I Can’t Believe ABC Almost Canceled Its Top-Rated Show For Such An Absurd Reason

Shifting Gears was one of ABC’s biggest shows of the 2024-25 television cycle, but one ridiculous reason almost led to an early cancelation. The star-studded cast of Shifting Gears helped sell the freshman comedy through Tim Allen’s image and renowned sitcom past, but other beloved actors like Kat Dennings and Seann William Scott helped Shifting Gears appeal to broader demographics.

Despite its obvious momentum, early reviews of Shifting Gears weren’t optimistic about the family comedy’s long-term success. Between a disproportionately heavy focus on Tim Allen and awkward comedic timing, Shifting Gears didn’t seem like a viable sitcom for ABC. Fortunately, Shifting Gears slowly found its footing throughout its pilot season, improving on the most common critiques and prioritizing its ensemble.

Shifting Gears Is One Of The Highest-Rated Shows During the 2024-2025 TV Cycle

The Freshman Comedy Drew In Massive Numbers

Even before its series premiere, it was clear that Shifting Gears would have impressive viewership. Yet, the pilot episode of Shifting Gears broke records and became ABC’s highest-streamed debut in history. Buzz surrounding the achievement only made the comedy more popular, with many recognizing it as a familiar variant of Tim Allen sitcoms like Home Improvement and Last Man Standing.

Between its obvious self-improvement and its rarely-filled niche at ABC, it’s no surprise that Shifting Gears was one of the highest-rated shows of the 2024-25 season. Aside from riding the wave of being a new series and capitalizing on its novelty, Shifting Gears provided a return-to-form that many sitcom lovers appreciated. Of course, the new comedy wasn’t without its faults.

All episodes of Shifting Gears are streaming on Hulu.

Tim Allen’s brand of humor is no longer ubiquitous among key demographics, making the lead character feel less like a protagonist and more like a grouchy old man archetype. Similarly, the dialogue felt dated, with Shifting Gears’ appeals to Gen Z humor falling flat more often than not. Regardless of its shortcomings, Shifting Gears deserved at least one more season.

ABC Almost Canceled Shifting Gears Because Of A Goofy Reason

Everything Is Relative

Surprisingly, Shifting Gears was at risk of cancelation during renewal season. With limited spots on ABC’s roster, only Shifting Gears and Doctor Odyssey were left on the bubble— ironically, both new titles reportedly had the same issue: ratings. Despite statistics implying it’s the most popular new comedy of the year, Shifting Gears’ ratings declined over the course of the season.

Nielsen Ratings For The 2024-2025 Network TV Season

Title
Network
Rating (18-49)

High Potential
ABC
3.85

Abbott Elementary
ABC
3.25

The Rookie
ABC
2.49

Shifting Gears
ABC
2.39

9-1-1
ABC
2.38

Ghosts
CBS
2.18

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
CBS
1.79

Matlock
CBS
1.75

Will Trent
ABC
1.64

Grey’s Anatomy
ABC
1.62

Show more

While that would be an understandable critique for most shows, putting the numbers in context proves that, even at its worst, Shifting Gears outperformed most competitors in the coveted 18-49 demographic. Simply looking at blanket total viewership, Shifting Gears remains in the top ten, which makes it all the more baffling that the Tim Allen sitcom was ever in danger.

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