In a move that's got fans buzzing with that familiar mix of nostalgia and fresh comedy, Tim Allen's Shifting Gears roared back onto ABC screens this week for its second season premiere on October 1. The show, centering on Allen's widowed auto shop owner Matt navigating life after loss, leans hard into heartfelt laughs. But it's the parade of Allen's past TV partners that steals the spotlight right from the start.
Patricia Richardson, who played the no-nonsense Jill Taylor opposite Allen's Tim on Home Improvement for eight seasons back in the '90s, makes a poignant return. She's joined by fellow Home Improvement alums Richard Karn as the tool-savvy Al Borland and Debbe Dunning as the bubbly Heidi. Indeed, the episode kicks off with Matt dragged to a grief support group, where these faces from Allen's glory days pop up unexpectedly. It's a clever nod, or perhaps a blatant tug at heartstrings, to his sitcom legacy.
Moreover, Nancy Travis, Allen's onscreen wife Vanessa from the long-running Last Man Standing, reprises her role as Charlotte, the widow pushing Matt toward moving on. She even gets a scene confronting Jenna Elfman's new character Eve, Allen's budding love interest—a moment that's equal parts awkward and amusing, like watching old flames circle a new spark. The trailer teased this romantic tension early, with Matt wrestling his feelings amid the shop's usual chaos involving daughter Riley, played by Kat Dennings.
Season 2 ramps up with an expanded order of 18 episodes, up from the first season's 13, giving more room for guest stars like Jay Leno and potentially others. Showrunner Michelle Nader has hinted at deeper dives into Matt's grief journey, blending humor with those subtle emotional punches Allen does so well. However, some might see the reunion overload as a safe bet, recycling familiarity instead of bold risks.
Yet, as Shifting Gears hits the gas on this nostalgic highway, one wonders if these callbacks will keep the engine running smooth or just idle in the rearview mirror.