Delicate spoilers under for anybody who hasn’t but watched Shifting Gears‘ Season 1 finale on ABC or streaming with a Hulu subscription.
Already one of the widespread exhibits to debut on the 2025 TV schedule, the ABC sitcom Shifting Gears simply proved Tim Allen and Kat Dennings’ mixed worth as a daddy-daughter sitcom pairing. Tens of millions upon thousands and thousands of viewers have turned in every week, and lots of of them are already probably anticipating to see a follow-up to Matt and Riley’s surprising problems seen within the finale. However Season 2 hasn’t truly been ordered but.
I personally anticipated Shifting Gears to get renewed quickly after Excessive Potential and Abbott Elementary’s subsequent seasons have been confirmed. Nevertheless, ABC execs nonetheless haven’t made the decision, and that lack of an replace has sparked differing reactions from co-lead Dennings and the sitcom’s showrunner.
Kat Dennings Is Inherently Pessimistic, However Hopeful For Season 2
Having beforehand starred in 2 Broke Ladies, which was infamously canceled by CBS with out giving followers closure on its cliffhanger finale, Kat Dennings is aware of that ensures aren’t at all times an possibility in Hollywood, and is thus conserving a sensible thoughts about Shifting Gears‘ future. That mentioned, when requested by Deadline about not getting renewed for Season 2 but, she did level to the sitcom’s rankings and normal good word-of-mouth as causes to stay hopeful. (Or not less than for others to.) In her phrases:
No, we haven’t. In fact we’re all on pins and needles about it however hopefully we’ll. You simply by no means know with TV, however we’ve gotten such nice numbers and I’ve heard that individuals are completely happy. So who is aware of? I’m a really detrimental particular person, so I by no means anticipate something to occur.
It must be unusual to be on one of many largest and most outstanding TV networks within the nation, drawing an enormous viewers at a time when linear TV numbers are as little as ever, and nonetheless have to make use of phrases like “pins and needles” to speak about ready for renewal information. All whereas different networks, studios and streaming platforms are placing in renewals for tasks which will by no means attain a lifetime viewership that matches what a single episode of Shifting Gears brings in throughout ABC and Hulu.
In fact, TV renewals aren’t at all times nearly reputation. Tim Allen is a big TV star who probably earns a relatively massive per-episode paycheck for his newest sitcom, and it is not like he is the one huge identify on there. Plus, it is doable that he and sure different solid and crew members might produce other commitments that complicate the scheduling course of, and would should be ironed out earlier than season orders are made. In any case, the showrunner undoubtedly sounds extra optimistic…
Shifting Gears’ Showrunner Sounds Extra Assured About A Renewal
For all that Kat Dennings properly performed it cool and coy in regards to the comedy’s future, showrunner Michelle Nader spoke way more confidently about what she wish to see taking part in out in a follow-up season, and I am virtually satisfied that she received some informal assurances from community execs about what’s occurring behind closed doorways.
When requested by TVLine about Lucas Neff’s Jimmy popping up for some huge updates within the finale, Nader shared her hopes for the way that character might be used sooner or later, saying:
Jimmy is touring with the Foo Fighters however he’s undoubtedly nonetheless in love with Riley and needs to see his children. We love Lucas so he could be part of Season 2.
For what it is value, we can’t be very completely happy if RIley and Jimmy reconcile issues so shortly, since this complete first season has been about her studying navigate her and her children’ lives with out him. That mentioned, I am all in regards to the comedic problems that may come up from Jimmy being round and NOT having the ability to romance Riley as a lot as he’d like.
And that is not the one character Michelle Nader wish to discover in Season 2, ought to it occur. The sitcom boss was additionally requested about references made to Matt’s different baby, Sam, and whether or not or not followers may see Riley sharing the display screen together with her brother down the road. As Nader put it:
We hope to introduce Sam in Season 2. We expect he will likely be one other enjoyable casting alternative and an incredible character for everybody to complain to!
It feels like Shifting Gears‘ head honcho is as prepared as may be to start out crafting new storylines for these beloved characters, if solely somebody on the market would make the decision to substantiate Season 2 is occurring.
Not that I do know if I may even stand up to a actuality the place Tim Allen and Jenna Elfman are taking part in sitcom love pursuits with out the ’90s-fixated a part of my mind collapsing in on itself like a black gap. However I will be keen to strive, so get on it, ABC.