“Shifting Gears” is bringing Tim Allen and Kat Dennings back to television, and the ABC comedy’s showrunner has big hopes for its impact on viewers.
The show, premiering Wednesday, follows Matt (Allen), the stubborn and widowed owner of a car restoration shop who is surprised by the arrival of his estranged daughter Riley (Dennings) to stay with him alongside her teenage children. Once the family reunites, they can begin to heal their complicated relationship mired by years of distance and disagreements.
The emotional premise is told through the format of a traditional broadcast sitcom, long a genre that has tackled important topics with laughter and a light heart.