ABC’s new sitcom, Shifting Gears, is pretty damn good. There, I said it.
Like many who have tuned in to the new Kat Dennings, Seann William Scott, and Tim Allen comedy, I had the lowest of expectations for this project. And hey, maybe that’s why I am pleasantly surprised by it. But I’m tired of pretending that I am not enjoying it simply because everyone else isn’t willing to give it a fair shot.
This new series sees longtime sitcom veteran Tim Allen star as Paul Parker, one of the few but proud conservatives of Los Angeles, California, and a widower who is estranged from his daughter. Enter Dennings as Riley Parker, a.k.a. the loud and proud daughter who got knocked up in high school and ran as far away from her parents as she could. And that “love each other from afar” dynamic was working out fine — okay, not fine, but not terribly — until Riley and her rockstar husband split, leaving her penniless and in need of a place to live with her two kids. Re-enter Matt.
The idea behind Shifting Gears is that the dynamic of a right-wing father and a strongly left-leaning daughter is one that many households in America can resonate with right now. In the months leading up to the 2024 Presidential Election, TikTok’s FYP was working overtime to push out content about daughters being diametrically opposed to their dads. If nothing else, the show is relatable. But it’s not the only thing the show has going for it.
Tuning in week after week, I’ve found that the show can sometimes feel cheesy and a bit pedestrian — but I’ve also found that the series has given me some serious laughs, mostly thanks to Dennings, that is. The dynamic of the opposing father and daughter may be tired, generally speaking, but in the case of the series it seems to be working. It also doesn’t hurt that Allen’s real-life stance as at outspoken conservative lend this show a certain authenticity that helps to really paint the picture that the writers want viewers to see.
In watching Shifting Gears and telling you all to give it a chance, I’m giving Allen an inch of credit by saying that at least he is able to poke fun at his viewpoints via this show. Do I kind of expect a story to break in one of the trade publications in the next year or so saying that he had meltdowns over the jokes his character has to deliver? Yes. But for right now, smooth sailing.
I’m not saying this show is the best new series of 2025, the standout of ABC’s new lineup, or even a show that I would call a “must-watch.” But I do believe that it’s pleasantly surprising this noted comedy snob one episode at a time. I even would go so far as to predict that it could be a sneaky hit for the network. Just give it a chance, you may like it.
The first four episodes of Shifting Gears are now streaming on Hulu. New episodes air Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST and stream the next day on Hulu.