Tim Allen‘s character on Shifting Gears is using a traditional values dating app after his shocking split from his onscreen girlfriend — played by Jenna Elfman.
Earlier this season, Eve (Elfman) got a job that would take her overseas for a few months. Matt (Allen) decided it was a sign that they needed to end their relationship because he couldn’t deal with the distance.
TVLine confirmed on Tuesday, December 16, that Matt won’t be single for long because Angela Kinsey will guest star in the second half of season 2 as Lynn, a woman Matt meets via a “traditional values dating app” called TradSwipe.
According to the official character description, Matt and Lynn “immediately hit it off and have a lot in common, but it’s clear that something is amiss.”
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Before season 2 premiered on ABC, showrunner Michelle Nader teased how Matt and Eve would keep dealing with obstacles.
“I will say that it is really interesting to watch them,” Nader exclusively told Us Weekly in September about the pair’s season 2 dynamic. “It’s interesting to watch their relationship develop, and so they’re going to go into high gear — but it’s going to be a little bit of a roller-coaster.”
Elfman, 53, also spoke to Us about returning to the show.
“I’m loving doing the show. I love working with everybody on it. I love the showrunner. It genuinely is like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop because I can’t believe how good it is. I’m very excited for everyone to see it,” she gushed. “I have to say I’m blown away by the writing this year. They’re writing for each actor and for their character so well. The stories are sincerely hilarious. Like, at work, we’re all doubled over laughing repeatedly.”
Elfman continued: “Just as a performer and as someone in this industry, I’m blown away at how good the comedy is on this show this year. So that makes me very excited for everyone at home because I know they’re going to have a great laugh with their family.”
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Shifting Gears, which premiered in January, marks the first time Allen,, 72, has starred on a sitcom where his character isn’t married. (Allen’s characters on hit sitcoms Home Improvement and Last Man Standing were already in committed relationships when each series began.)
“From the very beginning, [the creative team has said] that we’ve never seen Tim Allen in a sitcom with a romantic interest. And I said, ‘Well, I’ve just lost my wife on the show, so I don’t see it.’ So I love where we are,” Allen exclusively told Us at the time. “I said, ‘If it happens over time and happens organically with two people that do not get along, then it is OK.’ I just am really cautious about this. I just want it to happen where it’s organic and proper.”
Shifting Gears returns to ABC on Wednesday, January 7, at 8 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Hulu.
