The popular actor, Tim Allen, is gearing for a comeback on ABC. Allen is slated to headline a new multicamera comedy pilot, ‘Shifting Gears.’ The series, under development at the Disney-associated broadcast network, adds another feather to ABC’s fresh year-round development model. The sitcom pivots around Matt, a character played by Allen, who is a gruff, widowed proprietor of a car restoration shop.
Shifting Gears: What’s in Store?
‘Shifting Gears’ unfurls around the life of Matt, played by Allen, who stubbornly owns and operates a classic car restoration shop. His life takes an unexpected turn when his disconnected daughter, along with her adolescent children, move into his place, kicking off a real-life restoration saga.
The Creative Team
Mike and Julie Scully have come on board to co-pen the script and are set to co-produce the pilot along with Tim Allen. The other contributors include the team of ‘Last Man,’ with names like Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Richard Baker, and Rick Messina stepping in.
Last Man Standing: Allen’s Journey
Allen has previously shined in the ‘Last Man Standing,’ a series initially developed for ABC, where it successfully ran for six seasons out of its total nine before switching to Fox due to a change in ownership. The show was a production of 20th Television, a studio earlier owned by Fox. The series was licensed to ABC by Fox, which was then procured by Disney. Disney later licensed the show back to Fox, where it aired its concluding three seasons.
ABC’s Year-Round Development Model
The development of ‘Shifting Gears’ coincides with ABC’s shift towards a year-round development model. This is the first pilot order of 2024 for ABC. It comes as the network has already lined up the drama series ‘High Potential’ for the 2024-25 broadcast season, which has been in development for over a year.
2024 BroadCast Pilot Orders
‘Shifting Gears’ marks the fourth broadcast pilot order of 2024, with NBC being the only other network producing pilots this season.
Wrapping Up
Tim Allen’s comeback with ‘Shifting Gears’ is seemingly promising. As he returns to the ABC network, audiences can anticipate a renewed comedic experience. Stay up-to-date with the latest shows by visiting HitPlay.
