Tim Allen’s new ABC sitcom,Shifting Gears, is off to a strong start and marks a major improvement for its timeslot. Created by Mike and Julie Thacker Scully, with Michelle Nader serving as showrunner and executive producer, the multi-cam comedy centers on car restoration shop owner Matt (Allen). Widowed, and fairly stuck in his ways, Matt reluctantly takes in his daughter Riley (WandaVision’s Kat Dennings) and her children, despite their estrangement.Shifting Gearsairs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC, streaming the next day on Hulu.
TVLinereports thatShifting Gearsis off to a strong start in terms of viewership, debuting with 6.1 million viewers and a 0.7 in the key 18-49 demographic. It did better thanThe Golden Bachelorette, in addition tobesting other ABC sitcoms likeThe GoldbergsandThe Conners,which were previously in the Wednesday 8 p.m. timeslot. Allen and Dennings' new series came close to having the biggest audience of the night, coming in slightly behind NBC’sChicago Med,which had 6.2 million viewers.
What The Strong Ratings Start Means For Shifting Gears
A Lot Of Curious Viewers Tuned In
The reviews forShifting Gearshave generally not been positive, dinging the show’s humor and failure to capitalize on a talented cast. Still, the initial viewership numbers point to the fact that there is interest in seeing Allen return to the network comedy format afterHome Improvementin the 1990s andLast Man Standingin the 2010s. It’s also Dennings' return to network television following her co-lead role in2 Broke Girlsopposite Beth Behrs.
Barrett Margolis
Georgia
Noting that thenumbers are likely to rise once delayed viewership and streaming numbers are factored in, the divide betweenShifting Gearsand other ABC comedies is not too surprising. It is a new show with familiar actors, includingAmerican Piealum Seann Williams Scott, whereasThe Connerswill soon end with season 7. The story of Matt and Riley ls just beginning, whereas theRoseannespinoff has more or less solidified its audience. The question now turns to whetherShifting Gearscan build on its solid debut.
Our Take On Shifting Gears' Strong Debut
Follow-Up Is Crucial
It is not all that unusual for a high-profile new series to kick off with impressive numbers. What will be the thing to keep an eye on, asShifting Gearsprogresses, is how the sitcom holds onto that initial audience. Some level of drop off is inevitable, but it’s just a matter of how many viewers still tune in during the weeks ahead, which will also be what determines whether season 2 gets confirmed at the network.
New episodes ofShifting Gearsair Wednesdays on ABC at 8 p.m. EST.
Shifting Gears
Cast
Shifting Gears is a drama about Matt, a widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. Matt’s estranged daughter Riley and her teenage children move into his home, challenging him to rebuild both familial and personal connections.
