After nearly a four-year hiatus, legendary actor Tim Allen returned to linear television Jan. 8 with the premiere of his new sitcom, Shifting Gears, on ABC. The show stars Allen as Matt, a widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop, as well as Kat Dennings as Riley, Matt’s daughter. Riley, whose relationship with her father had been strained since she was 18, brings her two kids, Carter and Georgia, to Matt’s shop, where she reveals she is broke, getting a divorce and needs a place for her and the kids to stay.

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Being the good father he is, Matt welcomes Riley into his home with open arms. The next day, while at the car shop, Matt lets Carter drive one of his cars when Carter reveals to his grandfather that he takes Uber everywhere. Carter promptly smashes the car into the back of Matt’s shop in one of the highlights of the pilot.

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By the end of the episode, Matt tells Riley it has been lonely the past few years with nobody but him in the house. Riley and Matt agree Riley’s late mother is the one who kept her and her father’s relationship afloat, but it’s time to repair their relationship. Riley wants her father in her life and the kids’ grandfather in theirs. The final scene sees Riley making her mother’s famous homemade biscuits, the same ones she made the day she had a heart attack and passed.

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For fans of Allen’s other shows, Home Improvement (1991-1998) and Last Man Standing (2011-2017 on ABC, 2018-2021 on FOX), Shifting Gears will be a hit. If Mike Baxter from Last Man Standing was an extension of Tim Taylor from Home Improvement, Matt Parker of Shifting Gears seems like an extension of Baxter. He still makes the same jokes about his politics and his belief that the current generation doesn’t work as hard as his. For that reason, if you’re not a fan of the 71-year-old Allen, this won’t be the show for you.

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As a fan of Allen, I enjoyed the pilot, but I do think the show needs some flushing out. Matt’s garage assistants – Gabriel and Stitch – had little to no character development. I see some potential with Carter and Georgia as sassy, witty children, but the show's two main characters were clearly Matt and Riley.

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Allen’s talent made the show worth the 30-minute watch alone, but for this show to be known as a fixture going forward, the development of side characters is a must. In every sitcom, the stars are the stars, but the other characters in the show are what takes it to the next level. If Shifting Gears fails, it may be Allen’s last sitcom on linear television, as streaming has taken over the industry, something Allen cites as a reason why he wanted to return to the sitcom world following the conclusion of Last Man Standing, according to his interview with US Magazine.  

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I’m looking forward to seeing what next week brings.

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Grade: B+

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