‘Shifting Gears’ brings Tim Allen back to TV, along with some familial political differences
Tim Allen returns to the world of multi-camera sitcoms for another round, this time with ‘Shifting Gears‘ on ABC. After the success of ‘Home Improvement,’ which ran for eight seasons on ABC and catapulted him into film stardom, and ‘Last Man Standing’ that brought him back to television after a decade in movies, finishing its nine-season run (six on ABC, three on Fox) in 2021, Allen is back again, this time on ABC. With ‘Shifting Gears’ set to premiere on Wednesday, we can expect to see Allen, who is fit at 71 and doesn’t shy away from showing it in his tight T-shirt, well into his 80s.
In a nutshell, Allen portrays Matt, a man with a passion for classic and custom vehicles, who owns a garage. Joining the team at this establishment are Daryl Mitchell as Stitch, a quick-witted joker, and Seann William Scott as Gabriel, a handsome, friendly, yet somewhat intellectually challenged character. Unbeknownst to Matt, his estranged daughter Riley (Kat Dennings), who had abandoned him 15 years prior with a Pontiac GTO, returns to his life, now divorced and in need of a refuge for herself and her two children, Carter (Maxwell Simkins) and Georgia (Barrett Margolis). Carter is a dreamy teenager, while Georgia has aspirations of becoming a billionaire like inventor Lori Greiner. The child actors deliver impressive performances.
Matt, who’s quite traditional, remarked, “I suppose it’ll be tough to find someone content if his partner earns more than he does.
“I don’t need a man to feel complete,” replies Georgia.
“You want to kill a spider, a man’s going to look pretty darn good.”
“I have a shoe.”
For quite some time now, father and daughter have maintained a strained relationship, with occasional contact due to their shared family ties. This disconnect can be traced back to the death of Riley’s mother several years ago; she served as the link that kept them connected.
Riley, once known for her rebellious ways and earning the title “Mean for No Reason” in high school, is now striving to foster a nurturing environment for her children. Matt, who often expresses his disapproval with phrases like “in my day we were,” finds Riley’s parenting style overly protective. Despite their differences, they must learn to coexist under the same roof. In essence, you can visualize the challenges they face in navigating their new dynamic.
In 2011, when “Last Man Standing,” featuring a character similar to Allen’s, debuted, it was during the third year of the Obama administration. At that time, a show with a vocal conservative protagonist felt distinct within the TV landscape; now, as we approach uncertain times, such a character appears more like a charming, somewhat moderate grump. Matt criticizes news pundits for dictating what viewers should think, implying he’s capable of forming his own, fiery opinions. When Stitch senses one of Matt’s rants coming on, he guesses, “I suppose you’re going to say we’re all heading towards disaster,” to which Matt responds, “We no longer manufacture hand baskets in the U.S. We do produce excuses, quitters, diabetes, and celebrities who use diabetes medication for weight loss instead.” He describes Gabriel’s hat as resembling a hat that has been left out too long in Portland.
The lighthearted banter in “Shifting Gears” can give the impression of being outdated, as its socio-political humor seems obligatory and lacks depth, serving more as fodder for character discussions rather than making insightful comments on contemporary living. The dialogue doesn’t seem to push any boundaries; this show focuses on accepting challenging relationships and setting aside disagreements. (Riley: “Can we try to communicate like mature individuals?” Matt: “Have you watched the news recently? That’s no longer a thing.”) This is quintessential humor.
Television
25 years following the end of ‘Home Improvement’, the actor shares why the show, featuring Tim Allen, hasn’t resurfaced in the ’90s nostalgia trend: It’s tied to his political views.
Allen and Dennings effortlessly blend hostility and warmth in their interactions. They’re both veterans of live-audience sitcoms, with Dennings having starred for six seasons on “2 Broke Girls.” They excel at talking over each other and navigating awkward silences. In a touching scene, they sit side by side on a couch, hesitant to make a move, and he tenderly touches her foot. If there’s a fresh take on Tim Allen in this series, it’s the sensitive version who, reminded of his late wife and the untouched flour sifter, almost sheds a tear. However, even his self-important characters have always had a softer side (and honestly, does anyone really need a new Tim Allen?).
He shares with Riley that it’s quite distinct here on his own, and he believes that’s why he tunes into the news every morning to catch the sound of a woman’s voice – though at times, it might be Nancy Pelosi.
“Yeah, it’s annoying the way she’s trying to save democracy.”
The television show “Duncanville” was developed by Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully, who are also known for their work on “The Simpsons” and co-creation of “Duncanville” alongside Amy Poehler. It’s said that they departed following the pilot episode, which might explain why the second installment – out of two available to stream – appears somewhat unfocused.
It’s worth noting that the themes portrayed in this series, such as family political disagreements or multi-generational living situations, aren’t novel. These topics have been explored in sitcoms for quite some time, with shows like “All in the Family” setting precedents decades before this one was even created. The reason these formulas persist is because they offer predictable, reliable, and unsurprising narratives that audiences appreciate.
Read More
- PHA PREDICTION. PHA cryptocurrency
- MOVR PREDICTION. MOVR cryptocurrency
- WIF PREDICTION. WIF cryptocurrency
- FLR PREDICTION. FLR cryptocurrency
- ASTR PREDICTION. ASTR cryptocurrency
- MBL PREDICTION. MBL cryptocurrency
- ZRO PREDICTION. ZRO cryptocurrency
- UNI PREDICTION. UNI cryptocurrency
- MAGIC PREDICTION. MAGIC cryptocurrency
- BNB PREDICTION. BNB cryptocurrency
2025-01-08 14:31