Kat Dennings Talks Season 2 Uncertainty: Showrunner’s Optimism Sparks Hope!

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Caution! If you haven’t watched the Season 1 finale of Shifting Gears on ABC or if you don’t have a Hulu subscription to stream it, there might be some minor spoilers ahead.

Despite not yet receiving an official order for Season 2, ABC’s hit sitcom Shifting Gears, which made a splash upon its debut in the 2025 TV lineup, has convincingly demonstrated the on-screen chemistry between Tim Allen and Kat Dennings as a father-daughter duo. The show has garnered massive viewership, with millions tuning in each week, and many of these viewers are likely anticipating more stories about Matt and Riley’s unforeseen predicaments, as hinted at in the season finale.

I was hoping that “Shifting Gears” would be renewed for another season shortly after the confirmation of new seasons for “High Potential” and “Abbott Elementary”. But so far, ABC executives have yet to make a decision, leaving fans and those involved with the show, including co-lead Dennings and the sitcom’s showrunner, with varying responses.

Kat Dennings Is Inherently Pessimistic, But Hopeful For Season 2

After appearing in the show “2 Broke Girls,” which unexpectedly ended on a cliffhanger due to CBS’ cancellation, Kat Dennings understands that job security isn’t always guaranteed in Hollywood. Consequently, she maintains a pragmatic outlook towards the future of “Shifting Gears.” Although she herself hasn’t received a renewal for Season 2 yet, when asked by Deadline about this, she hinted at the sitcom’s good ratings and positive buzz as reasons for optimism. In her own words: [Kat Dennings] suggests that others should also stay hopeful.

We haven’t done it yet, but everyone is eagerly waiting. Fingers crossed, let’s hope it happens! TV can be unpredictable sometimes, but we’ve seen some fantastic results and people seem to be pleased. Who knows what might transpire? I tend to be a pessimist, so I rarely anticipate good things happening.

It must be quite peculiar to work on one of the nation’s largest and most recognized TV networks, attracting an enormous audience at a time when traditional TV ratings are at their lowest, and yet, employ expressions like “pins and needles” to discuss renewal updates. This is especially true when other networks, production studios, and streaming platforms are confirming renewals for projects that might never accumulate viewership numbers comparable to a single episode of Shifting Gears, distributed across ABC and Hulu.

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Indeed, TV renewals often involve factors beyond popularity. For instance, a well-known actor like Tim Allen likely receives a substantial fee per episode for his current sitcom. Moreover, he isn’t the only high-profile figure on the show. There might be other engagements among cast and crew that make scheduling challenging, necessitating careful coordination before season orders are finalized. Nevertheless, the showrunner seems to express a positive outlook about the future of the series.

Shifting Gears’ Showrunner Sounds More Confident About A Renewal

Despite Kat Dennings subtly hinting at uncertainty regarding the comedy’s future, showrunner Michelle Nader appears quite optimistic about potential developments in a future season. In fact, it seems quite plausible that Nader may have received some informal promises from network executives regarding ongoing plans, hidden away in private discussions.

When asked by TVLine if Lucas Neff’s character, Jimmy, might reappear for significant developments in the final episode, Nader expressed her aspirations for potential uses of that character in forthcoming episodes, stating: “I can only hope for how Jimmy could be incorporated in the future.

Jimmy’s currently on tour with the Foo Fighters, yet his affection for Riley remains strong, and he yearns to spend time with his children. Since we adore Lucas, it’s certain that he’ll feature in Season 2.

Essentially, it’s not ideal if Riley and Jimmy make up too soon because this first season has been focused on Riley learning to manage her life independently of him. However, I’m excited about the humorous predicaments that will ensue from Jimmy being present yet unable to pursue a romantic relationship with Riley as much as he desires.

Michelle Nader, the show’s producer, is open to delving deeper into more characters for Season 2, if it gets green-lit. In addition, she was asked about potential scenes involving Matt’s other child, Sam, and the possibility of Riley acting alongside her brother in future episodes. To quote Michelle Nader:

“I’d like to explore more characters in Season 2, provided it happens. We’ve also been asked about the references made to Matt’s other child, Sam, and whether fans might see Riley and her brother sharing screen time.

In the upcoming Season 2, we plan to present the character of Sam. We believe his addition will provide an enjoyable acting challenge and offer another intriguing figure for viewers to interact with.

It appears that the leader of “Shifting Gears” is all set and eagerly waiting for a decision from somewhere, so they can begin developing fresh tales for these cherished characters, should it be confirmed that Season 2 will take place.

I’m uncertain if I could endure a scenario where Tim Allen and Jenna Elfman are portraying sitcom love interests without my ’90s-obsessed mind caving in, resembling a black hole’s collapse. However, I’m ready to give it a shot, so let’s make it happen, ABC!

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2025-03-20 17:38