Back in the Driver's Seat

With more than three decades of sitcom experience, Tim Allen is getting the chance to play a TV dad that hits closest to home on ABC's Shifting Gears

- YANA GREBENYUK

Will Matt have a love interest? Maybe. "I just want it to happen where it's organic and proper," he tells Us.

Move over, Tim Taylor and Mike Baxter — there’s a new sitcom dad in town. After Home Improvement and Last Man Standing, Tim Allen wasn’t exactly planning to return to network TV, that is until Shifting Gears pulled up. “This is a new character and it’s much closer to me,” Allen tells Us about adapting the role to fit his personality. “I’ve been through grief in my life. I’ve also been blessed to be a comedian, and so that’s who this one is.”

The new ABC series (Wednesdays, 8 p.m.) introduces Allen as Matt, a widower who reconnects with his daughter (played by Kat Dennings) and her kids after years of estrangement. Allen not only got to shape his character, but his extensive car collection was also used as set props! Here, the actor, 71, discusses his journey back to our small screens.

“[Our] attitude about comedy is very similar. She cracks me up, and I’m not easy that way.” - TIM ALLEN ON COSTAR KAT DENNINGS

Was joining Shifting Gears an easy yes?

It was a complicated decision. I was filming Disney+’s The Santa Clauses at the time, and I said, “I really can’t think about this now. Do I want to do linear TV?” I was so depressed at how streaming has hurt television. So, if I did it, I wanted to elevate [the sitcom game].