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Tim Allen is getting back in business with ABC.
The network responsible for Home Improvement and Last Man Standing has ordered Shifting Gears, a multi-camera sitcom pilot starring TV’s erstwhile Mike Baxter.
The potential series, which is being written by Duncanville creators Mike and Julie Scully, centers on Allen’s Matt, “the stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop,” according to the official logline. “When Matt’s estranged daughter and her teenage kids move into his house, the real restoration begins.”
UPDATE (APRIL 9): Kat Dennings (2 Broke Girls) has been cast as Allen’s TV daughter.
The Scullys are executive-producing alongside Allen and Last Man Standing EPs Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Richard Baker and Rick Messina. If it moves forward, Shifting Gears would air during the 2024-25 TV season.
Allen, of course, is best known for his breakout role as Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor on ABC’s Home Improvement, which ran for eight seasons and ended in 1999. That was followed by Last Man Standing, which ran for a combined nine seasons across ABC and Fox, and ended in 2021.
More recently, Allen reprised his big-screen role as Scott Calvin in the Disney+ sequel series The Santa Clauses, which thus far has aired two seasons. According to our sister site Deadline, there’s been no decision on a potential Season 3 renewal, though the earliest it is expected to return is 2025.
Should Shifting Gears receive a series order, Allen will be able to do both shows; Shifting Gears and The Santa Clauses are produced by the same studio, 20th Television.
TVLine will keep you posted once we learn more, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back soon. In the meantime, hit the comments with your reactions to the news.
This show sounds like it’s been done thousands of times already.
Old guy gets his life upended when a bunch of guys family remembers move in with him
I’m guessing Allen will also be playing a “man’s man” who has to learn how to get along with more progressive family members.
I’m gonna pass on this one.
How many more jokes will there be about how liberals are so dumb and silly with their forward thinking?
You people obviously never watched lms as the liberal cast members got the best jokes espically Jordan masterson who played Ryan and he got some of the best zingers and one of the best was when Ryan took over bud’s bud’s from the late Robert foster and they switched places where Ryan admired Regan and Tim admired pot
You’re right…I never watched it. Don’t plan to, either.
Hopefully a lot. Your tears fuel him.
That’s pretty sad for him
No, that’s cocaine.
Not necessarily what they will write.
Tim Allen is so talented he can play any sitcom… Can’t wait to see him back entertaining us. 🙏
Make Jay Leno a regular on this.
The description has him written all over it
Looking forward to it! Tim Allen is great in a sitcom, its always a fun enough way to spend a half hour.
All the downvoters forget that you can like a person’s acting and hate their politics.
.
(I’m probably going to get downvoted to heck on that statement, but I never come back and read the replies, so I don’t care if I get 200! HA!)
Would definitely watch this!
Sounds good to me.
Would love to see it paired with Not dead yet
So, they are taking Last Man Standing, killing off Vanessa, and having one of his daughters have teenagers.
Sounds like a slight reimagining of Thunder Alley (1994) with Ed Asner and a very young Haley Joel Osment. I’m in.
@ Will B: I remember that show.
I’d love to see him back
Loved all his shows
All have been timeless
Will give anything with Tim Allen in it a shot.
Love Tim Allen! Can’t wait for the new Series to begin! Have Jay Leno as a regular on there. Also, the lady that played Mike Baxters wife, have her on there too!
Oh if this does go to series is my guess you’ll see Richard karn, pat Richardson Nancy Travis jtt hector elizando Katlyn dever kristen fuller christoph sanders Jordan masterson Johnthan adams and anyone he worked with and my guess is the first time they had Nancy on it would be similar to when pat was on the first time on lms when she talked about her former husband
You’re predicting they’ll do what literally every other TV show does when the star of one show has a new show? OK, but that’s kind of like bragging about making a foul shot.
Oh yeah; I’m in.
I’m absolutely watching this. I’m sure Tim would laugh at all the people who are upset enough to downvote but not quite upset enough to speak up.
I love everything Tim Allen does and would love to see him in a new comedy series
Can’t wait love Tim Allen
Excellent news! He is sitcom gold. I don’t understand the hate on this article. If you don’t like him, don’t watch the show you bunch of softies. Show me on this doll where he hurt you.
Basic as Basic gets. No thanks.
I would say why shouldn’t Tim Allen return to sitcom with the right story line. He has proven himself in sitcom and movies and for myself I would like to see his character back in some form as he has the following as he has earned by embarrassing Americans qualities through the years.
It seemed like you were praising him until you threw in that unnecessary jab at the end. Please name three comedians that haven’t “embarrassed Americans qualities”
Everyone should laugh at themselves once in a while. Life is too serious. I love shows where all sides are poked at. And there’s a sad lack of those anymore.
After hearing on this site about how he treats other actors this is a hard pass. Retire please
Allen’s “controversial” political values reared their ugly head in Last Man Standing. I am sorry, not matter how funny the show may be (and it sounds like a retread of a plot so it may not be funny) i do not want a show with those politics.
Terrific, I can’t wait. Allen is one of TV’s funniest ever!
Zzzzzzzzz
I missed Tim. He’s hilarious.
ABC is also owned by Disney. Obviously there wouldn’t problems either way.
I am really hoping Jay Leno appears on shifting ears with Tim Allen.They are a great combination….