Warning: SPOILERS for Shifting Gears Episode 9.Shifting Gearshas been fodder for Tim Allen fans since it debuted, but episode 9’s thinly-veiled callback toHome Improvementproves the lead actor’s past roles are hurting the ABC comedy. Alongside Allen’s Matt Parker, Kat Dennings leadsShifting Gears’cast of charactersas Matt’s daughter, Riley.Shifting Gearsfollows Riley, in the weeds of a failing marriage, suddenly moving home with her two children, Carter (Maxwell Simkins) and Georgia (Barrett Margolis).Shifting Gears’story isn’t necessarily groundbreaking, but it doesn’t have to be in order to succeed as a sitcom.
Shifting Gearshas earned impressive viewershipfrom the very beginning, in no small part due to Tim Allen leading the show. However, theharsh reality of Tim Allen’s role inShifting Gearshas been clear from the first episode: Matt Parker is nothing new. Allen has played similar archetypes in his two most popular projects, namely Tim Taylor inHome Improvementand Mike Baxter inLast Man Standing. The similarities are so conclusive, the ABC sitcom used it as a punchline in Shifting Gearsepisode 9— but the self-aware humor could indicate a deeper issue.
Jay Leno’s Home Improvement Joke In Shifting Gears Episode 9’s Ending Explained
Tim Allen’s 90s Sitcom Is Still Relevant
The reference to Tim Allen’s breakout role came at the end ofShifting Gearsepisode 9 when Jay Leno appeared as himself, assumedly as a close friend of Matt Parker’s. After Matt brushes off a voicemail he left Leno the night before as a“bit,”Jay Leno talks with intentional vagueness about a show he watched from the 1990s. According to Leno, the main character was just like Matt (only with a better sense of humor). ThoughShifting Gearsnever outright says the show’s title, Leno’s ending scene was clearly referring toHome Improvementand, by extension, Tim Taylor.
I’m So Sick Of Shifting Gears’ Oddest Recurring Gag, It’s The Laziest Joke In Tim Allen’s New Show
Shifting Gears has struggled to find its footing as a family comedy, but one recurring joke ruins any comedic momentum the Tim Allen sitcom has.
Ironically, this isn’t the first timeShifting Gearshas implied Tim Allen’s character is similar to his past roles. When Nancy Travis guest starred inShifting Gearsepisode 6, her character had a one-off line saying that Matt reminded her of the last guy she dated, referencing how Travis played Allen’s wife inLast Man Standing. Theshared Tim Allen universe set up byShifting Gearsruns deep. While it’s good for a quick laugh or beat of nostalgia, it could be limiting the future potential of the ABC comedy.
Jay Leno’s Line Comparing Matt To Tim Taylor Is Right — For Better Or Worse
Tim Allen’s History Is A Double-Edged Sword For Shifting Gears
Jay Leno’s jab that Tim Taylor is essentially a funnier version of Matt Parker perfectly underscores the danger ofShifting Gearsnever escaping the shadow of Allen’s past hits, but the comparison admittedly isn’t all bad.Home Improvementwas a classic sitcom for a reason, and having a predictable character could be comforting to an extent. Eventhough there are a handful of distinctions between Matt and Tim, they play into the same archetype, and it’s the kind of character that’s been around since TV itself because of its accessibility.
The ABC sitcom needs to consider shifting its own gears if it wants real longevity.
However, being similar to a popular character is only such an issue because Tim Taylor is Tim Allen’s most well-known role. Theearly reviews ofShifting Gearsspotted the risk from a mile away, with everything from Matt’s auto repair shop to his traditional family values feeling reminiscent of Taylor, Baxter, or Allen himself. Undoubtedly, the worst part of Leno’s comparison line was the discernment that Tim Taylor is seen as funnier than Matt Parker. The comedy inShifting Gearshas been touch-and-go, but the ABC sitcom needs to consider shifting its own gears if it wants real longevity.
Can Shifting Gears Solve Its Big Home Improvement Problem (How?)
Tim Allen Would Have To Challenge Himself And Leave His Comfort Zone
It may only be the pilot season, butMatt’s character inShifting Gearsneeds to be reconsidered with brutal honesty. Frankly, I’m unsure if Matt will ever become his own character inShifting Gears. It’s no secret that Tim Allen’s commercial appeal is the typically one-dimensional stereotype he’s played for over 30 years. Television has changed drastically sinceHome Improvementfirst aired, but clutching onto formulas that worked in the past is a gamble that Allen is clearly willing to take (potentially at the expense ofShifting Gears).
Jenna Elfman
Eve
There are glimpses of originality inShifting Gearsthat give me hope, but ABC has to tap into them instead of rehashing the past. Matt’s unique position as a widower, grandfather, and business owner gives him ample inner conflict to work through, as evidenced byShifting Gearsepisode 4. While it’s fun to see former costars reconnect,Shifting Gearsneeds to stop treating Matt as a mere extension of Tim Allen and commit to what makes his character different. It may be easier said than done, butShifting Gearsdoesn’t have to feel like a rerun of Tim Allen’s greatest hits.
