Shifting Gears is coming back for season 2 — but what can fans expect after Tim Allen and Jenna Elfman‘s surprising onscreen kiss?
The ABC series, which premiered in January 2025, is set in a car restoration shop opened by Allen’s character, Matt. After reuniting with his estranged daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), the duo work on cars … and repairing their relationship.
In the season 1 finale, the romance between Riley and Gabriel (Seann William Scott) hit a wall when he chose not to make a move following her split from her ex. Instead, in the final moments of the finale, Eve (Elfman) surprised Matt with a kiss after an entire episode of banter.
“I thought it was a really fun twist because it seems like of course it’s going to be Riley and Gabriel,” Dennings exclusively told Us Weekly in March 2025. “But it was a real surprise.”
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Dennings and Scott agreed that the romantic finale moment made more sense for Eve and Matt’s relationship, with her adding, “It’s a surprise kiss for Tim Allen’s character. But I feel like Eve got a little liquid courage in that moment to do that — maybe she wasn’t planning on it. I think it’s a great moment.”
Elfman previously weighed in on joining Shifting Gears as a love interest for Allen. (Shifting Gears is Allen’s first sitcom where he wasn’t married as opposed to past projects including Home Improvement and Last Man Standing, which paired Allen’s characters off with a wife.)
“You’re going to see more of the dynamic between Matt and Eve,” Elfman teased to Us in February 2025. “Just more forthright communication, opinions and exchange. You get to see people being their full selves in each other’s face. It’s really fun.”
Keep scrolling for everything to know about season 2:
Has ABC Renewed ‘Shifting Gears’ for Season 2 — And for How Many Episodes?
One month after season 1 wrapped up, ABC renewed Shifting Gears for season 2. It will likely return with 10 episodes again.
Who Is Returning?
In addition to Allen, Dennings, Scott and Elfman, season 2 is expected to star Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, Maxwell Simkins and Barrett Margolis. There will almost be appearances from Cynthia Quiles and Lucas Neff.
Could More of Tim Allen’s Former Costars Make Cameos?
Season 1 introduced Nancy Travis as an original character, Jay Leno as himself and Dennings’ friend and former costar Brenda Song as a fictional person. Allen hasn’t ruled out more Easter eggs — and neither have his costars.
“Brenda is one of my best friends in real life because we met on Dollhouse and then Michelle [Nader] is our Shifting Gears showrunner. And Brenda and I always talked about doing a multicam together. We would joke like, ‘Wouldn’t it be great though? So she did [a guest spot] because we just want to hang out,” Dennings told Us in January 2025. “I can’t reveal too many guest stars but there will be people coming up that are really incredible. I think Michelle has put in a few special little references for me through the whole series.”
Scott, meanwhile, addressed blink-and-you-miss-it reference in the season 1 finale about his film Dude, Where’s My Car? While reflecting on his new ABC sitcom, Scott suggested to Us in March 2025 that his former costar Ashton Kutcher should be cast as Riley’s brother. The other suggestions? Cillian Murphy and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
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Will Tim Allen Find a Way to Bring Jonathan Taylor Thomas to the Show?
While Thomas has largely remained out of the public eye since his childhood success, Allen teased to Us that they are still in contact, saying, “Everything is a possibility. He just came back [to the last episode we filmed]. He showed up on the set.”
Allen continued: “He’s literally my kid. I raised that kid for eight years on Home Improvement. All of these are my kids.”
Is ‘Shifting Gears’ Tim Allen’s Final Role?
“This probably will be the end of it,” Allen revealed to USA Today in February 2025. “That sounds depressing, but I did [Shifting Gears] because it seemed like a good idea that would be fun. That’s really it.”
Allen admitted it would be hard to slow down, adding, “I just love being around the camera people and actors and the crew, so much so that I’m more uncomfortable at the thought of leaving the set and, God forbid, going to play golf.”
What Story Lines Does the Cast Not Want to Explore?
“I don’t want to do more dancing. Although for some reason — just because of the other project that I did — pole dancing came up on the show,” Scott told Us. “I just think no more dancing [would be great]. I can’t do it. I’m still stressed thinking about having to do it right before we would shoot something. It’s anxiety. It’s a real thing.”
Dennings felt the same way, saying, “Instead of what we would want to happen on the show, we’re going to say what we don’t want. And that is that neither of us want to do more dancing.”
