Kat Dennings, the star of Shifting Gears, is optimistic about the longevity of the new series. The actress, known for her roles in Thor and WandaVision, sees great promise in the ABC sitcom, which delves into her character’s dynamic with her on-screen father, portrayed by Tim Allen. She believes the show possesses “endless potential.”
In Shifting Gears, Tim Allen introduces us to Matt Parker, a widower who runs a car restoration shop and finds himself unexpectedly caring for his estranged daughter Riley and her two children.
In a conversation with a media channel, Kat Dennings elaborated on the comedic potential of their relationship. She highlighted how Matt and Riley often clash in their perspectives, emphasizing the importance of striking a balance, much like we do with family members we may not always see eye to eye with but still cherish.
As per Kat Dennings, “Our aim is to present a fun, authentic, and relatable situation that feels genuine rather than forced. This really reflects the strength of the writing and directing, knowing when to dial it back and how to approach the scenes.”
The star of 2 Broke Girls expressed, “Tim and I share an incredible dynamic that allows us to complement each other perfectly in every scene. We understand how to keep things enjoyable. As you mentioned, everyone has that family member, friend, or colleague with whom they often clash, yet we still care for them deeply. It’s that unspoken agreement of, ‘Let’s avoid this topic.’ This scenario is something everyone can relate to, and it opens up limitless opportunities for humor. I truly hope we have many more seasons to explore this.”
Shifting Gears premiered on January 8 and received mixed reviews, but there is optimism that the show will have the opportunity to develop and improve.
With Michelle Nader, a frequent collaborator of Denning known for her work on 2 Broke Girls and Dollface, at the helm as showrunner, the series features a talented cast including Daryl Mitchell as Stitch, Maxwell Simkins as Carter, Barrett Margolis as Georgia, and Jenna Elfman as Eve Drake.
In a recent interview, Kat Dennings opened up about her character Riley in Shifting Gears and the chaos she faces.
According to Kat, “Riley arrives at his doorstep with her two children. She’s in the midst of a divorce, and her world is crumbling. Financially, she’s struggling and needs a place to stay with him. This situation turns both of their lives on their heads. They come from such contrasting backgrounds and hold entirely different beliefs. The delightful aspect of their dynamic is that she is his daughter, and they mirror each other perfectly. When their personalities clash, it creates an incredibly humorous situation. Tim is an outstanding actor, and I’ve expressed this to him directly, so I’m more than pleased to share it publicly.”
You can catch the debut episode of Shifting Gears now streaming on Hulu.