Shifting Gears

Matt Parker is a stubborn widower who runs a classic car restoration shop and prefers wrenches to heart-to-heart talks. His life is orderly, ruled by schedules, grease, and the ghosts of the past. When his estranged daughter Riley shows up with her two teenage kids and moves into his house, the household and the shop start changing. The arrival forces Matt to rethink how he connects, parent, and grieves, while Riley tries to balance motherhood, career ambitions, and a strained relationship with her dad. Humor comes from clashing habits, generational misunderstandings, and the literal restoration projects that mirror the slow repair of family bonds, without giving away how those repairs ultimately turn out.

Created by Julie Thacker and Mike Scully, Shifting Gears premiered in 2025 and stars Tim Allen as Matt, Kat Dennings as Riley, Seann William Scott as Gabriel, Daryl Mitchell as Stitch, and Maxwell Simkins as Carter. The show marks a reunion of sitcom talent and leans into classic multi-camera comfort with a modern sensibility.

As of its first season the series hasn't earned major awards nominations, which isn't unusual for a new network comedy. Industry attention has centered on cast chemistry and whether the show will find long term recognition in Emmy or Critics Choice ballots as it develops its voice.

Early audience chatter has focused on Tim Allen's return to a family-centered comedy and on the show's affectionate use of classic car culture as a visual motif. Social feeds have highlighted scenes of workshop banter and redesign projects, and some viewers have used the show's restoration images in fan art and posts about family repair and second chances.

Critical reception is mixed to positive, reflected in a 6.3/10 average from 59 votes, with praise aimed at the cast's ease together and the show's warm tone. Critics point out moments that feel familiar to sitcom viewers, while others appreciate the way grief, parenting, and working-class pride are handled with humor and tenderness. The series leans into themes of reconciliation, responsibility, and reinventing routine life.