As a huge fan of Tim Allen’s work, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and nostalgia as I read about his latest TV project, “Shifting Gears.” For decades, Allen has been delivering heartfelt humor through his everyman and dad characters, and it seems that this trend is continuing with his new role as a widowed auto shop owner.
Tim Allen’s career has a captivating rhythm. Approximately every few years, he agrees to star in a sitcom where he plays an ordinary guy and father figure. These shows usually air for several years on various networks before they get cancelled, and then Allen takes on stand-up comedy or other projects until the next sitcom opportunity arises. This spring, he filmed the new pilot titled Shifting Gears. The positive aspect? ABC has agreed to add it to their TV schedule. However, there’s a minor issue behind the scenes that needs addressing before it can progress further.
When Allen and Kat Dennings initially agreed to star in “Shifting Gears”, they joined forces with Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully, renowned from “The Simpsons” (with Mike also working as a co-executive producer and consulting producer on shows like “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “Parks and Recreation”). Originally, their roles were to be writers and executive producers for the new ABC series. However, this arrangement will no longer happen.
Individually, Variety reports that Froy Gutierrez has been chosen to portray the character Nick in the upcoming sitcom. This series will feature Tim Allen as a widower who runs his own auto shop. Unlike previous versions, Allen’s character in this iteration won’t have children living with him since he is now 71 years old. Instead, Kat Dennings will play his adult daughter, and their relationship will be strained at the beginning of the show after a long estrangement.
During the transition from pilot to series, casting adjustments are not uncommon. At times, early audience feedback or executive decisions reveal that an actor or character isn’t as suitable for the script as initially believed. For instance, on “The Big Bang Theory,” Kaley Cuoco took over the role previously held by Amanda Walsh as Penny. Although it may be disappointing for Gutierrez that his significant role is no longer expected, recastings are a typical part of the process.
It’s less frequent for a show to change its showrunner this deep into production. While it does happen, as people have varying ideas about how a show should develop, those with more authority usually have the final say. No explicit reason was provided for the sitcom’s separation from its previous writers and producers. However, it’s noteworthy that Tim Allen, who also serves as an executive producer on “Shifting Gears,” likely holds significant influence over the show’s creative direction.
Tim Allen appears excited about the upcoming series and even posted pictures from set during production in June. I was taken aback that it didn’t receive a go-ahead sooner. Unfortunately, it won’t be part of ABC’s fall schedule, and its inclusion in this TV season remains uncertain. Resolving its new leadership issue seems to be the priority.
1. It’s undeniable: Tim Allen remains the ruler of hit ’90s TV shows, and his upcoming network comeback is generating lots of buzz. We’ll make sure to keep you informed about its progress. In the interim, don’t miss out on his latest show, The Santa Clauses, which you can stream with a Disney+ membership.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-07-30 16:37