Tim Allen explains his Shifting Gears character and hints at an important future casting announcement for the sitcom. Allen plays Matt Parker, a stubborn, widowed father whose daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), unexpectedly moves back in with him and her children. Shifting Gears‘ cast features Maxwell Simpkins and Barrett Margolis as Riley’s children and Matt’s grandchildren, Carter and Georgia. American Pie‘s Sean William Scott, NCIS: New Orleans‘ Daryl Mitchell, and Dharma & Greg‘s Jenna Elfman are part of the cast as well.
During an interview with ScreenRant‘s Owen Danoff, Allen reveals Matt’s tragic backstory, some of the life regrets he has, and more details about his personality. He explains how Matt never got to fulfill his dream of becoming a designer after his father had a heart attack and is still grieving his wife’s sudden death. Nevertheless, he emphasizes that Matt has a great sense of humor. Allen also teases that Matt has another child, a son, who is in the Navy and who will be introduced later on in the series. Check out Allen’s comments below:
[My Shifting Gears] character, Matt Parker, went to Rhode Island School of Design, and on his way to school, his dad had a massive heart attack. He had to come back to North Hollywood to take over the business and never became a designer. He never followed his dream, so there’s that little frustration [about] what my life could have been. I had two kids—one’s in the Navy, who we’ll meet later—and then Kat Dennings, [who is] wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. She plays my daughter, who left in high school. I wanted a contentious relationship with her, all while my wife, the love of my life, went out jogging and had a heart attack and died. It sounds like a terrible tragedy, and it is. Somehow, this guy saved a sense of humor and turned into a crotchety [man]. We’re dealing with grief as it comes out. Then, his daughter comes back in his life and needs a place to stay. It’s just the wrong time, but he says yes anyway.
What This Means For Shifting Gears
Matt’s Backstory Adds More Weight To Rekindling His Relationship With Riley
Based on Allen’s comments, Matt will join the ranks of sitcom characters with surprisingly tragic backstories. He has lost both his father and his wife through sudden circumstances and has also had to live with the resentment of not being able to pursue his professional dreams. Comedy is often used as a coping mechanism and as an accessible way to deal with sensitive subject matter. It will be intriguing to see how Shifting Gears strikes a balance between its comedy and the tragedy behind its story.
Shifting Gears debuts on January 8 on ABC and will be available to stream on Hulu.
The premise of Matt and his estranged daughter rekindling their relationship is even more meaningful when knowing Matt’s backstory. In particular, the tragedy of losing Matt’s wife and Riley’s mother is something that the father and daughter duo will need to continue working through together. The revelation that Matt also has a son, and that Riley has a brother, adds another dimension to the family dynamics. Depending on how prominent the role is, Shifting Gears could end up casting another sitcom veteran in this role.
Shifting Gears Has Immense Potential
Between its heartfelt premise and talented cast, Shifting Gears has the potential to be one of the best sitcoms of 2025. As surprising as the details about Matt’s past may be, the best sitcoms are often funny while telling a deeper and more emotional story. A sitcom like How I Met Your Mother was able to achieve this and Shifting Gears may be able to follow suit. It is definitely a sitcom to watch and keep an eye on in 2025 and has the makings of something truly special.
Matt, a widowed and stubborn owner of a classic car restoration shop, has his life turned upside down when his estranged daughter, Riley, and her teenage children move in with him.
- Release Date
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January 8, 2025
- Seasons
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1