Shifting Gearsmay have had an incomparable debut, but that isn’t enough to guarantee ABC’s newest sitcom a season 2 renewal. Tim Allen leads theShifting Gearscast of charactersas Matt Parker, a widower and auto-restoration shop owner whose droll observations and lofty expressions are virtually indistinguishable from his former glory asHome Improvement’s Tim Taylor orLast Man Standing’s Mike Baxter. As the headliner of ABC’s new family comedy, Tim Allen’s name alone drew in devotees early, butShifting Gearsneeds more than star power to keep itself afloat during cancelation season.
Shifting Gearsseason 2, which once seemed inevitable, is now at the mercy of extenuating circumstances that can potentially both help and hinder the sitcom’s chances of survival. The ensemble cast, including the rest of the Parker family (Kat Dennings as Riley, Maxwell Simkins as Carter, and Barrett Margolis as Georgia) and Matt’s employees (Seann William Scott as Gabriel, Daryl “Chill" Mitchell as Stitch, and Cynthia Quiles as Frankie), all grew into their own throughout the comedy’s pilot season, but talent may not be enough. Sadly, theending ofShifting Gearsseason 1could potentially also be its series finale.
Shifting Gears Is On The Verge Of Being Canceled Despite Its Record-Breaking Debut
The Strong Start Only Hurt The Sitcom In The Long Run
From the very beginning,Shifting Gearshas been fighting an uphill battle on the critical front. According to critics, Tim Allen’s family comedy felt at once like an obscured imitation and a blatant carbon copy of his previous smash-hit sitcoms, rousingpoor initial reviews forShifting Gearsbefore the episodes had even aired. Despite the negative response to early screenings,Shifting Gearsdrew in unparalleled numbers for its debut, implying the sitcom could at least be a commercial success if not critically favored. By the end of the pilot season, however, the novelty seemed to have worn off.
Shifting Gearsdrew in unparalleled numbers for its debut, implying the sitcom could at least be a commercial success if not critically favored.
The truecancelation risk ofShifting Gearslies in multiple factors, none of which doom the sitcom to one-season wonder territory with any real certainty, but all of which fail to inspire any real optimism. SinceShifting Gearsleaned so heavily on its headliner during marketing and pre-season press, it always seemed as ifShifting Gearswas a Tim Allen show rather than a show starring Tim Allen. Although centering Allen undoubtedly helpedShifting Gearskick off to a record-breaking start, the leading man may have proven himself to be a double-edged sword, slashing the sitcom’s longevity throughout the season.
Why ABC Is Considering Canceling Shifting Gears Even Though It’s Popular
There Was A Steady Decline In Viewership
Despite early missteps, it seemed as ifShifting Gearsonly found its footing more steadily with each passing episode, making its uncertain fate even more convoluted. AlthoughShifting Gearshad impressive viewershipto boast about in the early days, the numbers steadily declined throughout the season. It may appear thatShifting Gearshad a clear downward slope in its viewership, but it’s truly a testament to how staggering the initial audience was. The issue with starting off on such a dazzling high is that, realistically,Shifting Gears(and its season-wide ratings) had nowhere to go but down.
“Valentine’s”
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The introduction ofJenna Elfman’sShifting Gearscharacterwasn’t enough to shepherd back the millions of live viewers lost over mere weeks, but she helped steady things. While still erring on the critical side, reviews ofShifting Gearsseemed to soften as the world expanded and the side characters (save for poor, nearly-anonymous Frankie) came out of the woodwork to reveal unique dynamics and relationships that entertained more than being accessories to Allen’s main character. Unfortunately,Shifting Gears’ progress may be too little, too late, thanks to the dramatic disparity between the viewership of the pilot and the season finale.
ABC Is Better Off Renewing Shifting Gears Than Canceling It
The Network Needs More Comedies
Yet, despite the drop in ratings over the course ofShifting Gearsseason 1, there’s a strong argument for ABC to pursue a second season. ABC excelled with freshman dramaHigh Potential, and long-running procedural9-1-1(which transferred from Fox in 2023) has held steady with a sizable following alongside mainstays likeGrey’s Anatomy. On the comedy front, though ABC quickly confirmedAbbott Elementaryseason 5, there’s not much variety on the books for the 2025-26 season, especially withThe Connersdrawing to a close. Consequently,there’s an irrefutable niche thatShifting Gearscan (and should) fill in ABC’s listings.
Shifting Gears Finale’s Strangest Callback Hints At A Major Change In Season 2
Shifting Gears season 1 was filled with references and callbacks galore, but the finale included a surprising nod to one actor’s iconic past role.
The story itself all but demanded a second season, with manyunanswered questions in theShifting Gearsfinale. The slow-burn between Gabriel and Riley, the quicker burn between Matt and Elfman’s Eve, and the workplace rapport of Stitch and Gabriel— the magneticscene-stealers ofShifting Gears— all culminate in a sense of brimming, untapped potential. The pilot season of any series primarily functions to iron out the kinks and find what works, meaningShifting Gearsseason 2 could cement the sitcom’s true identity. Though the future ofShifting Gearsis still pending, it’s not over yet for Allen’s sitcom.
