is that Last Man Standing debuted in 2011, a whopping 22 years after Home Improvement took over the ratings with the Taylor family. Looking back to that point in his life and career, Allen wasn’t yet in the right headspace to bring any mentoring energy to the young cast.

Thankfully, it's not like it was either his or Patricia Richardson's responsibilities to raise Zachary Ty Bryan, Jonathan Taylor Thomas or Taran Noah Smith into upstanding citizens. Allen gave props to their real-life guardians in that respect, saying:

Allen has indeed stayed close with Jonathan Taylor Thomas over the years, even as the former teen heartthrob shifted into directorial duties (on top of the occasional Last Man Standing cameo). He’s also interested in having him show up on Shifting Gears, but we’ll have to see if that happens. But what would be cooler than having Thomas and Kaitlyn Dever guest-starring in the same episode? Probably nothing.

Shifting Gears airs Wednesday nights on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET, with episodes streaming the next day via Hulu subscription.

Tim Allen’s TV comeback is continuing with the second season of Shifting Gears, which returns in January on the 2026 TV schedule. While the show is in the midst of its winter hiatus, the leading man wrapped filming on Season 2 of the ABC sitcom, and he explained why he feels blessed.

Why Tim Allen Is Feeling Blessed

Just before the holidays, Allen took to X to post a photo of him standing beside a Shifting Gears poster, revealing that he has officially wrapped filming on Season 2. In a short but sweet message, the Home Improvement star also shared just how grateful he is for his colleagues, the fans, and getting to do a live show:

Many sitcom actors have raved about performing in front of a live audience, with the format allowing them to see in real time if a joke lands or not. Not only that, but the fans have been keeping Shifting Gears on air by tuning in, and with Christmas right around the corner, it seems like Allen is really reflecting on the success. But will the fans' support enough for a third season?

What Does This Mean For Season 3?

While Season 2 has wrapped filming, Season 3 has not yet been announced, and it’s unknown if or when that announcement will be coming. Home Improvement and Last Man Standing are proof of Allen's success when it comes to television sitcoms, but Shifting Gears is still in its early days. Before getting renewed for Season 2 earlier this year, it seemed like the show would get canceled due to a decline in viewership following the premiere, which brought in a same-day audience of 6.1 million viewers.

By the Season 1 finale, viewership had gone down by nearly half, bringing in just 3.8 million viewers. Luckily, the show ended up getting renewed, but it might be too early to predict if Season 3 will happen. According to Variety, the series overall in 2025 reached more 10 million total viewers in Live+35 totals (including linear and streaming), per Nielsen. The series also has a 2.16 rating on linear and streaming for adults 18-49 in the same Live+35 data.

It might be a little too early for ABC to make a decision, but there are only a handful of episodes left in Season 2, so time is running out. The fall finale on December 10 was the eighth out of thirteen total episodes for the 2025-2026 TV season. For now, fans can rest assured that Tim Allen treasures his experience on the sitcom so far, and just hope that he'll return for a third round opposite Kat Dennings. You can also stream all episodes of Shifting Gears with a Hulu subscription.

Shifting Gears is officially on hiatus and will be back in January on the 2026 TV schedule, and there is already much to look forward to. Following the season premiere's Home Improvement reunion, the series is adding yet another awesome guest star for the back half of the season. However, I’m a bit suspicious about what this could mean for Matt's love life.

TVLine reports that The Office star Angela Kinsey is joining Shifting Gears as a guest star for Season 2. She is playing Lynn, a woman Tim Allen’s Matt meets on the “traditional values dating app” TradSwipe. The two “immediately hit it off and have a lot in common, but it’s clear that something is amiss,” according to the outlet.

It’s currently unknown what is “amiss” about Lynn, but it’s entirely possible that Matt is just wanting to get back out there after Eve. Shifting Gears' fall finale saw Matt professing his love to Eve, played by sitcom alum Jenna Elfman. Unfortunately, Eve revealed that she had accepted a job overseas to choreograph a K-pop group's tour. While it sounds exciting, the job will take her to South Korea and Europe for at least five months. Knowing how hard it would be to keep up a long-distance relationship for an indeterminate amount of time, Matt broke things off despite their love for each other.

This means that Matt will likely be feeling a lot of heartache when the show returns, even if he seems to be ready to move on. Or at least, to try to move on. So much so that he could be missing some pretty big signs that something is not right with his date. It’s possible Lynn could have some insane background, or her intentions for being on the dating app might be for some crazy reason that she doesn’t want to reveal right away until she’s sure that Matt is "the one." The possibilities are endless.

At the very least, whatever is amiss with Lynn, Angela Kinsey will certainly be able to do it justice. She is best known for her role as Angela Martin on NBC’s The Office for all nine seasons, and she had some pretty great moments with Rainn Wilson’s Dwight. It can be expected that she will bring all the funny and possibly all the crazy to her role as Lynn, and I cannot wait to see how it all goes down, regardless of how suspicious I am of her.

There are only five episodes left for Season 2, which comes back to ABC on Wednesday, January 7, meaning there will be a lot to cram in just a few episodes. As of now, it’s unknown when exactly fans will first meet Lynn, but there will be much to look forward to when Shifting Gears returns. For now, all episodes are streaming with a Hulu subscription.

In November 1994, Tim Allen, one of the biggest names on the small screen, kick-started his impressive movie career with his portrayal of Scott Calvin in The Santa Clause. The box office hit, which instantly became one of the best Christmas movies of all time, went on to launch a massive franchise and led to the Home Improvement star becoming an even bigger force in show business. But, that wasn’t always the plan.

As someone who saw it in a theater (RIP, Saint Vincent 6 Theatres) and has long been obsessed with the movie, I was shocked when I learned that Allen wasn’t the first or second choice to lead the beloved holiday classic. After learning some of the names who were approached before the eventual Toy Story staple, I have to wonder, what would this movie be like if these household names took on the role?

Bill Murray Turned It Down, But What Would That Even Be Like?

First up, there’s Bill Murray, who had previously starred in the all-time great ‘80s movie, Scrooged. On the surface, he would have been perfect for the prickly and self-centered Scott Calvin before his big transformation, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be. According to The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray by Robert Schnakenberg (via the Washington Post), the Saturday Night Live alum had an “unpleasant experience” in the 1988 Richard Donner adaptation of A Christmas Carol and had “no interest in pursuing another holiday-themed project.”

This version of The Santa Clause certainly would have been different to incorporate Murray’s signature wit and personality. I’m not saying Tim Allen’s character wasn’t sarcastic, but Murray’s take would have undoubtedly been even more sardonic.

Chevy Chase Reportedly Had To Pass On The Santa Clause, Giving Us A Major ‘What-If’

Chevy Chase, who led one of my favorite holiday movies, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, was also reportedly up for the role of Scott when the film was being developed. In a Vulture piece about all the “what-ifs” of the impactful Saturday Night Live alum’s film career, there was a short blurb about Chase turning down an offer because of a scheduling conflict.

Like the case above, I can’t help but think Chase’s version of Scott would have been more sarcastic than Tim Allen’s eventual portrayal. However, I can’t help but think this version, like Clark Griswold, would have been lacking self-awareness, making it an even wilder performance.

Tom Hanks Was Also Considered, And That Has Me Wondering

Tom Hanks would eventually go on to play Santa Claus (and numerous other characters) in The Polar Express, but he could have played St. Nick a decade earlier. During an interview with the Grunt Work podcast (a podcast about all things Home Improvement), director John Pasquin was asked about developing The Santa Clause and the actors who were considered for the part before Tim Allen. One of the biggest names listed was Allen’s eventual Toy Story co-star.

An early ‘90s, pre-consecutive Oscar wins Hanks playing Santa Claus would have been a treat. Would he have taken a more wholesome approach, or would his version of Scott be more akin to his parts in The Burbs and The Money Pit? Loud outbursts, a cup runneth over with sarcasm and manic energy, and that signature laugh would have been an experience.

Though each of these would have been great to see, I’m honestly glad Tim Allen ended up getting the part. It’s just hard to imagine it any other way.

Shifting Gears has been bringing the reunions during the 2025 TV schedule, with actors from Home Improvement and Last Man Standing paying Tim Allen a visit. His on-screen wife, Nancy Travis from LMS, has even been recurring on the ABC sitcom, but that’s not all. Gears fans were just treated to another Last Man reunion when Kaitlyn Dever surprised Allen on set, and there's sweet video of that moment.

Dever portrayed Eve Baxter, the youngest daughter of Allen’s Mike Baxter, on Last Man Standing. The actress starred in the first six seasons before her character was accepted into the Air Force Academy. With that, Dever recurred throughout the final three seasons. While Last Man Standing ended in 2021, it seems like Dever is still close to her on-screen dad, because the official Shifting Gears Instagram shared the lovely BTS video of the moment Dever surprised Allen. Take a look:

It's evident that at the time, Allen was surprised, and the reaction he had to see his former on-screen daughter on set is priceless. It should be noted that Dever is not appearing on Shifting Gears (at least, not yet). Based on what's known, she simply wanted to pay a surprise visit to Allen, which I actually don't mind over a TV cameo. Allen shared his own comments about the little reunion on X, and this is making me want to rewatch Last Man Standing with a Hulu subscription:

Dever has done a lot of projects and has remained busy as of late, so it’s unknown if she'd ever be able to make the time to guest star on Shifting Gears. Still, at the very least, it appears that Last Man Standing still holds a place in her heart, enough for her to visit her longtime co-star. Relationships between colleagues can vary by show, so I'm pleased that Dever and Allen still have love for each other.

The only thing that would have made this reunion even better was if Travis were also on-set, because if Dever reunited with both of her on-screen parents from Last Man Standing, it would be even more emotional for me.

All of that aside, Shifting Gears has still been pumping out some Last Man Standing reunions. Along with Travis, Jay Leno cameoed on the hit show earlier this year as himself. He referenced Home Improvement and not the other Tim Allen-led sitcom he recurred on. It was entertaining and fun, and I certainly hope more reunions are on the way, whether Leno returns or other Last Man Standing stars make appearances.

Considering the reunions that have occurred on Shifting Gears thus far, I wouldn't be surprised if more were to follow. Perhaps one will include Kaitlyn Dever and Tim Allen reuniting on screen, but fans will just have to wait and see what happens. In the meantime, catch new episodes of SG when they air on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen will forever be linked via Toy Story, and with each sequel, it feels like people cherish that bond a lot more. On that note, they've interacted more than just their latest collaboration on Toy Story 5, as Allen recently made an appearance at Hanks' off-Broadway play, This World of Tomorrow.

The Woody actor recently spoke about linking up with his Buzz Lightyear buddy during an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers. Tom Hanks explained how things usually go after the curtain drops on This World of Tomorrow, and how the cast reacted after learning that Tim Allen was backstage and available for photos:

It's funny to think about, because I'm assuming that all the cast have worked with Tom Hanks a good deal at this point. Of course, throw Tim Allen in the mix, and suddenly it's the duo that recently wrapped on Toy Story 5, and a completely different story.

That said, I can hardly fault the entire cast for staying behind for a photo, because suddenly any picture I had with Tom Hanks solo wouldn't feel quite as special afterward. I can't say I'd do the same thing for the stars of other upcoming Disney movies, but then again, I'm not sure any of those stars in movies to come are nearly as iconic as these two going back to 1995.

I also appreciate the continued relationship that Tim Allen and Tom Hanks have, and the fact that they're so willing to talk about it even though I'm sure they're both constantly asked. Perhaps that's Allen sticking to the advice Hanks gave him years ago, that it's all over faster to just answer the question than say they've already talked about it elsewhere.

Tom Hanks has plenty of time to wrap on his play, as Toy Story 5 won't be in theaters until June 19th. The story will feature the toys coming face to face with a tablet, a device many parents today have mixed opinions on when it comes to children.

Until that movie is out, I'll continue to listen to any stories that Tom Hanks has about running into Tim Allen at events, and how the world reacted to it. I'm sure I can also fill my time with upcoming movies in 2026, since there are already a lot I want to see!

Toy Story 5 is one of those 2026 movie releases we can’t wait for, especially for the return of Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear and Tom Hanks’ Woody. The Buzz Lightyear voice actor has shared his experience wrapping on the role recently, and I didn’t realize how different it is saying goodbye to a role in an animated movie versus a live-action one.

Allen announced last week that he had wrapped on the film, and saying goodbye to the role really “affected” him along with sharing he loves the “story” of the new Pixar animated film and is “blessed” to be Buzz Lightyear for “so many years.” Here’s what he said on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon about the experience:

On most movies and TV shows, when it’s someone's last day playing a role there will usually be a whole fanfare associated with it among the cast and crew. However, since the making of the movie Toy Story 5 is a totally different process, it’s just not the same. As Allen continued:

It also sounds like Tim Allen didn’t really have a chance to see his longtime co-star and friend Tom Hanks during the recording process either. During the talk show appearance, he said he was visiting Hanks while in New York City since the Woody voice actor is starring in a stage show called The World of Tomorrow until December 21.

Perhaps the real fanfare of Toy Story 5 will come once Tim Allen, Tom Hanks and the rest of the cast have their press tour in the summer of 2026. Also among the cast are Joan Cusack once again as Jessie, Tony Hale as Forky, and Conan O'Brien as new character Smarty Pants.

There’s also the element of the Toy Story franchise crying wolf over the movie being the last film multiple times before a new sequel is announced, so who knows, Allen could be back in the vocal booth next year! Andrew Stanton, the director of Toy Story 5 , spoke to this recently, sharing why he thinks “nobody’s being robbed of their trilogy.”

The first Toy Story 5 trailer came out earlier this month. You can check out below:

It’s not a lot to go off of, but it definitely sets up the next movie. In the age of technology we’re in right now, the toys will be fighting for attention with a tablet named Lilypad. It’s the first Toy Story movie since the fourth movie came out in 2019 and made over $1 billion worldwide. You can catch Toy Story 5 in theaters on May 1.

It's hard for me to imagine a time when Tim Allen wasn't a household name. Throughout my life, I've seen him in the best Christmas movies, various hit sitcoms, and of course, heard his voice as the iconic Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story. To think his mainstream success really skyrocketed with caveman grunts is wild, but little did I know that it started long before Home Improvement.

With Shifting Gears returning to the 2025 TV schedule on December 3rd after a brief hiatus, it seems Tim Allen will be on The Tonight Show to discuss various things about his career. After Jimmy Fallon showed the actor a woman on the dating app Hinge who asked men to do their best grunt mimicking him, Allen talked about how that whole thing started:

I guess I never thought about it, but the dull rumble you hear in an ample eating space of adults does have a similar sound to Tim Allen's signature grunt. It's wild to think about how that grunt played a part in Home Improvement's massive success on television and built this massively successful career.

Where Tim Allen's Grunting Came From

Ironically, the entire grunting bit came together thanks to Tim Allen's family. It brought the comedian back to dinners in his home, and the way men would react at the table whilst feasting:

I would say that signature grunt is what made Home Improvement a hit, but I have to give some credit to his co-star, Richard Karn, as well. Even so, every time I think of Tim Allen, I would have to say that one of the first things I think about is that grunt, followed by how criminally underrated Galaxy Quest is by the mainstream all these years later.

For those feeling nostalgic about Tim Allen now but not so much that they don't want to watch The Santa Clause, ABC will air a special holiday episode of Shifting Gears on December 10th. The episode is titled "Nutcracker," and will feature actress Pamela Adlon as a guest star, so I think it has the potential to be a Christmas classic.

After that, Shifting Gears won't return until the 2026 TV schedule is here on January 7th. Truthfully, with the holidays happening between the Christmas episode and the return, that will feel like no time at all has passed. Readers will have time to sit down around the dinner table with their families, and maybe work on their best Tim Allen grunts as well.

Shifting Gears airs on ABC on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. As someone who is a sucker for television Christmas specials, I'm eager to see what they're cooking up for their special and hope for plenty of Pamela Adlon, as I'm a big fan of her work.

Tim Allen is so excited that Buzz Lightyear and co. are going on another adventure. His response after Disney officially announced a fifth Toy Story proved that, as it was nothing short of ecstatic. Now, the sitcom actor has shown his enthusiasm for the project again as he penned a heartfelt message to celebrate wrapping Toy Story 5.

Considering how excited Tim Allen was to be able to voice our favorite space toy, you can probably imagine how he felt when the final cut was called. Now, the Home Improvement actor has shared his thoughts about finishing his work on Toy Story 5 on X, and his statement is very sweet. Give it a read:

Now, I’m even more excited for Toy Story 5 after reading Tim Allen’s message. With every Toy Story movie, I've never been disappointed thanks to the moving stories, adventure, comedy, and heartfelt moments that always keep me along for the ride.

We know Toy Story 5 will be about technology threatening the existence of toys when their owner, Bonnie, gets a Lilypad tablet. It’s a plot that’s incredibly relatable to the techno-centric world we live in, and the new movie already has a fan in me!

There may have been initial backlash to a fifth Toy Story movie, with fans feeling like the new movies “robbed” them of their trilogy. However, Tim Allen had faith in the new project with his reason to return as Buzz Lightyear being that he found the upcoming sequel “a clever, clever story.”

I’m already looking forward to a scene Allen teased for the new Disney flick that looks to be parodying his co-star Tom Hanks’ classic movie, Cast Away. According to the actor, about 100 Buzz dolls wind up lost on an island, and their trying to find their way back is "hysterical." It certainly sounds funny, and if it's anything like the storyline where Buzz's settings got messed up, I'm sure it'll be both hilarious and action-packed.

With Tim Allen being “affected” playing Buzz Lightyear again for Toy Story 5 and his passion for the project, I already want to reserve my seat. Given the success of each movie that has come from the franchise, I'm sure this next outing will bring audiences out to the theaters so they can see what Woody, Buzz and the toys get up to as they navigate the challenges of technology.

To see what Allen is talking about, you can catch Toy Story 5 when it premieres on the 2026 movie schedule on June 19th. Until then, you can see Woody, Buzz, and all of your favorite toys by streaming the first four movies with a Disney+ subscription.

There was a lot I missed on the 2025 TV schedule during the blurry days when ABC and YouTube TV were disputing. College football was the big thing, but some of my favorite ABC TV shows were preempted in this window, which is how I ended up missing a fun Toy Story nod from Tim Allen and co.

The timeline went like this. ABC dropped the Halloween episode of Shifting Gears on October 29th, but I played tennis that evening and missed the episode. The next day, the ABC and YouTube TV dispute went into effect, and I couldn’t see the episode as intended. That is until this week, when it popped back up in my library thanks to my YouTube TV subscription as the dispute ended.

During the episode, the family split up for the holidays. The kids got involved in a Dia De Los Muertos party. Riley dressed up in a Mama Bear costume that was mistaken for a Wookie while hanging out with “pal” Gabe (dressed as Han Solo) and his new love interest. Meanwhile, Matt Parker was at home and begrudgingly handing out candy with his girlfriend Eve, when a kid in a Woody costume came calling.

Matt curmudgeonly told the kid he should have dressed as a “space ranger” in an amusing Easter egg moment. Shifting Gears has often nodded at many of Tim Allen’s other projects, and even brought in the Home Improvement crew earlier this season, so the joke wasn’t wholly unexpected. However, with Toy Story 5 coming down the pipeline, the timing for the joke would have really great had I seen it on Halloween, and also it really did fit into the storyline nicely and wasn’t shoehorned in.

However, let me tell you, watching a Halloween TV episode at the end of November is all kinds of trippy, and it also meant I missed out on the show nodding back to Kat Dennings’ 2 Broke Girls work.

Disney and YouTube TV had a roughly two-week fight over how much money the latter would give the former per subscriber for ABC, ESPN and the rest of its channels. We don't know the exact final numbers, but it's rumored YouTube TV gave Disney some additional money in exchange for the ability to ingest content from ESPN's new streaming service into the YouTube TV app itself.

We do know the dispute also allegedly led to some other providers like Sling TV seeing boosts, and it led to YouTube TV subscribers earning a $20 credit for the hassle.

That may feel like a small win. In reality though, the viewers were the losers. And that’s worthy of a Tim Allen grunt.

Having co-starred opposite Tim Allen for what will be two seasons of ABC's Shifting Gears by the time finales hit the 2026 TV schedule, Kat Dennings is well aware of what working with Tim Allen is like. Something that may surprise upwards of nobody is that the Home Improvement vet likes when cars are on topic, particularly his own vehicles; the sitcom's location wasn't chosen randomly from a hat. A pro tip from Dennings? Maybe don't speak respectfully about Jay Leno's car collection.

To be sure, the 2 Broke Girls vet didn't come right out and say that during her most recent Jimmy Kimmel Live! appearance, but she definitely did imply it with her amusing answers and body language after the host brought up the two Last Man Standing vets and their respective wheeled passions. And it all stemmed from a conversation about seat belts, no doubt a part of everyone's daily exchanges. In any case, here's how Dennings addressed Allen's hobby-and-then-some:

It's hard for me to think about having 100 cars in the same area without feeling anxious pangs about not being able to find a place to park, even if they're my own cars. Because then it's like, "Where the hell did I get all these cars?" and the anxiety strengthens.

No such issues for Jay Leno, who appeared in Shifting Gears' first season earlier this year. Jimmy Kimmel knows it, and vicariously poked fun at Tim Allen through the former Tonight Show host, leading to the following exchange:

• JIMMY: Although Jay Leno laughs at Tim Allen’s 100 cars collection.
• KAT: I know, I know. Jay’s more of the type, I know. I’ve heard a lot. I‘ve heard all about this.
• JIMMY: Well, you know, [Tim] is always like, ‘Well, Jay has a few more cars than I do.’ I’m like, ‘This is a world I know nothing about.’

Kat Dennings does look like the wife/daughter/colleague who has heard the same old story about the same old shit time and time again from a husband/father/car-loving colleague without ever having shown all that much affection for it in the first place. But still trying to be genial about it, which makes it that much funnier to think about Allen offhandedly grunting about how many cars Jay Leno has at random points of the day, unable to let that sliver of his brain go unchecked for very long.

Kimmel continued, reveling in the knowledge of the mini-rivalry:

• JIMMY: I like the idea that there is a rivalry there, "Who has 100 cars?" and that’s not enough.
• KAT: I mean Jay did come on the show as himself, which is very cute.
• JIMMY: To brag about how many cars he has.
• KAT: I guess. I can’t relate. This is an expensive hobby that I don’t have access to.

The Dollface vet noted that she only has one car, and she's not interested in owning another 99 anytime soon, even if it wasn't financially impossible. This is a mindset I can get behind. Probably to push it because the battery is dead.

Check out Kat Dennings' interview with Jimmy Kimmel below, which also involves some talk concerning a commercial about bedwetting.

Shifting Gears will continue its Season 2 run on the 2025 TV schedule every Wednesday night on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET.

As someone whose office walls are filled with action figures, stuffed animals and myriad other pop culture collectibles, I’ve always appreciated the power of a good toy. Even so, my anticipation for Pixar’s upcoming sequel Toy Story 5 has fluctuated between abject excitement and the worry that well enough should be left alone. But I’m firmly on the positive side again after Tim Allen’s latest teasy comments.

As one of the core franchise cast members since the start, Allen is as synonymous with the character Buzz Lightyear as he is with live-action projects like Home Improvement. And he’s also always been quick to talk about the movies while they’re still in mid-production, which is more of a boon to fans than the filmmakers, I’m sure. Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote the ongoing second season of ABC’s Shifting Gears, the comedian addressed what he calls the funniest sequence in the upcoming 2026 movie, saying:

Gotta love that Tim Allen couldn't even let that story go by without taking a winking jab at longtime co-star Tom Hanks and his 2000 island-stranded hit Cast Away. But there's no time to worry about Wilson here, because we've got 100 Buzz Lightyear dolls who need guidance! The thought of so many dozens of generic Buzzes bumbling about sounds excellent to me, and brings to mind past secenes involving all the boxed Buzzes, as well as the character's Spanish-setting arc.

Though he doesn't tip his hat to how all of the Buzz Lightyear dolls will get saved (or otherwise), Allen does say indicate he had fun providing the voices for all the non-protagonist spaceman toys.

I dunno what it is, but I'm also amused by the idea of 100 Buzz Lightyear toys being so naturally ego-driven that they don't understand why another version is the one everyone should be listening to. The combination of Allen's voice with the character's blindly confident reactions always makes for a good time.

No updates on the newest play-worthy character, the tablet Lilypad, but Allen did use the word "reboot" to describe the story, and touched on how this sequel puts Jesse at the center of the story. In his words:

Even in a world where more than 100 Buzz Lightyears can populate an island, there's only one Jesse, so they need to keep her safe! Joan Cusack will thankfully once again be reprising that role, which will be central to getting all of our familiar toy friends together again.

Find out what 100 meddling Buzz Lightyears sound like when Toy Story 5 hits theaters on June 19, 2026.

2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the original Toy Story. The movie, without question, changed the world of animated movies forever, and is still one of the best Pixar movies ever made. It also began a lifelong friendship between the two franchise leads, Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. It turns out the duo, who will reunite in the upcoming Toy Story 5, have also taught each other a few things.

Hanks and Allen aren’t necessarily a pair of celebrities that you would expect would become friends, but the pair have frequently been spotted having breakfast together and otherwise getting together even when they don’t have a movie to work on together. In a recent appearance on the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast, Allen talks about his friendship and the way Hanks specifically helped him deal with one of the hardest parts of the job, press interviews. Allen said…

Tom Hanks has a reputation as one of the nicest guys in Hollywood, and it’s insights like this that go a long way to help explain where that idea came from. Even in this interaction, it’s clear that Tom Hanks isn’t necessarily any less irritated by being asked the same question 35 times, but he’s keeping his frustration under control because he knows it all be over faster if he does that.

As somebody who occasionally is one of the 35 people asking somebody the same question in a day, I can sympathize with Tim Allen’s frustration with the process that takes place at press junkets surrounding film releases. To be fair, I’m not sure the interviewers like asking the same questions over and over either, but it’s part of the deal.

It’s not difficult to imagine that when Toy Story 5 hits theaters next summer, the pair will have to undergo the same press experience that Allen clearly dreads. I can already predict they will be asked whether they think they will be back for Toy Story 6 about 35 times. Hopefully, Tom Hanks can help keep his co-star calm.

Having said that, the fact that Hanks and Allen will be out promoting Toy Story 5 together next year likely has the two friends looking forward to the experience. It's still unclear how Buzz and Woody will be getting together for the new film. If people get a chance to interview Tim Allen, you can guess that a lot of people will ask that question.

Leading up to Wednesday's Shifting Gears premiere on the 2025 fall TV schedule, there was a lot of talk about Tim Allen reuniting with the Home Improvement gang. That included Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn, and Debbe Dunning (otherwise known as Allen’s on-screen wife Jill, his pal Al Bordland and the immortal Heidi). People have followed Allen from show to show for years, so this type of cameo is much welcomed; however, it’s not the only callback the show gave us in Season 2, Episode 1.

Spoilers below, of course, so if you haven’t caught the premiere episode yet, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Shifting Gears’ Season 2 Premiere Didn’t JUST Feature A Home Improvement Cameo

Shockingly, the Season 2 premiere wasn’t just satisfying for Home Improvement fans. The writers took the opportunity to bring back Nancy Travis after her delightful first appearances on the show in Season 1. As you probably are well aware, Travis is also a nod to Allen’s long and storied career, and she'd said after the first round she'd had no doubt she'd make it back to Shifting Gears.

During Season Season 1, Travis guest-starred and became a sort of confidante for Allen’s Matt Harper. The two meet sometimes at the graves of their respective loved ones, who reside just across the hall from one another. It’s a good fit, and fans will appreciate the two still verbally spar in a manner similar to Last Man Standing.

I guess I should have seen this coming given what the showrunners teased before the Season 2 premiere, but I was honestly surprised to see Charlotte back for the premiere, particularly given how much the Home Improvement cast cameoing was hyped before the episode aired on ABC, but it turns out she was the conduit to getting Matt to meet this new-old gang, and I really appreciate how the writing all came together to bring these co-stars from Allen's past back into the fold all at once.

How The Home Improvement Team Factored In

It was actually Charlotte who actually was the catalyst to getting Matt to a grief group. There, Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn and Debbe Dunning were all playing characters mourning their spouses, just like Charlotte and Matt. Charlotte said she’d gone for a while after the death of her husband, it was ultimately a fun setup, and it leaves some breathing room for the characters to come back in this universe should Matt ever be having trouble letting go of something his wife used to do for him, etc.

I still sometimes watch old episodes of Home Improvement, so it honestly felt so odd to see how much time has passed on the new show. Patricia Richardson is rocking silver hair now (she looks great) and Karn is giving grandpa vibes (probably because he reportedly is a grandpa.) Dunning honestly looked basically unchanged all these years later, which was also fun to see. And contextually the cameos fit into the storyline on the show.

Shifting Gears usually has pretty tight writing, and the Charlotte inclusion made the whole thing even better for me. Now, I just have to say: Since Seann William Scott’s Gabriel is back in the dating pool, please find a way to bring The Santa Clause’s David Krumholtz on as a Kat Dennings love interest, please and thank you.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the Shifting Gears Season 2 premiere, "Secret." Stream the episode with a Hulu subscription, and read at your own risk!

Shifting Gears beat the cancellation rumor mill and returned to the 2025 TV schedule to pick up on all the drama it set up at the end of Season 1. Season 2 picked up on that big cliffhanger where Matt and Eve shared a passionate kiss after being at odds for most of the season. It took a whole heap of guest stars to help push that storyline into its next exciting chapter, and I'm not complaining one bit.

Readers can expect a lot of guest stars in Shifting Gears Season 2 even beyond the jam-packed premiere, which featured stars from Home Improvement and Last Man Standing. Unfortunately for Riley and Kat Dennings' fans, everyone was mostly in the story to help Matt, and finally get him to take a step forward following the death of his wife.

Nancy Travis Returned As Charlotte

Nancy Travis reprised her role as Charlotte, who first appeared in Season 1 of Shifting Gears as a widow Matt met at the mausoleum where his wife's headstone is. She overheard Matt asking his dead wife for advice on how to handle the Eve situation, as he wasn't sure how to proceed in their relationship after kissing her and then proceeding to not message her when she was out of town for a few months.

Charlotte suggested Matt had a problem with intimacy, and suggested there was only one way to fix that. She invited him to come to her grief support group for widows, which segued right into the next biggest guest stars of the season.

Tim Allen's Former Home Improvement Colleagues Had A Special Role

Matt agreed to go to Charlotte's widowers group, where he was met by other widowers played by Home Improvement stars Richard Karn, Patricia Richardson, and Debbe Dunning. After hearing their intimacy woes with their former partners, Matt questioned why Charlotte even brought him here, to which she explained to prove he doesn't have a problem with intimacy. The two left together, and his late return home suggested to Riley and the audience that Matt and Charlotte had hooked up.

Are Matt And Eve Officially A Couple?

Riley Told Eve about her father's wild night, still unaware about the kiss Matt shared with Eve in Season 1. Matt found out and went to explain himself to her, only for Jenna Elfman's character to tell him it wasn't her business who he hooked up with. He interrupted her lecture with a passionate kiss, and just like that, we're back to where Shifting Gears was at the end of Season 1.

It has me wondering if Shifting Gears just hard-launched Matt and Eve's relationship, or it's going to be a lot of back and forth throughout this season. I think in fairness, the characters may not even know, as they both know there's a lot they don't have in common beyond the physical part of their relationship.

As complicated as that romance is, it's not nearly as bad as what Riley is going through at the start of Shifting Gears Season 2. Riley struggled with what she was going to do after Gabe confessed her feelings for her while he assumed she was asleep, and felt like it was the wrong move to jump in a relationship after her divorce.

Just when she was convinced by Stitch to go for the relationship anyway, it turned out Gabe had been searching for her all day to tell her he was actually dating her friend. Wait, that also happened in Season 1 with a different girl. Did anything new happen in this premiere?

I joke, I joke. And I am eager to see how the rest of Shifting Gears Season 2 goes as new episodes air on ABC on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. I'm rooting for Riley to find a relationship she deserves, and hoping she continues to be a great mom along the way.

Home Improvement is once again making headlines, thanks in large part to Tim Allen’s current ABC sitcom Shifting Gears, whose star-studded Season 2 premiere will have the comedian sharing the screen anew with former co-stars Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn and Debbe Dunning. Ahead of the episode airing, though, Allen had a convo with his old pal Howie Mandel and recalled a rather freaky stalker situation that he dealt with early on in his sitcom years.

Appearing on the podcast Howie Mandel Does Stuff, which the AGT judge co-hosts with his daughter Jackelyn Shultz, Tim Allen got into a real stream of consciousness that began with a yelling-at-clouds run over his own daughter’s compulsion to stare at her phone at all hours of the day. Which then led to Allen recalling getting a Twitter account for the first time and how much he only paid attention and responded to the negative comments.

Which then led to Allen sharing the reason why he had to rely on security during Home Improvement in the first place. In his words:

A sentence like that, without any jest involved, is worth at least 1,000 red flags. But instead of getting overtly freaked out and avoiding that person at all costs, Allen instead decided to respond. As he put it:

The story was news to Mandel and Schultz, with the former initially thinking Allen may have been riffing on a bit. Of course, they asked what happened next, and that's when the Home Improvement fan's mental issues became more apparent. Although not to the security guards on the Disney lot, unfortunately.

I can see how, as a celebrity who isn't accustomed to that kind of fan reaction, Tim Allen might think it was a helpful move to point out to the guy that he was confusing a TV family with real life, even despite the guy's initial message being so judgmental about his fictional parenting. However, this was not a case where intervening ended up helping anyone.

The Last Man Standing vet continued, sharing how his exchange with the security guards went:

Thankfully, Allen said that nude studio incident was the last time he had to deal with that particular stalker, who seemingly didn't try anything else afterward. However, Allen said situations like that have "been a reoccuring thing sometimes." But considering he still responded to some of his more prominent haters on Twitter years ago, it doesn't seem like he took the "don't engage" advice permanently to heart.

At least it doesn't seem like Home Improvement's writers turned that incident into a Tim Taylor storyline the way it's happened with other incidents. Debbe Dunning shared one of her Home Improvement horror stories, so to speak, recalling a point when Tim Allen wanted to bring Pamela Anderson back to the show, and how much that stressed her out as a sleep-deprived new mom. Which, if it sounds familiar, is because the writers turned that emotional trauma into the Season 6 finale, which did indeed feature an appearance from Anderson.

As well, Taran Smith spoke months prior about accidentally learning first-hand that his character Mark’s goth storyline was directly inspired by the head writer’s son. Because he actually ran into the teen, and Smith's on-screen wardrobe mirrored the other teen's real-life outfit.

With hopefully zero awkward or harassing fan encounters involved, be sure to check out Shifting Gears' Season 2 premiere on ABC on Wednesday, October 1, at 8:00 p.m. ET (available to stream the next day via Hulu subscription).

Shifting Gears' return to the 2025 TV schedule won't just be your average sitcom season finale, as fans will get to see a three-pronged Home Improvement reunion for Tim Allen. (I wonder if Matt was watching in the ‘90s.) One-third of the premiere’s guest stars is Debbe Dunning, whose Heidi was the helpful female voice on "Tool Time" for the bulk of the hit sitcom’s run after Pamela Anderson’s exit. The actress reflected on the not-quite-fun fact that she suffered some anxiety in a later season over Anderson’s potential return.

As many fans of Tim Allen's first sitcom remember, Anderson did indeed return for a fun reunion episode in Season 6, which will come up a little lower. But as Dunning put it when talking to EW, there was a point earlier where learning about Allen's interest in bringing the Baywatch superstar back into the fold had quite a disruptive effect. The actress said her co-star was talking on-set about having met up with Anderson in Las Vegas over the weekend, at which point she entered the convo. As she put it:

In a perfect world, welcoming an international star back onto a network series would be seen as a grand gesture by all involved. But as the person whose on-screen time would theoretically shrink the most if Anderson's Lisa returned on a regular basis, Dunning's worries are already easy to understand before learning another reason why she was perhaps on more of an emotional edge than at other points in life. She continued:

Yep, that combination of post-childbirth hormones and the stress of raising an infant can heighten the most minutely negative weather update into a Greek tragedy. So for Dunning to hear something so legitimately game-changing, something that would affect her job, she understandably fretted pretty heavily over it in the immediate short term.

Her stress levels were translated pretty clearly via her actions, which set off the stage manager's alarm bells. The woman warded off Dunning's worries by saying they wouldn't actually being teaming the two female "Tool Time" characters together, and in the midst of the conversation, Dunning had cried enough to warrant a trip back into makeup so that filming could recommence.

Before the actress could continue working herself up into too much of a downward spiral over the issue, a producer reached out to Dunning and gave an additional guarantee that Allen's comments were off-the-cuff and didn't reflect the reality of the future. At least not entirely, as the producer had a request.

I guess it worked for the sitcom's advantage, but getting Debbe Dunning to agree to fictionalizing her genuine angst for the sake of comedy doesn't seem like the best move, at least not during a conversation where that angst is still dissipating.

Home Improvement's Season 6 finale, "The Kiss and the Kiss Off," featured Pamela Anderson's Lisa getting an open invitation back onto "Tool Time," which causes new-mom Heidi to quit the show. Tim eventually convinces her to return, so all was well going into Season 7, but wow, if there's ever a behind-the-scenes story that can change one's lens for a TV episode, this was it.

To be sure, Dunning treasures her time co-starring on one of the best sitcoms of all time, and her life wouldn't be the same without it. Neither would fans', and I think many of those Home Improvement fanatics will be tuning into Shifting Gears' Season 2 premiere when it airs on Tuesday, October 1. (Or will at least be streaming it the next day via Hulu subscription.)

If Dunning, Patricia Richardson and Richard Karn aren't enough, what about other guest stars like Lilly Singh, MLB Mookie Betts, stand-up superstar Gabriel Igalsias or Shark Tank beast Lori Greiner.

After bringing a bunch of famous faces into the fold as guest stars for its first season, Shifting Gears’ showrunner Michelle Nader sees no reason to cut back on the classic TV tradition going into Season 2. We already know Tim Allen will reunite with some Home Improvement vets, with Lilly Singh set to befriend and bewitch RIley, and Nader has teased more throwback easter eggs on the way paying tribute to Allen and others’ careers. And yes, she definitely has other ideas in mind.

Speaking to US Weekly, the series head honcho excitedly confirmed that other mystery celebrities are being tapped to show up later in the season, and that she also has her own sidelist of ideal guest stars to send invites to, with one being a pretty prominent Emmy-winning veteran of HBO’s The White Lotus. In Nader’s words:

Let's first speak to the most specific detail that was shared. It would be an absolute hoot to get Jennifer Coolidge into the Shifting Gears mix. As far as I can remember, she hasn't directly co-starred opposite Tim Allen in anything, but she certainly did spend years on the small screen opposite Kat Dennings as 2 Broke Girls' Sophie Kaczynsky, who moved into the apartment above Max and Caroline in the middle of Season 1. Givne that Michelle Nader was a writer-turned-showrunner for 2 Broke Girls, this seems like it should be an easy get, assuming Coolidge is down.

While their past sitcom work makes the most sense to connect Collidge to Shifting Gears, US Weekly frames the guest star comments as if Nader was asked about White Lotus stars making guest spots on the ABC comedy. I'm not sure if that's actually the case or not, but there are definitely a slew of interesting A-listers to choose from if that show's lineup is up for contention.

How wild would it be if Nader & Co. landed Jon Gries to appear in the same episode as Coolidge? Gries portrayed the latter's seemingly devious husband in the HBO series.) Or if Natasha Rothwell, who played White Lotus' Brenda, would sign on. I realize that there's no guarantee that any other guest stars would for sure co-star in the same episode as Coolidge, but I see no reason to dream small here.

Beyond any White Lotus alums, I'm hoping that some of the celebs that Michelle Nader referred to were other comedy greats that she's worked with in her past. For instance, I'd love to see Jenna Elfman's Dharma & Greg counterpart Thomas Gibson show up to raise trouble for Matt and Eve.

Or, since she also worked on the excellent Spin City during its run, bringing in Richard Kind, Alan Ruck, or Connie Britton would be genius. (Not that others would be unwelcome.) Given that Nader wrote a pair of episodes for one of the best new comedies to hit the 2025 TV schedule, Deli Boys, I'd love to also see Saagar Shaikh or Asif Ali show up in one way or another.

Check out the first look at Season 2, which plays up the impending guest spots from Patricia Richardson, Debbe Dunning and Richard Karn.

Shifting Gears Season 2 will kick off on ABC on Wednesday, October 1, at 8:00 p.m. ET, with new episodes streaming the next day via Hulu subscription.

One of the biggest TV and movie stars of the past several decades, Tim Allen has plenty of beloved characters notched in his belt, and his latest addition to that list is car-restoration enthusiast Matt Parker, who will return to the 2025 TV schedule for Shifting Gear’s Season 2 premiere. Fans can already expect a trio of Home Improvement guest stars in the premiere, and the showrunner revealed that definitely won’t be the only pop culture callback on display.

The sitcom’s creative boss Michelle Nader talked with US Weekly about where Season 2 is going for Matt and Kat Dennings’ Riley, as well as their respective relationships with other characters. Unsurprisingly, Jenna Elfman’s Eve was part of that conversation, given how close the two lovebirds became by the finale’s end. In addressing how their love story will play out, Nader talked about peppering their romance with story-driven nods to the actors’ careers. In her words:

One such meaningful callback in Season 1 was the character detail that Eve is a choregoraphy instructor, which paid back to Jenna Elfman being a professional dancer early on in her career. Obviously, one could also argue that Matt's car shop is a reference to Tim Allen's real life love of cars, but that's a far more obvious nod than what usually applies for "easter eggs."

Season 1 of Shifting Gears delivered several spot-on reunions for Tim Allen from his Last Man Standing days. First there was the guest spot from Nancy Travis, which was followed by a cameo from Jay Leno. And let's not forget Dennings getting a reunion with her former Dollface co-star Brenda Song. Not that all the callbacks are specifically guest stars from past shows, even if I'm looking forward to Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn and Debbe Dunning popping up.

To circle back to the relationship element, here's how Nader teased Matt and Eve's next steps:

I mean, could Michelle Nader truly call herself this series showrunner if she didn't refer to the act of shifting gears when giving that description? There's an argument to be had.

As far as what's coming for Riley and Seann William Scott's Gabriel, we'll just have to wait and see when Season 2 kicks off on ABC on Wednesday, October 1, at 8:00 p.m. ET, with episodes streaming the next day via Hulu subscription.

Seinfeld filmed in front of a live studio audience. Friends also famously did it. For years, this format was the norm, but over time that changed as comedy creators got more experimental with single cam and other setups. So much so, that there’s been discourse over the past decade about whether or not the sitcom in front of a live studio audience is dead. Still, a few shows using the format are really popular, including ABC’s Shifting Gears, and that’s exactly how Tim Allen likes it.

The longtime comedy veteran has filmed in front of a live studio audience for decades now on major shows like Home Improvement, Last Man Standing and the aforementioned Shifting Gears. He revealed in an interview that as a performer this is his preferred format, telling USA Today he’s looking for a jolt when on set.

Intriguingly, it's a sentiment similar to what his co-star Kat Dennings has expressed, and it seems to be working. Despite a rumored cancelation scare at the end of Season 1, Shifting Gears was one of the highest-ranked network TV comedies on the 2025 TV schedule, coming in just behind fellow newcomer Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Interestingly enough, Georgie & Mandy is another sitcom that still films in front of a live studio audience -- unlike some of its other high-rated contemporaries, including Abbot Elementary or Ghosts.

So, there’s clearly appetite for the format, which is good news for Tim Allen. The comedian, who is 72, has said that as long as the appeal is there, he wants to keep working. So, if you meet him, please don’t tell him it’s time to pop onto a golf course.

He’d rather be tinkering with cars on TV.

It may have been (oddly in my opinion) touch and go for a bit, but Shifting Gears will be back for Season 2. It’s also worth noting that ABC’s already announced its 2025 fall schedule, which will have the series returning on October 1st, along with the aforementioned Abbott Elementary and the still fairly fledgling reality series The Golden Bachelor. Those shows might not have a ton in common, but in the ever-changing network TV landscape, it’s nice to see them all back.

The world of dating can often amount of a slog of predictable frustrations marked by pit stops of happiness and arousal. In less dismal cases, though, it can make for the sweet and sour symphony of pure chaos that one TikToker has brilliantly wrought upon society. Or more specifically, on the dating app Hinge. You know who knows a thing or two about hinges? Home Improvement vet Tim Allen. [Trio of immaculately voiced grunts.]

Anyone even remotely familiar with Allen’s work in the all-time classic TV sitcom or his stand-up act — or younger generations more attuned to the universal Internet soundboard — can pick out the comedian’s higher-register grunt from a mile away during a thunderstorm a night. Which makes it a bizarrely perfect litmus test for TikToker Kathenn25 to give potential suitors seeking a potential connection on Hinge, and also highly watchable video fodder. Here’s how this Experiment of the Gods started earlier in the year:

The 4B Movement refers to the feminist movement that originated in South Korea, and the reference is obviously made in a joking manner. But there’s no joke about how funny that idea is, and the response was big enough that Kathenn25 followed it up with several other videos of the same grunt-filled ilk.

To say that this hyper-specific motivation is genius would be undercutting the definition of genius. With apologies to Albert Einstein, time should now be relative to the amount of grunt-filled messages this woman gets. If she ever plots out a secondary request for others to follow, I can only hope that it's making dude's do the "Wah-ah-ah-ah" from the band Disturbed's song "Down with the Sickness."

Until that does or doesn't happen, throw your hands together for a compilation video of the best of the best grunts. Would Tim Allen be proud? That's for you to decide, dear reader.

To stop at JUST the best ones would be doing a disservice to one's assumption that all people are truly made equal. Because that doesn't seem to be the case here.

Since one commenter's reply to the "Worst Of" video made me snort for all the reasons, I'll drop it here:

I wouldn’t be surprised if Netflix paid the TikToker a lump sum for this concept and somehow turned it into a reality dating show that I would definitely watch at least once to see how much I loved it. I don’t believe it’d be anything super-valuable or meaningful dating show like Love on the Spectrum or something on that level, but if there was ever a left-field way to revive Love Connection…

It’s been 26 years since Home Improvement ended (with Patricia Richardson sharing some strong claims about why it ended), though Allen technically reprised Tim Taylor, grunts and all, on Last Man Standing opposite himself. If Kathenn25 starts asking guys to recreate those sitcom scenes, I think it would create a universal ouroboros that would destroy all matter. So none of that, please. Maybe.

If Allen’s Matt enters the dating scene again for Shifting Gears Season 2 when it hits the 2025 TV schedule, maybe he’ll try out a dating app where he asks female suitors to make specific engine start-up noises if they want to date him. On second thought, that sounds way more perverse with a guy doing it in a sitcom. So keep on keeping on, Kathenn25, doing your duty to humankind.

Tim Allen’s network TV comeback in the 2025 TV schedule proved to be a success. The actor’s new ABC comedy, Shifting Gears, was renewed for a second season, but it’s not so surprising given his track record with his previous successful comedies, Home Improvement and Last Man Standing. For Home Improvement, Allen pulled from personal experiences and for Shifting Gears, he made one big request that's a personal one. And there's an additional way Matt Parker is different.

When Home Improvement premiered in 1991, and Tim Allen had no sitcom knowledge. Although not a favorite with critics, fans surely took a liking to it. The ABC comedy wound up airing for eight seasons and over 200 episodes. It really jump-started his TV career, and Allen told WIVB in Buffalo how Home Improvement came about, and how it essentially changed his life and television career moving forward:

Since Home Improvement is taken from his act, it would make sense that a lot of it is taken from his real life, no matter how big or small. The same thing goes for Shifting Gears. Even after all these years, Allen is still pulling from his real life, and Matt is “much closer” to who he is. That being said, Matt Parker is still pretty different from Tim Taylor and Mike Baxter, and Allen explained that Matt is an artist who had to leave his dreams behind:

Not only did Matt have to leave school, but his wife passed away, and his daughter left home and got pregnant at a young age. Plus, it’s not as squeaky clean as his characters on his previous shows. However, there is still that fixing aspect that is certainly similar to Home Improvement and even Last Man Standing that really ties Shifting Gears together:

Of course, Tim Allen can’t always play the same character on the same show over and over again. Having him be happily married with three kids and doing what he wants to do can get old, no matter how great the show is. Shifting Gears really sets Matt Parker apart from Tim Taylor and Mike Baxter, and it’s honestly refreshing. It’s been interesting seeing Allen play this role as a widow, single father, grandfather, and auto shop owner because there are so many layers.

With Season 2 of Shifting Gears on the way, there will be much more to come from Matt, and there is no telling what’s in store. In the meantime, all episodes so can be streamed with a Hulu subscription. More information on Season 2’s release should be announced in the coming months.

Despite some initial reports claiming Tim Allen’s Shifting Gears might not get renewed for Season 2, ABC quelled all fears and officially ordered more episodes that'll debut later in the 2025 TV schedule. Fans are hoping this show matches up with his previous efforts, Last Man Standing and Home Improvement, and the stand-up comedian, who turns 72 in June 2025, reflected on achieving sitcom stardom so quickly without any experience, and topping another broadcast television icon in the process.

Anyone hooked on network sitcoms in the 1990s no doubt sat down for untold hours of multicam family fun with both Home Improvement (1991-1999) and Roseanne (1988-1997 initially) crushing the competition at the time, inspiring a host of other half-hour comedies offered to stand-up comedians. In an interview with Closer, Allen reflected on diving into making a TV show without any real experience or expectations. When asked about treasured memories, he replied with:

Before landing Home Improvement, Allen amassed more than a dozen years working stages as a stand-up comedian, making his very first on-screen movie appearance as a baggage handler in Ciro Durán’s 1988 drama Tropical Snow, co-starring David Carradine. Despite that achievement, and despite fronting two comedy specials in 1990 and 1991, Allen was completely out of his element when it came to memorizing episodic scripts and other responsibilities that became second-nature for him down the line.

One of the biggest advantages that Home Improvement had over a lot of its competition in 1991 and beyond was its key time slot, which was nestled in between Full House and Roseanne for its first season. Incredibly enough, Tim Taylor & Co. managed to tie with Cheers as the #4 show of the 1991-1992 TV season, with Roseanne Barr's long-running fave sitting comfortably at #2.

But that Tuesday night pairing wasn't meant to last, as ABC capitalized on Home Improvement's successful first season by giving it the 9:00 p.m. anchor slot on Wednesday nights, and it rose to #3 during its second-season outing. But it was with its third year that the Detroit-set sitcom claw-hammered its way to becoming the #1 scripted show on TV, albeit still at #2 behind 60 Minutes. Meanwhile, Roseanne fell to #4 behind another stand-up star's smash hit, Seinfeld.

Though he might not have been extremely prepared during those earliest production days, Tim Allen definitely grew accustomed to being a mega-TV star across Home Improvement's eight seasons. (He boasted having the #1 TV show, #1 book, and #1 movie box office in 1994.) Though he pointed out that the machismo-driven comedy also set the stage for a pattern of audience-pleasing hits that were not so easily embraced by critics. As he put it:

I would love to know the current headspace of the person who claimed that Tim Allen's signature grunts couldn't keep the show afloat. I wonder if they also thought a silly Fox animated show about a spiky-haired kid would never get off the ground.

Those salad days of the early '90s are far behind us, although ABC is currently airing the final season of the Roseanne follow-up The Conners, which kicked off the week after Shifting Gears wrapped its first season with a romantic-leaning finale. The more things change, the more they stay vaguely similiar, with different titles. Stay tuned for more details about when Allen's Matt and Kat Dennings' Riley will return.

For all that linear TV ratings have gradually dropped from year to year in the streaming era, the 2025 TV schedule is currently filled with more hits than one might imagine, especially when it comes to delayed-viewing windows that account for repeats and DVR. For instance, Kaitlin Olson's ABC dramedy High Potential hit double-digit stats enough with its early episodes to earn a renewal order before that twisty Season 1 finale aired. So what about the network's other massive freshman series, Shifting Gears?

Boasting some major TV star power in Tim Allen, Kat Dennings, Seann William Scott and later additions like Jenna Elfman, Shifting Gears came out of the gate extremely strong, and I predicted that it would very quickly get renewal news from ABC, but the network has remained mum on that topic ever since. And it appears as if those initially promising ratings are a big factor.

Shifting Gears Is Reportedly On The Cancellation Bubble Due To Its Major Decline In Viewership Stats

Shifting Gears sped onto ABC's schedule in January 2025 like one of Tim Allens' sports cars, and it amassed a same-day audience of 6.1 million viewers, which is unheard of for the majority of network comedies at this point. And when delayed totals were tallied, the debut ep was watched by more than 17 million people across ABC, Hulu, Disney+ and VOD. It's a wonder the renewal wasn't ordered right then.

Unfortunately, none of the follow-up episodes came close to reaching that massive ceiling, and Shifting Gears' cliffhanger finale was watched by just 3.8 million on the night it aired. Which, given the scope of post-pandemic scripted television, isn't necessarily the biggest or most harrowing drop in audience members, at least for most shows. But for one that boasts Tim Allen as its star? No drop is a good drop, and Deadline reports that the sitcom's dip in ratings extended to its streaming numbers.

It'd be one thing if the car-speckled sitcom put forth a traditional season of 20+ episodes that stretched from September to May, with various holiday hiatuses breaking up the flow. However, Shifting Gears' freshman season only netted a ten-episode order, and there was only a single one-week break between the sixth and seventh episodes.

It's Also Costly For A 30-Minute Sitcom

For many years, network execs could rely on sitcoms to be fairly inexpensive, sticking largely to pre-built sets and without the need to film on location very much. And while that's technically also the case with Shifting Gears, it does have a unique price point that most other shows don't: Tim Allen.

As Allen's first return to live studio audiences after the (second) cancellation of Last Man Standing's producers no doubt lined up a very lucrative deal for the actor that would likely be harder to commit to year after year, especially if the idea would be that he'd get even more money after a certain point.

Not to mention the fact that Kat Dennings, Seann William Scott and Chill Mitchell are also highly regarded in the medium. (To say nothing about how much money is spent on all the cars in Matt's shop, money that goes right to Allen himself.)

However, ABC's Lack Of New Shows And Existing Comedies Could Help Save Shifting Gears From Cancellation

For all the negative-sounding details that seem to point to Shifting Gears getting driven out to pasture without following up on Matt's burgeoning romance with Elfman's Eve, there exists a silver lining of sorts: ABC's scripted lineup is dwindling, and is seemingly without a ton of in-development projects that appear destined to hit small screen in the near future.

With The Conners in the midst of its six-episode final season, Abbott Elementary will rank as the network's only half-hour comedy, which seems ludicrous for a broadcast channel that used to host TGIF's classic sitcom block. And the only new series that's formally in the works behind the scenes is the upcoming spinoff 9-1-1: Nashville.

In fact, ABC currently has the fewest number of scripted shows airing in primetime, with just 9, compared to CBS (18), NBC (15) and Fox (16). It's wild that Fox is winning out in those totals, since it only airs two hours of primetime programming compared to three on the other networks. Granted, it can easily rely on Bachelor Nation series, American Idol, Celebrity Jeopardy! and more without the need for multicam sitcoms, but still.

The final element leaning in the comedy's favor is that it was set up as a midseason debut, which traditionally don't debut quite as successfully as those arriving in the fall. So there's potentially an understanding amongst execs that its chances could improve with a timeslot change and an earlier premiere date.

But as it goes whenever fans are waiting to hear renewal and cancellation updates, we won't truly know anything until ABC makes an official call behind the scenes. So stay patient, and nab a Hulu subscription to stream the first season in full.

One of the major stories to come out about the first season of Tim Allen’s new show Shifting Gears had to do with the fact the longtime comedian had hired a lot of the same people he’d worked with in prior shows like Last Man Standing and Home Improvement. Not everything on the series has ties to the past, however. In fact, the ABC comedy also had to add a completely new department for Shifting Gears. And it’s all thanks to Matt Parker owning an auto body shop.

Why Shifting Gears Has A Whole Department Sitcoms “Normally Don’t Have”

The new department in Shifting Gears is fittingly called the “transportation department,” and the people in that department know a whole heckuva lot about cars. Production Designer Stephan Olson was the one who imparted this piece of knowledge in an interview with Indiewire, noting the department has to be there because characters like Matt, Stitch and Gabriel are supposed to be working on vehicles in varying states of development and repair.

In an interview with CinemaBlend, Tim Allen actually confirmed he’d lent some of his own cars out for the show to use, but I’d never actually considered all of the logistics that need to go into that. First, I’d assume most of Allen’s cars are in pristine condition, but if they are going to be in the auto body shop, the show has to come up with some fake work to be done and then show a progression of that work being done while scenes are filmed in the garage.

Then, someone also has to be on hand to keep continuity tabs on the cars and make sure that nothing gets jacked up while they are on set. Honestly, it feels kind of brave to me that Tim Allen is willing to bring in his cars, his precious babies, and allow them to be faux “repaired.” Olson also admitted that it’s important the actor has the last word on everything, so he is finicky to an extent. (Which honestly makes it more impressive he's allowing the show to use his cars.)

In short, it’s clear he doesn’t take anything lightly while filming, even though the sitcom itself is lighthearted.

The concept in general has resonated with fans and helped Shifting Gears to become the No. 1 comedy on the 2025 TV schedule; though surprisingly, at the time of this writing the sitcom has not been renewed for Season 2 yet. Spring sweeps are right around the corner, though. I very much have my fingers crossed we’ll be getting more episodes, and in extension, more cars.

On its expertly polished and waxed surface, Shifting Gears may not appear to be more than your average good-vibes network TV sitcom, but there’s a more emotional undercurrent for both the characters’ storylines and for some of the characters themselves. Tim Allen has spoken about portraying a widower for the first time while also tapping into certain character elements he hadn’t before. But I wonder if he expected to have a fatherly impact on co-star Seann William Scott.

The comedic actor, whose work spans from American Pie to the Ice Age universe, portrays Gabriel, one of Matt’s loyal employees helping restore all the vintage cars in the shop (all of which are from Tim Allen’s personal collection). It’s been nearly 20 years since Scott lost his father William “Scotty” Scout, who passed away in January 2007 after having been diagnosed with bone cancer in one leg that eventually spread to the rest of his body. But it sounds like his on-set connection with Allen is a reminder of times past.

Talking with People about continuing to expand his TV career alongside one of the most popular sitcom stars of all time, Seann William Scott addressed the fatherly vibes he gets from the Santa Clause star, saying:

I can totally understand where he's coming from, since Tim Allen has been both a TV dad and a real dad for so many years that it'd probably be hard for the actor to NOT give off a parental aura.

Scott addressed the fact that he wasn't 100% sure what to expect when he first crossed paths with Tim Allen, and was pleased to find that the TV vet wasn't as stuffy and self-consumed as is the case at times with other veteran actors. According to the Lethal Weapon vet:

Not that he's only a guy's guy. Let's not forget that Kat Dennings has spoken lovingly about working with Tim Allen for the first time on this show, and how well they got along while filming. So he seems to just get along quite well with younger generations.

While promoting the first season, Allen reflected on his relationship with former Home Improvement co-star Jonathan Taylor Thomas (whom he reunited with on Last Man Standing), and how he still feels as if the younger actor is a son to him. Will he end up saying the same thing about Seann William Scott one day?

There’s probably a joke to make here about Tim Allen getting with Stiffler’s mom, but I'll save that for later.

Having already concluded its run after first hitting the 2025 TV schedule in January, the half-hour comedy is still awaiting word about a potential Season 2 from ABC. But in the meantime, it can only help if fans continue to stream the first season with a Hulu subscription.

Shifting Gears closed out Season 1 with a shocking kiss and many questions, but fans are still waiting to see if ABC will renew the sitcom for another season. The good news is that all the episodes are up to stream for those with a Hulu subscription, and I would recommend a rewatch, especially after hearing Kat Dennings talk about meeting Tim Allen for the first time.

Dennings spoke at length about her co-star in a few interviews recently and was very honest about working with the veteran actor. It's interesting to see what the former 2 Broke Girls star had to say about stepping into a sitcom with Tim Allen, and I'm pleased to report that her thoughts were largely positive.

Kat Dennings Opened Up About Meeting Tim Allen For The First Time

Shifting Gears has a solid number of fans, thanks to its nostalgic sitcom feel and the dynamic of Kat Dennings' Riley and Tim Allen's Matt. It would be a shame to hear they don't get along so well when the cameras aren't rolling, but fortunately, the actresses' comments to Deadline about meeting him for the first time make it sound like they became fast friends:

Hearing how much of the crew has followed Tim Allen in his career has me thinking that the Home Improvement reference Shifting Gears recently made was more for them than it was for the fans. It's impressive to hear he's amassed such loyalty in Hollywood, and now I'm beginning to wonder what other actors in the business have gained that following.

Kat Dennings added that Allen's following isn't limited to his cast and crew either, the fans show up in the live studio audience. She said the tapings of episodes were unlike anything she'd experienced before, even on 2 Broke Girls:

I'm not sure if that says more about Shifting Gears or 2 Broke Girls, but I'm glad to hear the audience is hyping up the stars of the ABC sitcom. Hopefully, that means a renewal for Season 2 isn't too far off, and the showrunner's recent thoughts on that happening sound promising.

Kat Dennings On Why Tim Allen Is So Great To Work With

Kat Dennings also sang Tim Allen's praises on Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce, where she discussed playing a television mom for the first time. She talked about the dynamic of Riley and Matt always getting into politics and other relevant and sensitive issues and how challenging that can be. Fortunately, she said she has a great partner in her co-star, who she credited as being a great actor:

It's easy to believe this, as CinemaBlend wrote about how the show nailed Tim Allen's character. Writing can only go so far, however, and it takes a talented actor to bring the words on the page to life. So far, he's done a great job, but what else should we expect, given his past success in primetime television?

As mentioned, Shifting Gears Season 1 is over at ABC, but the entire season is up on Hulu right now. We'll continue to wait for updates on whether it'll return on the 2025 TV schedule for Season 2 and follow up on those shocking moments we saw in the season finale.

Mild spoilers below for anyone who hasn't yet watched Shifting Gears' Season 1 finale on ABC or streaming with a Hulu subscription.

Already one of the most popular shows to debut on the 2025 TV schedule, the ABC sitcom Shifting Gears easily proved Tim Allen and Kat Dennings’ combined value as a daddy-daughter sitcom pairing. Millions upon millions of viewers have turned in each week, and many of them are already likely expecting to see a follow-up to Matt and Riley’s unexpected complications seen in the finale. But Season 2 hasn’t actually been ordered yet.

I personally expected Shifting Gears to get renewed soon after High Potential and Abbott Elementary’s next seasons were confirmed. However, ABC execs still haven’t made the call, and that lack of an update has sparked differing reactions from co-lead Dennings and the sitcom’s showrunner.

Kat Dennings Is Inherently Pessimistic, But Hopeful For Season 2

Having previously starred in 2 Broke Girls, which was infamously canceled by CBS without giving fans closure on its cliffhanger finale, Kat Dennings knows that guarantees aren't always an option in Hollywood, and is thus keeping a practical mind about Shifting Gears' future. That said, when asked by Deadline about not getting renewed for Season 2 yet, she did point to the sitcom's ratings and general good word-of-mouth as reasons to remain hopeful. (Or at least for others to.) In her words:

It has to be strange to be on one of the biggest and most prominent TV networks in the country, drawing a massive audience at a time when linear TV numbers are as low as ever, and still have to use phrases like "pins and needles" to talk about waiting for renewal news. All while other networks, studios and streaming platforms are putting in renewals for projects that may never reach a lifetime viewership that matches what a single episode of Shifting Gears brings in across ABC and Hulu.

Of course, TV renewals aren't always just about popularity. Tim Allen is a huge TV star who likely earns a rather large per-episode paycheck for his latest sitcom, and it's not like he's the only big name on there. Plus, it's possible that he and certain other cast and crew members may have other commitments that complicate the scheduling process, and would need to be ironed out before season orders are made. In any case, the showrunner definitely sounds more optimistic...

Shifting Gears' Showrunner Sounds More Confident About A Renewal

For all that Kat Dennings wisely played it cool and coy about the comedy's future, showrunner Michelle Nader spoke far more confidently about what she would like to see playing out in a follow-up season, and I'm almost convinced that she got some casual assurances from network execs about what's happening behind closed doors.

When asked by TVLine about Lucas Neff's Jimmy popping up for some big updates in the finale, Nader shared her hopes for how that character could be used in the future, saying:

For what it's worth, we won't be very happy if RIley and Jimmy reconcile things so quickly, since this entire first season has been about her learning how to navigate her and her kids' lives without him. That said, I'm all about the comedic complications that will arise from Jimmy being around and NOT being able to romance Riley as much as he'd like.

And that's not the only character Michelle Nader would like to explore in Season 2, should it happen. The sitcom boss was also asked about references made to Matt's other child, Sam, and whether or not fans might see Riley sharing the screen with her brother down the line. As Nader put it:

It sounds like Shifting Gears' head honcho is as ready as can be to start crafting new storylines for these beloved characters, if only someone out there would make the call to confirm Season 2 is happening.

Not that I know if I can even withstand a reality where Tim Allen and Jenna Elfman are playing sitcom love interests without the '90s-fixated part of my brain collapsing in on itself like a black hole. But I'll be willing to try, so get on it, ABC.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Shifting Gears Season 1 finale "Kiss." Stream it with a Hulu subscription and read at your own risk!

Tim Allen and Kat Dennings' Shifting Gears closed out Season 1 on ABC with quite a shocking moment that I definitely didn't see coming. While we've applauded the series for its nostalgic sitcom feel harkening back to the 90s, this latest twist in the finale was far less predictable, and I'm actually grateful "Kiss" didn't play out the way I expected it to.

The season finale began with Riley's soon-to-be ex-husband Matt telling her he got a new gig as the Foo Fighters bassist, and that he wants to get the family back together. Riley was then forced to go back and forth on whether she wanted to call off the divorce and start over fresh, or stick with what's currently working.

She ultimately made the decision I'd previously hoped for, and I was extra relieved one other moment I was expecting didn't play out. Before getting to that, though, let's talk about what caught me completely off-guard.

Matt And Eve Kissed, And They Might Be A Romantic Item

Just as Riley's divorce party was shutting down, Matt apologized to Eve for overreacting about her dinging his car door. He agreed to pay the damages but didn't apologize. Eve did her recurring thing, where she said she knew that was his way of apologizing even if he wouldn't say it he was doing. In an unexpected moment after, she kissed Matt on the lips, and while that was all the Shifting Gears audience saw, Tim Allen's character implied before the ending credits that things went a lot further than that.

It wasn't that long ago I applauded the ABC sitcom for its restraint in not making Matt and Charlotte (played by Last Man Standing star Nancy Travis) a couple. Now we have Jenna Elfman's Eve potentially entering a romance with Matt, which is the last thing I saw coming. At least, not this soon, but now I feel grateful Jenna Elfman picked up the phone when Shifting Gears called. I'm excited to see where this relationship may head in future episodes, assuming the series returns for Season 2.

I'm Glad Gabe Didn't Kiss Riley When She Tried For It

I've long said Shifting Gears is one of the most surprising entries on 2025 TV schedule, and the subversion of expectations in the Season 1 finale solidified that for me. When Gabe offered to take Riley home after she partied a little too hard at her divorce party, I felt I saw what was going to happen from a mile away. Then, Riley went in for the kiss, and surprisingly, Gabe backed off.

While I think it's inevitable that Gabe and Riley will date, I do agree they shouldn't have pulled the trigger on it immediately after her deciding to move forward with her divorce. We need some time to let the storyline breathe and for their relationship to develop naturally, and I think Shifting Gears will do that should it return for more episodes on ABC. Critics were all over the place with the show, though we at CinemaBlend think it's worthy of renewal. Time will tell!

All of Shifting Gears Season 1 is now available to stream on Hulu. Check out the series and keep an eye out for news on Season 2, and stick with CinemaBlend as we track all the new and returning shows coming out throughout 2025.

I watch a lot of television. I could argue with a straight face that it’s for my job, but really, deep down, I kinda just love watching TV. I’d probably be consuming almost as much if I worked some other random job. It’s not confined to any specific genre either. Detective shows, prestige dramas, professional wrestling, reality competitions, sports, edgy comedies, Hallmark romances, game shows, it’s all on my DVR, and the thing is, I watch them all for different reasons. Like, for example, Shifting Gears, which I love because it feels like a TV show created and executed by sitcom veterans who time-traveled from the year 1994.

I was attempting to explain this to one of my friends a few weeks ago, and he legitimately thought I was trying to roast Tim Allen or mock Shifting Gears. I wasn’t. Last week, I tried to express the same opinion to a different friend, and she asked why I would consider “feeling dated” to be a positive quality. I don’t. That’s not what I was trying to say or what I think.

I’m not watching Shifting Gears because of some hipster irony thing or because I just can’t believe a show like this exists in 2025. I’m watching it because it makes me feel the same way watching a sitcom in 1994 made me feel, and there aren’t many shows on television trying to hit those emotional beats anymore. It’s simply a family sitcom that works for some of the same reasons many classic family sitcoms from the early 1990s worked.

That starts with the tone. Shifting Gears is about an estranged father and daughter, played by Tim Allen and Kat Dennings, who reconnect after the mom passes and the daughter’s marriage falls apart. She moves back in alongside her two kids, and they’re all forced to adjust to their new reality in a multi-generational household filled with different personalities and opposing worldviews. The show tackles all the issues you’d expect, but it does so with honest, yet superficial sincerity.

Not every show needs gritty realism. In fact, an overwhelming majority of television shows going for gritty realism suck at it and are far worse off for trying. Shifting Gears doesn’t try. Instead, it finds that 90s sweet spot where it’s honest enough to acknowledge and address serious and sometimes sad issues, but it doesn’t dwell on them or try to investigate them from every angle. It has the characters talk about them, connect in a heartfelt way, offer some common sense advice and then move on with a joke or two.

That’s why Shifting Gears can give us an episode where the A-plot is about a neighboring business putting a picnic bench in the alley and another episode where the A-plot is about Kat Dennings’ estranged husband coming back into the picture to reconnect with his kids, and it still feels like the same show working within the same emotional spectrum. In the latter, we get to see Tim Allen deliver a speech to his son-in-law about how he needs to step up as a father and as a man, but it’s peppered with just enough jokes and it’s taken well enough by the son-in-law that it doesn’t feel too heavy. And that’s what I want out of this show.

I also want consistent humor, and Shifting Gears is consistently pretty funny. I say pretty funny because it’s not hitting me with jokes that I want to immediately text to my wife, but it’s clever and amusing enough that I have a half-smile on my face throughout like 2/3rds of every episode. When there’s not one of those more serious plots I outlined above, much of the humor is about lower stake things like food or generational stereotypes or how the world is changing, but once again, that’s what I’m looking for out of this show.

I’m also looking for a lot of Tim Allen and Kat Dennings, which the show has no problem giving. Allen as the curmudgeonly dad that means well despite his attitude and Dennings as the snarky, alternative daughter with a sharp tongue is a great formula. Those two are among the best versions of those archetypes you can cast, and the show understands that. Almost every episode is written with several extended scenes where they’re able to play off one another, and they always squeeze the most out of the material.

You could say the same thing about the rest of the cast too. Shifting Gears is quite clearly Tim Allen’s show with Kat Dennings as the co-main character and primary foil, but the rest of the supporting cast is really well chosen too. Both of the kids are better than your average sitcom child actors and have some real personality to their roles, and the other recurrings are, like Allen and Dennings, among the best versions of people who play those types of roles.

Sean William Scott has made a career out of playing the friend who’s funny but kind of a jerk but also has some layers you don’t expect. He’s cast here as Tim Allen’s number two at work and maybe a possible love interest for Dennings and is obviously fantastic. He’s joined by Daryl Mitchell, who plays another dude at work who just fires off one-liners. You might remember him as the teacher from 10 Things I Hate About You, and if you remember that thing, I don’t need to tell you he’s perfect for this. Jenna Elfman is also recurring as a neighbor and competing business owner who’s an arch-nemesis but also maybe a love interest for Allen. As a Dharma and Greg fan, I’m into that. Even guest stars have been perfectly chosen too.

Long story short, I love Shifting Gears. It’s not a show I obsess about between episodes, but it is one that delivers exactly what I expect every single time I put it on. Unfortunately, that’s increasingly rare. We’re living in an age where a really high percentage of TV shows seem to have no idea what they’re good at or why people are watching them. Way too many of them think they need to be as serious or as deep as possible in order to improve themselves. That’s great for the a dozen or so things on television that are brilliant and innovative and have unique things to say, but for the rest of them, it’s often an annoying detour.

Shifting Gears would have crushed in 1994, even when there were 15 other shows on network TV trying to do exactly this. It’s currently crushing in 2025 when there's only a couple others, and if you put it into a time capsule and launch into the future, it’ll crush in 2056 when there might not be any. The awkward family dynamics sitcom filled with generational humor and well-intentioned misunderstandings just works. It might not be the coolest elevator pitch to a TV executive trying to win Emmys, but it’s a formula many of us relate to and find comfort in watching. Shifting Gears is just about the best version of that formula you’ll ever find, and that is not an insult. It's simply an observation and a reason why I watch it and love it every single week.

TV co-stars' chemistry can sometimes be an overlooked strength, especially when it comes to sitcoms. The best examples are evidenced by many years spent making audiences crack up, while the worst... well, those are better left ignored. Thankfully, comedy vets Tim Allen and Kat Dennings continue to bring their splendid on-screen relationship to the 2025 TV schedule in ABC's Shifting Gears, and their back-and-forth dynamic is just as enjoyable behind the scenes.

I'm a bit shocked that Shifting Gears hasn't scored a Season 2 renewal yet after fellow network favorites High Potential and Abbott Elementary landed new seasons, but I'll just assume the big bosses are trying to figure out just how many dozens of extra episodes to add to the order. In the meantime, ABC shared a fun video on Instagram that highlights just how easy-breezy-lemon-squeezey Allen and Dennings are in real life.

The vid's theme covers a variety of elements that both co-stars love about working on Shifting Gears, and as it turns out, the Home Improvement vet does indeed enjoy sharing the screen with the occasional MCU star. Here's one exchange:

• TIM ALLEN: I like working with her. It makes it fun.
• KAT DENNINGS: Did you hear that? America, he likes working with me!
• TIM ALLEN: It’s just fun. It’s like a chip off the old block as an actor. The guy I’m playing, it does seem… When she does stuff, they even said, it looks like a female version of me. It’s kind of creepy.
• KAT DENNINGS: It's true.

Kat Dennings may not be known for her oddball method acting behavior before and during projects, but she must have some of that natural talent if she's already being pegged as having the same physical movements as Tim Allen. It's when she starts grunting at everything and adding vintage car decorations all over the place that someone might need to start worrying.

Speaking of physical noises that aren't applicable substitutes for traditional language, Dennings shared that Allen is apparently always making audible noises on the set before filming begins, though this noise sounds slightly more downbeat and frustrated than his stand-up-friendly grunts.

• KAT DENNINGS: I want people to know that every five minutes, Tim makes this noise: ‘Eughhh.’ Off-camera. It’s happening before every scene. And I want the audience to know.
• TIM ALLEN: I can’t stop myself, and I don’t like it.
• KAT DENNINGS: I like it. I think you do like it.
• TIM ALLEN: I’m tired of it. I’m tired of myself. I actually say to myself, "Stop doing that."
• KAT DENNINGS: But now I’m doing it.

She just can't stop sharing similarities with her fictional father! It seems like Dennings and Allen are already so close that we can expect to see her reuniting with him in a decade on whatever sitcom he stars in next. After all, Shifting Gears fans have already seen him paired back up with Last Man Standing co-star Nancy Travis for a Valentine's Day ep (which thankfully didn't get romantic), and we know that Jay Leno will soon guest-star as well.

Another thing they both love about starring in Shifting Gears is playing the stories out in front of a live audience, which they're quick to say is NOT a laugh track. And Dennings pointed out that the live crowd is far more boisterous than any recorded chortles would be, because they're all amped up by watching Tim Allen in his natural element, even if he's too humble to admit it.

• KAT DENNINGS: When Tim makes a joke, sometimes the audience is screaming, like…
• TIM ALLEN: "Get out!" [Laughs.] "We didn’t pay to see you do your stupid bits!"
• KAT DENNINGS: No, they’re scream-laughing so much, as if they’re seeing — which they are — their favorite basketball player.

Viewers never have long to wait for new episodes of Shifting Gears, which airs on ABC every Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m., and streams the next day with a Hulu subscription.

Everybody loves a fun TV reunion, and sitcom fans had it made when Last Man Standing vet Nancy Travis re-joined Tim Allen on-screen for his newest network comedy, ABC’s Shifting Gears. She popped in for the Valentine’s Day episode for some low-level post-grief connecting with Allen’s widower Matt, and while we’re happy it didn’t immediately spark a romantic subplot, it would certainly be great to have the actress back, not to mention all the other LMS vets.

With Allen and Travis’ former on-screen daughter Kaitlin Dever set to cause post-apocalyptic chaos on The Last of Us Season 2, the Kominsky Method vet spoke with US Weekly about working again with Last Man Standing colleagues (and making them laugh). When asked about the possibility of Dever and her fictional siblings potentially popping up in Matt and Riley’s lives, Travis said:

Though Nancy Travis did share the potentially disappointing viewpoint that she doesn't really foresee herself playing Allen's on-screen wife again, she does sound up for returning to the show in the future as Charlotte, assuming the character's connection with Matt bucks romantic expectations. I think it'd be great to have a sitcom like this with two non-married adult characters of the opposite sex who become BFFs without any lovey-dovey complications.

Not that Travis would have to be the one to make that happen, since Matt could also spark a friendship with characters played by other Last Man Standing vets like Amanda Fuller or Molly McCook. Though they might prefer to pal around with Kat Dennings' Riley.

While she was the first LMS vet to join Allen again in Shifting Gears, we already know she won't be the last, as fellow former co-star Jay Leno will appear in a future episode. And Travis doesn't think it'll end there, either, even bringing up Dennings' former sitcom as well. In her words:

And we will be here waiting and watching for all of those characters to show up. How cool would it be if there was some kind of a car show, and all of the attendees were actors from past Tim Allen and Kat Dennings projects? Jonathan Taylor Thomas, this means you. Or, you know, whoever.

Even though Last Man Standing's former showrunner Kevin Abbott is currently heading up Reba McEntire's Happy Place on NBC, Shifting Gears is spearheaded by Michelle Nader, who was a writer and producer on 2 Broke Girls. So there's definitely connective tissue running throughout this show, even if it's not all connected to Tim Allen's past.

Shifting Gears airs new episodes every Wednesday night on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET, and streams the next day with a Hulu subscription.

Shifting Gears is taking a break this week, but don't worry; it'll be back on the 2025 TV schedule soon. This week presents the perfect opportunity to catch up on previous episodes with a Hulu subscription, or if you're all current like me, to think about the story so far. I've grown quite attached to Kat Dennings' Riley, and had to share my hopes for her story.

Dennings is loving her return to comedy sitcoms, and I'm not surprised, given how much she has to work with when it comes to Riley. The character is going through a lot amidst a divorce, moving back in with her estranged father, and getting her children settled in a new city, but she does her best to keep it all moving. With that said, I can see her story moving in a few different directions and had to express my hopes for her character for future episodes.

I Hope Riley Doesn't Get Back Together With Jimmy

With Riley facing many new struggles in moving in with her father, Matt (Tim Allen), I wonder if she'll feel tempted to reconcile with her ex-husband, Jimmy (Lucas Neff). In Jimmy's one appearance so far, we've seen him eager to get back together with Riley and return to being a rockstar with his family on the road.

While Riley is adamant that leaving Jimmy is the best decision, she struggles in her new life at Shifting Gears. I hope I'm wrong, but I feel she could feel compelled to try to return to a life she was once comfortable with, if only for a little while.

I'm Also Hopeful Riley Steers Clear Of Seann William Scott's Gabriel

Tim Allen's return to primetime television has many of the classic tropes of a sitcom, including a "will they, won't they" storyline between Kat Dennings' Riley and Seann William Scott's Gabriel. Shifting Gears seems intent on teasing a romance between these two. Right now, it feels like that's far away from happening, and if I'm being honest, I'm not sure I want to see that.

I'd much prefer Riley and Gabe being best buddies who can confide in each other at work. Maybe I'll have a change of heart as the season goes on and new details arise, but probably not.

I Really Hope Riley Can Overcome Her Insecurities About Starting Over In Life

I hated seeing how upset Riley was when meeting up with her old friend Caitlyn (Brenda Song), and ultimately leaving dinner because of her insecurities about starting over in life. Anyone who has had to "reboot" their life in their 30s can attest to this, and the sensitivity they may have to others whilst going through it. It's not easy, but even with all that's going against her, Riley is not a failure.

While Riley is going through some hard times, she's picking up the pieces and ultimately getting her life together to set up a future for herself and her children. Add all that on top of the fact that she's navigating reuniting with her father after years of estrangement and coping with the death of her mother and man; she's going through a lot.

Overall, I'm very excited to see more of Riley on Shifting Gears, and given Tim Allen and Kat Dennings' funny responses to the #1 new comedy news, I think we'll see her character undergo many changes. Here's hoping all her future decisions are for the best, though given how sitcoms usually go, I have a feeling she'll have a few missteps along the way. I can't help but think she may try to go back to her ex-husband despite her insistence that the marriage is over.

Shifting Gears returns to ABC with a new episode on Wednesday, February 26th at 8:00 p.m. ET. I'm eager to see the rest of Season 1, and I'm crossing my fingers for more scenes of Kat Dennings dancing after that hilarious moment in a recent episode.