If anybody had questions on whether or not Tim Allen would take pleasure in a profitable return to sitcom-land for ABC’s Shifting Gears, the present’s immediately huge rankings introduced fast solutions. So I believe it’s a secure wager that followers can be watching Matt and Riley’s sophisticated relationship enjoying out effectively past the 2025 TV schedule. And it sounds just like the comic can be joined by one other well-known face that he is aware of fairly effectively.
Each Allen and the Shifting Gears Instagram web page gave viewers a giant increase of pleasure with the reveal {that a} very particular visitor star is on the best way, with this because the teaser message:
A well-known face is coming to Shifting Gears 👀
Simply how acquainted she is will depend upon followers’ familiarity with Tim Allen’s earlier sitcom Final Man Standing, as a result of we’re speaking about Journey star Nancy Travis!
That is proper, the actress who starred as Vanessa Baxter throughout all 9 seasons of Final Man Standing can be reteaming with Allen for at the least one Season 1 episode of Shifting Gears. We are able to at all times hope for extra, however that’ll have to attend.
It does sound like sparks could fly in a method or one other when Travis pops by, as she’ll be taking over the position of Charlotte, described by US Weekly as a “spirited widow” who crosses paths with the car-restoring Matt Parker and makes a connection. Will or not it’s one thing of a rebound romance, or one thing much less direct? I am unable to wait to seek out out.
Tim Allen did not have quite a bit to reveal by the use of Charlotte’s arrival, however did say this:
The Nancy Travis story is actually, actually intelligent.
Tim Allen talked about how Nancy Travis has needed to name him out previously when he asks about her and their youthful Final Man Standing co-stars, reminding him that they don’t seem to be truly his daughters, and that they don’t seem to be the Baxters. Perhaps solely having her again for one episode will hold such an attachment from forming right here.
The actor fortunately does appear to remain in good graces along with his TV important others. Patricia Richardson, who in fact performed spouse and mother extraordinaire Jill Taylor on Residence Enchancment, has spoken kindly of Allen for years and has defended him towards naysaying critics. She additionally notably reunited together with her former co-star for a visitor spot on Final Man Standing some years in the past, so it could have been fairly disappointing had that sample not continued on with Shifting Gears and Travis.
Although contemplating his Shifting Gears character’s spouse died whereas jogging forward of the collection’ narrative, I’m undecided if which means he’d should get a ghost to guest-star in his subsequent sitcom, or if showrunner Michelle Nader has plans to solid somebody to play Matt’s spouse for flashbacks. Both method, that possible gained’t be a difficulty for years to come back, if in any respect.
Shifting Gears airs Wednesday nights on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET, forward of recent episodes of Abbott Elementary, with new episodes streaming the subsequent day with a Hulu subscription. Contemplating the school-set comedy was just lately renewed for Season 5, does that imply a Season 2 announcement is coming for Allen’s newest?