Tim Allen’s Newest Sitcom Receives Debut Rotten Tomatoes Score – How Does It Compare To His Past Shows?

Tim Allen’s newest show, Shifting Gears, has its Rotten Tomatoes score revealed. Debuting on ABC from creators Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully and showrunner Michelle Nader, the story of Shifting Gears follows the relationship between Matt (Allen) and his daughter (played by WandaVision and 2 Broke Girls star Kat Dennings). Matt is a widowed owner of a car restoration shop who lets his daughter, Riley, and his grandchildren move back in despite some complicated history. It airs on Wednesdays at 8 PM ET, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.

Shifting Gears has received a Rotten Tomatoes score, revealing that the new series is off to a rough start. The sitcom currently holds a 44% rating based on nine reviews, with five listed as negative and four listed as positive. The score breaks down to 3.30 out of 10 stars, indicating that the negative reviews are particularly sharp. The score will fluctuate as more reviews come in. Shifting Gears season 1 has a mixed record compared to Allen’s well-known TV comedies, coming in ahead of Last Man Standing season 1 (14%) but well behind Home Improvement‘s debut year (64%).

What Do The Reviews Say About Shifting Gears?

It’s A Familiar Allen Premise

With a cast that includes Seann William Scott, Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, Maxwell Simkins, and Barrett Margolis, with Brenda Song and Jenna Elfman in guest roles, the acting in Shifting Gears received solid feedback from critics. Dave Nemetz of TVLine writes: “It’s built surprisingly well, with a lot of the credit going to co-star Kat Dennings, who proves she can go toe-to-toe with Allen and match him jab for jab.” But where the show falters for some is exactly what would make it appeal to others; it’s similar to Allen’s past work.

This is made explicit in Daniel Feinberg’s review for The Hollywood Reporter as he writes “I watched Shifting Gears thinking that it was Last Man Standing without the guts to come right out and just be Last Man Standing.” The review also cites that the acting is capable, even though the premise and effort are lacking. It’s worth noting that critics have only screened two episodes, meaning that the show could evolve with more time. But, for now, for better or worse, it’s exactly what is advertised.

Is Shifting Gears At Least Funny?

The Comedy Also Falters.

More than any similarities to Allen’s previous comedies, a key sticking point is that the first two episodes are not all that funny. The humor is dinged by going for the lowest common denominator and favoring easy laughs. This may reflect that Shifting Gears is still at the point where it’s introducing the characters and establishing their dynamics. But it could also mean that the ABC show doesn’t plan to grow beyond what its audience expects it to be.

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In his review for IndieWire, Ben Travers gives Shifting Gears a D+ and writes that it “needs better jokes, better timing, better arcs, better set design (the kitchen looks like a Home Depot display room), and better use of its stars.” The fact that the sitcom doesn’t make better use of its ensemble is a recurring theme, with American Pie alum Sean William Scott highlighted as someone the initial episodes don’t make much of. His character, Gabriel, looks to be set up for a romance with Riley. Albeit, so far, he is the lovable doofus.

In a more positive review, Alison Herman writes for Variety and underlined the show’s emotional center by noting in part: “The good news is that there’s a lot more for Shifting Gears to mine in this arena.” The series, in this early stage, is about how Riley and Matt move forward now that there’s no mom and wife to act as a peacemaker between them. The sitcom may actually work better in its more sincere and emotional moments than its humor early on, though it remains something that viewers might potentially want to watch for in the early episodes.

Our Take On Shifting Gears

It May Not Be Bad To Know What You’re Getting

Allen’s latest does not seem to be clicking with critics, although it is only at the beginning. There is also a creative change, with Nader taking over as showrunner after the pilot episode. So it could still be the case that the new sitcom finds its groove after the premiere. Nader became the showrunner after the series creators exited in July 2024, before the show’s premiere. Nader, a veteran television writer and producer, previously worked with Dennings on 2 Broke Girls and the short-lived Hulu series Dollface.

But even if it doesn’t get there, a familiar comedy that is just fine enough and lifted by good performances can go the distance. For many, that’s exactly what Home Improvement and Last Man Standing were. Both would go on to have long runs, eight and nine seasons, respectively. Both are well-liked, if not exactly highly regarded, so there are worse fates for Shifting Gears.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

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Matt, a widowed and stubborn owner of a classic car restoration shop, has his life turned upside down when his estranged daughter, Riley, and her teenage children move in with him.

Release Date

January 8, 2025

Character(s)

Matt
, Riley
, Ed
, Carter
, Georgia

Seasons

1

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