Home Improvement Guest Stars Won’t Be Tim Allen’s Only Career Callback In Shifting Gears Season 2, And I Can’t Wait

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As a seasoned movie critic, I’m thrilled to share that Tim Allen, an iconic TV and silver screen legend for several decades, is back with another cherished character – Matt Parker, a car-restoration aficionado. This new role will grace our screens during the Season 2 premiere of Shifting Gear, set for 2025. Fans will be pleased to know that three characters from his classic sitcom, Home Improvement, are making a guest appearance in this premiere. However, the showrunner hinted that this isn’t the only nod to pop culture we’ll see – there’s more to look forward to!

Michelle Nader, the creative head of the sitcom, chatted with US Weekly about the direction of Season 2 for Matt and Kat Dennings’ character Riley, as well as their connections with other characters. Since Eve, played by Jenna Elfman, developed a strong bond with Riley by the finale, it was natural that their relationship would be discussed. Regarding their love story, Nader mentioned incorporating references to the actors’ careers into the narrative development of their romance. In her own words:

– Michelle Nader spoke about the upcoming season’s focus on Matt and Kat Dennings’ character Riley, as well as their connections with other characters, to US Weekly.
– Since Eve, portrayed by Jenna Elfman, formed a close bond with Riley by the end of the finale, their relationship was a key topic in the conversation.
– Nader hinted at weaving aspects of the actors’ careers into the romance between the characters as the love story unfolds.

We deliberately approached those aspects with care as our aim for this contemporary sitcom is to incorporate the aspects of current TV production, such as serialization and streaming. Therefore, we wanted to develop these relationships gradually, in a style reminiscent of a romantic comedy. Consequently, you can expect some significant developments stemming from those hidden references.

One notable Easter egg from Season 1 was revealing Eve’s character as a choreographer, which later on reflected Jenna Elfman’s actual background as a professional dancer in her early career. While Matt’s car shop could be seen as an allusion to Tim Allen’s personal passion for cars, it’s less hidden than the typical Easter eggs we usually come across in shows.

Season 1 of “Shifting Gears” saw several well-timed reunions for Tim Allen, reminiscent of his time on “Last Man Standing”. The sequence began with Nancy Travis making a guest appearance, which was then followed by Jay Leno’s cameo. Also, you might recall that Kaitlin Dennings reconnected with her former co-star Brenda Song from their days on “Dollface”. While these reunions are not limited to actors from previous shows, I’m eagerly anticipating the appearances of Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn, and Debbe Dunning.

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

It’s truly captivating to observe their dynamic unfold. Their bond is intriguing, and as it progresses, things are about to get quite lively – albeit with some ups and downs along the way.

It’s debatable whether Michelle Nader can accurately claim the title of “showrunner” for the series, given that her explanation seemed to involve a metaphor about changing gears.

We’re left guessing about Riley and Seann William Scott’s character Gabriel until Season 2 begins on ABC, airing every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, starting October 1st. If you can’t catch it live, don’t worry, episodes will be available the following day via Hulu subscription.

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2025-09-10 06:08