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Drew Carey’s Furry Co-Star Steals the Show! “Price Is Right” Fans Go Wild for His Dog’s Adorable Debut!

Screenshots showing Drew Carey and his dog on “The Price is Right” (Cover image source: YouTube | Triniswagg92 Beastmode)

Drew Carey is known for his quirks, such as saying ‘I love you’ to fans before signing off, but the “The Price Is Right” host still manages to surprise fans from time to time. On an earlier episode of the show, he brought a furry friend along. When announcer George Gray called the host of the show out to the stage, Carey walked in with a dog.

“And now, here’s your host, Drew Carey,” he said. The 67-year-old came out with a black Labrador wearing the show’s merchandise. Amber Lancaster fell in love with the four-legged friend the moment she saw her. “That’s my dog, Bubba,” Carey said. “That’s my dog. Wanted to say hi to everybody.” The host then directed his dog towards the back of the stage, and it ran out.
Screenshot showing Amber Lancaster interacting with the dog. (Image source: YouTube | Triniswagg92 Beastmode)
The studio audience loved the moment and gave their approval with incessant applause. “Good morning, Drew. How am I supposed to follow a cute dog?” Gray asked. After everyone got over the furry friend, it was time to play the game. Carey then turned his attention to the contestants standing on Contestant’s Row. Fans of the show loved the moment and made their thoughts clear in the comments section of the clip on YouTube. “I love Drew Carey’s dog. It looks so beautiful. I am sure that Bob Barker would have been proud because he was an animal lover,” one fan commented. “Happy to see the dogs back on the show! Bob would definitely love this,” mentioned another. “Drew and the dog. This was a preview of Pet Adoption Week,” one more fan wrote.

A lot of people mentioned the former host Bob Barker’s name when they saw the dog with Carey. It is understandable why that is the case. The former host was, after all, a celebrated animal rights activist. He made it a point to mention the importance of neutering pets in every single season of the show, according to a report in The New York Times. He even used his own pitbull as an example.

“There are just too many cats and dogs being born,” he had said in 2004. Animals are being euthanized by the millions simply because there are not enough homes for them. In the United States, there is a dog or cat euthanized every 6.5 seconds.” Barker was an animal rights activist who became a vegetarian and even stopped dyeing his hair, as the products used to be tested on animals.

On #SaturdaySalute, we honor legendary game show host & animal rights activist Bob Barker. The iconic host of the "Price Is Right" passed away on August 26 at age of 99. Bob served in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a Naval Aviator. Rest in Peace, Sir. pic.twitter.com/vU043CiXlz

— GarySiniseFoundation (@GarySiniseFound) September 2, 2023

However, during his time as host of “The Price is Right,” the show occasionally used to have pets as prizes, a practice that would be thrown under the bus today. Fans of the show discussed the matter in a Reddit thread. “Last night, The Barker Era channel ran a first-season episode they probably shouldn’t have: one of the prizes in the second showcase was a Saint Bernard puppy. A real live, purebred St. Bernard puppy,” the post read.

‘Price is Right’ host Drew Carey once thought he was ‘going to jail’ — shared the story of a potential scandal involving the beloved game. 

Screenshot showing Drew Carey on The Price Is Right (Image source: YouTube/The Price Is Right)

“The Price is Right” host Drew Carey is mostly loved by fans, but he has been called out for helping people win games. There was also a point early on in his career when he thought that he’d be removed from the show and even be sent to prison. The 67-year-old shared the story of a potential scandal involving the game Plinko that could have unfolded in only his second season of hosting the popular game show.

Carey was on the SiriusXM show, Jeff & Larry’s Comedy Roundup, when he spoke about the incident. Turns out that before the taping began, the showrunners had filed a commercial to promote a video game version of the show. In that commercial, they had rigged a Plinko board with a fishing wire that would guide the chips to the $10,000 mark no matter where one dropped it. The only problem was that they forgot to take it out before the taping.

A college girl had won her chance to play the popular game and had earned four chips before going up the stairs to the top of the board. According to the host, the record for the game back then was a little over $20,000. This contestant dropped her first three chips, and they all landed on the $10,000 mark. This meant that she easily broke the record. Carey also revealed that the studio audience had gone crazy as a result.
Screenshot showing the chip in the $10,000 spot (Representative image source: Facebook/Meteorologist Ryan Belz)
“There’s a college girl that got to play Plinko, and she dropped her first three chips right down in the $10,000 spot. People were on their feet, jumping up and down and cheering. I mean, the crowd was going wild. She dropped the fourth chip, the floor director comes over, stops the chip, and leans into me, and he goes, ‘The game is fixed,’” he said as per a Screen Rant report.

The game had to be abruptly stopped as a result, and the contestant was taken backstage. Carey revealed that there was a five-minute meeting in the middle of taping in which the showrunners decided to award the girl the $30,000, and then once again play the game with all four chips. She was able to win an additional $1,500, so it all worked out well for her. The host, however, was scared for his future.
Screenshot showing Carey introducing contestants to the Plinko Game (Image source: YouTube | Price is Right)
 

“‘I’m going to jail. I’m losing my job. There’s gonna be a scandal,’ all these emotions going through my head,” he said. The fishing wire was so thin and invisible that not a single member of the crew noticed it until it was too late. Had it not been for the floor director, the show would have lost $40,000. Carey added that he treated him to a steak dinner after saving the show an extra $10,000.

‘Family Feud’ host Steve Harvey falls to his knees after stumbling across the stage.

Screenshots showing Steve Harvey kneeling down on the stage of Family Feud (Cover image source: YouTube/Family Feud)

“Family Feud” host Steve Harvey is used to silly and outright absurd responses from contestants, but sometimes his reaction shows that the former comedian has had enough. He has thrown away his cards, burst out into hysterical laughter, and even stumbled across the stage. Recently, the host who has seen it all couldn’t handle an answer and gave up. Harvey was brought down to his knees by a response to the question, “Name a place you might be caught with your pants down.” While he first got obvious responses such as “Bedroom” and “Bathroom,” a contestant named Pamela caught him off guard.
The player Pamela who brought Harvey to his knees (Image source: YouTube | Bonus Round)
 

She yelled out, “Outdoors in the shed!” in a way that cracked up Harvey immediately as he went down on his knees. The host threw his cards away on the floor while laughing frantically at the answer. While everyone in the team cheered Pamela on, saying it was a good answer, Harvey thoroughly mocked her by mimicking her tone. “Outdoors in the shed,” Harvey yelled as he tried to get back up. “What shed? We don’t have sheds!” he went on to say.

Pamela then tried to reason with the host, saying, “We’re country, Steve! We country, we got sheds.” Harvey agreed that it might be the case, but he explained that the people who answered the question in the survey may think differently. “Yeah, your country, but the hundred people that they surveyed might have been in a mall in the city!” Harvey said.
Harvey trying to make sense of the answer while on his knees (Image source: YouTube | Bonus Round)
The host then went on to mock the player a bit more, saying, “Outdoors in the shed. Yeah, down there with my pants down. Outdoors in the shed with the mule.” He then told Pamela that her country’s answer may not be up on the board at all, but her teammate, Edmund, disagreed as he yelled, “It’s there, Steve! It’s there! Whoo!” Harvey then mimicked the answer one last time as he turned and pointed to the board. Unfortunately for the Kendrick family and Pamela, the answer wasn’t on the board, and they got their third and final strike.

Viewers back at home thoroughly enjoyed Harvey breaking down the answer. “I love how Steve breaks immediately after she says that,” wrote one fan, @JayoftheCanadianPath, in the comments section of the YouTube video. Another fan, @grimsoul0 came out in support of Pamela as well, saying, “As a country boy, my thought was out in the barn, up in the hayloft. But the toolshed works too.”

The popular game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire returns after a several-year hiatus – but the show renewed with new twist fans may not like.

Jimmy Kimmel is host and executive producer of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Pic credit: ABC
The popular game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is set to return after a several-year hiatus.

However, when it returns, the show will have a new twist, and it already appears fans aren’t happy with the concept.

The show last appeared on the air three years ago and received its renewal amid its 25th-anniversary celebration.

Millionaire debuted in the United States in 1999. Regis Philbin was the host, guiding contestants through multiple-choice questions with the money they could win increasing after every correct answer.

A version of the show aired on ABC in 2020 and 2021 with Late Night host Jimmy Kimmel as host.

However, the show was one of many productions that shut down during that time due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Millionaire renewal comes with a new twist for the game

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire will return to ABC with Kimmel as host on July 10.

The previous version he hosted featured celebrity contestants in the seat trying to answer questions that had increasing difficulty levels and monetary values.

Celebrities will participate in the game show again, but this time, the show features pairs of celebs answering the questions.

The duos can win as much as $1 million, which will go to the charity of their choice.

Earlier versions of the popular game show in the United States featured celebrities appearing from time to time. Still, it mainly consisted of non-celebrity players trying to win themselves life-changing money.

Viewers already seem unhappy with Millionaire’s return version on ABC

While many viewers are looking forward to Millionaire’s return, others seem disappointed in the twist.

Recent Reddit forum posts focused on the show’s return with Kimmel as host and the celebrity pairs twist.

“Highly prefer real people over celebrities on game shows,” a commenter wrote on one Reddit post, adding, “It loses half the drama when it’s not a real person trying to win a significant amount of money.”

Another commenter said they were “okay with celebrities on game shows on occasion, not as a regular supposed to be on it,” but they added, “it depends on which celebrities.”
Pic credit: @indig0sixalpha/Reddit
“Why isn’t it for normal people? Why celebrities?” a commenter asked, with another replying it was because “celebrities attract more eyeballs.”

“yes but do I want to see celebrities get money? Even if it’s for charity? no,” the original commenter replied.
Pic credit: @indig0sixalpha/Reddit
It’s not the first change with Millionaire, as previous versions used a clock format, a shuffle format, and a version with 14 questions. However, it appears the introduction of celebrities in pairs may prevent some people from watching the show.

Several comments on the Reddit forum post also opposed Kimmel’s return as Who Wants to be a Millionaire? host.

One commenter even suggested they’d prefer Regis return in holographic form as the show’s host.

“Between Kimmel and all celebrity contestants, it’s like they’re actively trying to kill the show before it starts,” a commenter replied.
Pic credit: @indig0sixalpha/Reddit
Following Philbin’s 10-year run as Millionaire host, others who have hosted the show included Meredith Vieira, Cedric the Entertainer, Terry Crews, and Chris Harrison. Kimmel took over in 2020 after Harrison.

Millionaire is among other popular ABC games shows, which include Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, and The $100,000 Pyramid, hosted by Michael Strahan.

Per Deadline, the summer lineup will include Millionaire, Press Your Luck, Celebrity Family Feud, and the premiere of a new game show, Lucky 13.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? returns to ABC at 8/7c on July 10.

‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ 1st Look Shows Matt Damon as Contestant — To Jimmy Kimmel’s Chagrin (Exclusive)

Jimmy Kimmel might not have time for Matt Damon on his late night talk show, but the pair will come face-to-face on the new season of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

“Millionaire is back,” Kimmel, 57, says in Us Weekly’s exclusive first look at the upcoming fourth season of the game show that will kick off on Wednesday, July 23.

Damon, 54, is one of the many stars who will be participating in the beloved trivia show. The actor will team up with Jeopardy! host and legend Ken Jennings for a chance to earn $1 million for charity.

“Do we love Matt Damon or what?” Jennings, 51, asks Kimmel while sitting next to Damon in the clip.

Kimmel fires back, “I’m coming on Jeopardy! with someone you hate!”

Damon and Kimmel’s playful rivalry started in 2005 as a running gag on Jimmy Kimmel Live! when the host jokingly apologized to the actor — who was not scheduled for the show — for “running out of time” for him. The twosome have continued their banter over the years as they’ve taken jabs at each other.

Damon and Jennings aren’t the only exciting pair fans will get to watch this summer. Other duos include Joe Buck and Oliver Hudson, Helen Hunt and Dan Bucatinsky, Kal Penn and Jameela Jamil, Brad Goreski and Gary Janetti, Mike Birbiglia and Atsuko Okatsuka, Tramell Tillman and Zach Cherry, Sarah Silverman and Marc Maron, Jordan Kepler and Ronny Chieng, plus Jillian Bell and Chloe Fineman.

In addition to some iconic Hollywood friendships, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire will feature some sweet costar reunions. Those pairings include Community alums Joel McHale and Jim Rash, Workaholics stars Adam Devine and Anders Holm, The Office alums Kate Flannery and Oscar Nuñez, Whose Line Is It Anyways? alums Drew Carey and Aisha Tyler, Deli Boys’ stars Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh plus CNN’s Jake Tapper and Kaitlan Collins.

The original Who Wants to Be a Millionaire was hosted by the late Regis Philbin. Contestants, who were typically everyday folks, were tasked with answering a series of questions that would increase in difficulty to get to the million-dollar prize.

Following its 2019 cancellation, the game show was brought back with a celebrity format and Kimmel was tapped to host. It premiered the following year.

The celebrity version has only given out the million dollar prize twice. Celebrity chef David Chang earned a $1 million check for the Southern Smoke Foundation in 2020. Last season, father-son duo Ike and Alan Barinholtz successfully answered the last question to get the top prize for the ASL Program at Los Encinos School.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire premieres on ABC Wednesday, July 23, at 8 p.m. ET.

Happy’s Place Reveals Season 2 Game Plan: Several storylines already on tap

Happy’s Place EP Reveals Season 2 Game Plan: #Bemmett Romance, a Sought-After Origin Story and More

Though he didn’t give #Bemmett fans everything they’ve been asking for, series co-creator Kevin Abbott is hopeful that they’ll want to keep a tab open at Happy’s Place.

Friday’s Season 1 finale stopped short of having head chef Emmett ask tavern owner Bobbie out on a proper date, but it did set the stage for their inevitable Season 2 romance. That’s one of several storylines already on tap for the NBC sitcom’s 18-episode sophomore run, which also promises to pick up the pace on Gabby’s journey into motherhood… and maybe even introduce her wackadoo parents.

Additionally, in the following Q&A, Abbott explains why Season 1 avoided telling the origin story of Happy’s relationship with Isabella’s mother, and how he intends for that inevitable family drama to play out in the next batch of episodes, presumably airing this fall.
Rex Linn as Emmett & Reba McEntire as Bobbie Photo by Casey Durkin/NBC
TVLINE | Bobbie and Emmett entering a relationship would have been a natural bookend to Season 1. Why did you decide to hold off?
That was the original intent — to actually have them a little bit further along than we did. That was an idea that I had from before we wrote the pilot, actually, but we didn’t go as far as that because of the scheduling. We only had 13 episodes originally ordered. We were putting some pieces in place just in case, but we didn’t know if we were going to get a back order, or how many [episodes] it was going to be if we did. I don’t like to just jump into these things out of nowhere. I want to build to them so that, when they happen, it feels right. Ultimately, we got the pickup — a back five — after we’d wrapped the first 13. I just didn’t feel like I could successfully build the relationship to the point where I wanted it to be by the finale, so this is going to be something we’re going to get into next season. We can give the audience something to look forward to without taking it too quickly. When we get there, I want the audience to feel really satisfied.

 

TVLINE | We never got to see Reba Hart in a committed relationship after her divorce from Brock. I imagine there are plenty of stories you’re looking forward to telling on Happy’s Place with Bobbie and Emmett that you never got to tell on Reba….
You have nailed it on the head. Absolutely nailed it. We always talked about that — the one type of story [on Reba] we just did not do well. We could not do it. I mean, Reba is brilliant. She has so many gifts that it’s insane, and she’s a marvelous person, as well… but she could never quite fake chemistry. That was one of my only regrets on the old Reba show. When we set this show up, we cast [Reba’s real-life sweetheart] Rex [Linn] as Emmett, and we set him up as a potential love interest because I never got to tell those stories on Reba, and I think it works. The two of them together at the arcade is just lovely. That moment just tickles me pink.
Photo by Greg Schwartz/Fox Television/Everett Collection
TVLINE | You say you never made it work on Reba, but I recall enjoying those James Denton episodes.
That one kind of worked. I cast James in a pilot I did so long ago, way before Desperate Housewives, and he’s just got a great chemistry with people. It was great for an episode or two, but I don’t think it would have worked long term. It played for me as an attraction, not as a relationship.

TVLINE | So much story on Reba was mined from that initial premise that there was this other woman (Barbra Jean) who ultimately forced her way into Reba’s life. You started this show off with another heavy premise: Bobbie found out that her father had an affair 20-plus years ago, and it resulted in a secret half-sister, Isabella. I bring this up because Season 1 sidestepped any drama that audiences might’ve expected. Even when you introduced Isabella’s mother, Bobbie made it a point to say that what happened between Happy and Maritza was none of her business. Do you still intend to reveal that backstory at some point?
You’ve done your homework. It’s a really good question! The writers were leading up to that moment [in Episode 13] and then we decided that we’d like this moment to [eventually] be between Isabella and Bobbie. Ultimately, I want to tell that origin story. We will know what happened. That’s why, at the end of that episode, Isabella and her mom are talking. We have an episode in mind for when this all comes out. We did not have time to build to that one, either. It would have been Episode 21 if we’d gone 22, let’s put it that way.

 
Belissa Escobedo as Isabella & Justina Machado as Maritza Photo by Casey Durkin/NBC
We’ve gotten Bobbie and Isabella to a really great place, but this is the honeymoon. This is the period where they want this relationship to work, and they’ve been working really hard at it. Next season is the marriage. Next season is when all the little things start to bug me. So we’ll rekindle some of this [drama], work our way back into it. We just wanted to make certain that the audience knew there was something solid to root for before we start causing problems. Reba is beloved, and justifiably so, and it’s hard to be the person that the character of Bobbie is up against. The audience famously hated Barbra Jean for a while because she stole Reba’s husband, so we wanted to make certain that the audience could fall in love with Isabella before we started getting into some more complicated emotional areas.

TVLINE | Will Maritza resurface as that story is told?
We love Maritza. [Justina Machado] is absolutely somebody that is going to come back. She was phenomenal. My general rule is that, for the first season, there is only so much real estate, and I don’t want to give that to outside characters. I want the audience to get to know and love our people the way we do, which is why we only had, I think, four outside characters in Season 1, but they were all important for our characters’ stories — and, you know, I just love Steve Howey and Christopher Rich and wanted them on.
Melissa Peterman as Gabby Photo by Casey Durkin/NBC
TVLINE | Another unresolved storyline in Season 1 was Gabby’s desire to be a mom. Do you intend to see that one through?
Yeah. We had a few episodes about that, but I do like to take it a little slow and keep all those stories in play. When it was a back-five order — you know, 18 is the new 22 — I just didn’t have time to lay any of those pieces down, so I opted out. All these things are just going to be in Season 2 now. We went back and forth on the season finale — either doing something with Bobbie and Emmett, or Gabby or Isabella. We ultimately went this way because everything else felt a little too quick and too big. We wanted something that felt like a season finale that promised something for Season 2, without it feeling too out of the blue, or like too much of a leap forward. Next season, we already have 18, so I can plan it out much better.

 

As we move forward, I [also] want to meet Gabby’s parents. I’ve got [archetypes] for Gabby’s parents — her mother is like Jean Smart, and her father is this small guy who is kind of wimpy and clearly handpicked and whatnot. And then we meet his best friend, who is like Dauber, the big blond dude from Coach, and clearly there was an affair there, and that’s where all this resentment is coming from for Gabby.

What did you think of the Happy’s Place finale — and Season 1 overall? Weigh in via the following polls, then leave a review in the comments.

‘Best Medicine’: Cast, Premiere Date, More for ‘Doc Martin’ Adaptation

‘Best Medicine’: Abigail Spencer and Josh Segarra Join Josh Charles in ‘Doc Martin’ Adaptation

Corey Nickols/Getty Images for IMDb; Mark Mann; Fox

Another medical show will be joining Doc on Fox for the 2025-2026 season. Specifically, it will be part of the lineup in the midseason.

Best Medicine is based on the global hit Doc Martin. Josh Charles is set to star as the lead doctor, and on Monday, July 7, Fox announced that Abigail Spencer and Josh Segarra has joined the cast. Unlike Doc, a one-hour drama — and Fox’s previous medical hit The Resident — this is a one-hour comedy.

“Comedy isn’t one genre for us. We don’t just look at it as like half-hour live-action comedy,” Michael Thorn, President, FOX Television Network, FOX Entertainment, said to reporters on Sunday, May 11. “We look at it as animation, of course comedy, but we look at it like with a one-hour comedy like Best Medicine. Even our game shows like The 1% Club, we look at as a comedy first and a game show second. And so this just felt like it was kind of a perfect opportunity for us to expand the way that we talk to our audience through comedy.”

Read on for everything we know about this new series, from the cast to a premiere date and more.

When will Best Medicine premiere?

An exact premiere date has yet to be announced, but it will be part of the midseason lineup of Fox’s 2025-2026 season.

Fox

Who stars in Best Medicine?

Josh Charles plays the leading role, Dr. Martin Best. Abigail Spencer will play Louisa Glasson, a warm, charming local school teacher who immediately gets off on the wrong foot with Martin Best, yet she’s intrigued by him.

In a series regular role, Segarra will play Sheriff Mark Mylow, a charming lawman who knows every inch of his town. Still healing from a recent breakup with Louisa, he’s eager to get to know the new doctor, forming a bit of a love triangle as sparks begin to fly between Best and his former flame.

The series comes from executive producers Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Rodney Ferrell, Liz Tuccillo, Mark Crowdy, and Philippa Braithwaite. Crowdy and Braithwaite worked on Doc Martin, which ran 10 seasons and one TV movie. It premiered in 2004, and the final episode aired in 2022.

What is Best Medicine about?

The new series is based on the critically acclaimed and beloved global hit Doc Martin. Best Medicine follows Martin Best, a brilliant surgeon who abruptly leaves his illustrious career in Boston to become the general practitioner in a quaint East Coast fishing village where he spent summers as a child. Unfortunately, Martin’s blunt and borderline rude bedside manner rubs the quirky, needy locals the wrong way, and he quickly alienates the town, even though he’s all they’ve got. Although Martin can expertly address any medical ailment or mystery in this idiosyncratic town, he’s really just desperate to be left the hell alone. Instead, he keeps getting dragged right smack into the middle of their personal chaos, feuds and fantasies. What the locals don’t know is that Martin’s terse demeanor masks a debilitating new phobia and deep-seated psychological issues that prevent him from experiencing true intimacy with anyone. But tenacity is the creed of everyone in their small village, and the people who live there may be exactly what the doctor ordered.

“The story of Doc Martin has resonated worldwide with its humanity, originality, and humor, and with Best Medicine coming to Fox, that eccentricity gets a small-town America spin, complete with idyllic charm and absurdity,” said Michael Thorn, president of Fox Television Network, in a statement. “Liz, Mark, Philippa, Ben, and Rodney have done a terrific job adapting this signature character for the Fox audience, especially in casting the terrifically talented Josh Charles as our lead.”

Propagate Content’s Ben Silverman added, “The entire Propagate team is thrilled to be working with Fox Entertainment on this extraordinary adaptation by Liz Tuccillo of the global hit Doc Martin. Josh Charles is the perfect lead for this brilliantly character-driven comedic procedural. Best Medicine is a world we’ll all want to be part of.”

Thorn expanded on what to expect from the show to reporters on Sunday, May 11. “We love this story for its humor, charm, optimism, and edge, not to mention its standing as a proven 10 season global hit out of the UK. It’s been almost a decade since we’ve had a one hour comedy on Fox. So introducing this signature Fox character and his story is the perfect fit for us. There really is nothing like best medicine on broadcast TV today,” he said.

He added, “A couple things we love about the original format that Liz Tuccillo, who’s adapting the American version, just captured so well is the original has this old, funny, surprising, flawed, no filter character who happens to be a brilliant doctor. And that kind of messy characters work so well for our audience on our air. And we think Liz did a great job capturing it and how lucky are we’d have Josh Charles to embody the American version. And then the other thing about the original that we love, it’s really this kind of wonderful, quirky ensemble of supporting characters. There’s a great romance, it’s an aspirational small town setting, and it just feels like all of those qualities put to the typewriter of Liz just really works so well for us.”

Is there a Best Medicine trailer?

Not yet.

Shifting Gears Episode 5 Features An Unexpected Hint About The Future Of Matt & Riley

Warning! Spoilers ahead of Shifting Gears episode 5, “Jimmy.”

Amid the chaos that Jimmy’s arrival brings, Shifting Gears episode 5 offers an unexpected hint about what to expect from Matt and Riley’s future. ABC’s latest sitcom brings back Tim Allen to the small screen, several years after The Last Man Standing wrapped up. Joining him as Matt in the Shifting Gears cast is Kat Dennings, who plays his on-screen daughter, Riley. Admittedly, the initial response to the show is mixed, but it continues to be a commercial success for ABC, pulling in great viewership, both from broadcast and streaming. Because of this, Shifting Gears will likely be renewed.

The long-form network format allows sitcoms more time to get their footing, and Shifting Gears benefits from that leeway. Allen’s new show started out uneven and awkward, but it has continued to improve in the succeeding weeks. In Shifting Gears episode 5, the comedy debuts Riley’s husband, Jimmy as he tries to make amends. The show leaves their fate in limbo, but regardless of what happens in their dynamic, the comedy can go on. Shifting Gears‘ story is anchored on the dynamic between Matt and Riley, anyway, and its latest episode offers an idea about what the future lies for them.

Matt & Riley Both Agree About How Restoring Cars Take Time In Shifting Gears

The Parkers Will Be Alright

Shifting Gears episode 5 begins with Matt gifting Carter his very own car for his birthday. That said, unlike a swanky new one that is ready to be used, the Parker patriarch, who is a connoisseur of vintage models, decided to give his grandson an older one that needs a lot of work. At first, Carter is hesitant about the car, unsure if it’s a good or a bad present, but when Riley chimes in and shares that her dad also gave her something similar when she was 16, Carter perks up.

Matt mentions first that fixing Carter’s car would take a while, but Riley adds that they did the same thing to her 16-year-old automobile gift, which ended up being such a cool ride.

While they do not engage in intense fights, the micro-arguments highlight the divide between Matt and Riley, so seeing them be on the same page about Carter’s car is a good change. However, this isn’t the only hint that they will be able to fully repair their relationship. Both also acknowledge that working on something for a longer period can ultimately lead to a satisfying result. Matt mentions first that fixing Carter’s car would take a while, but Riley adds that they did the same thing to her 16-year-old automobile gift, which ended up being such a cool ride.

Restoring Cars Is A Metaphor For Shifting Gears’ Central Story

Shifting Gears Is Restoring Matt & Riley’s Relationship

Throughout its run thus far, Shifting Gears has established that Riley and Matt have often conflicting perspectives — a take on the used generational gap trope. While this isn’t exactly new, Matt and Riley’s love for cars, specifically vintage ones, bond them together. It’s the one thing that they seem to agree on, at least thus far. Fixing cars, however, is a metaphor for how Shifting Gears tackles how the pair restores their fractured relationship.

Matt and Riley’s similar disposition on how much work Carter’s car needs suggests that they are also both willing to put in the effort to fix their dynamic. Surprisingly, Shifting Gears doesn’t fall into the trap of pitting the father and daughter against each out quite aggressively. In fact, since the show started, it has already featured several touching moments between the pair. This sets up a future where they are finally able to get over their respective grudges towards each other, although, like Carter’s car, it will require a lot of time and work.

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Shifting Gears Season 2: Confirmation, Cast & Everything We Know

ABC’s uproarious new sitcom Shifting Gears features TV legend Tim Allen in one of its lead roles, and now the father-daughter comedy has been renewed for season 2. Debuting in the early days of 2025, the series follows a widower named Matt (Allen) who reunites with his estranged daughter Riley (Kat Dennings) and her two kids when she hits the end of her rope and needs somewhere to stay. While the pair try to work out their differences, Riley attempts to figure out what she’s going to do with her life, and Matt must adjust to his new living situation.

While it might be getting generally bad reviews, Shifting Gears has one big thing going for it, that being the TV starpower of Tim Allen. The Toy Story and The Santa Clause star has rarely missed in his TV ventures, with long-running sitcoms like Home Improvement and Last Man Standing being the comic actor’s true wheelhouse. Though there was speculation that the series might get axed after only one season, ABC instead opted to renew the sitcom for season 2. The upcoming sophomore season will be Shifting Gear‘s biggest test, and it will make or break the show.

Shifting Gears Season 2 Latest News

ABC Renews Shifting Gears After Troubling Reports

Just a few days after it was announced that the show was on the bubble, the latest news confirms that Shifting Gears has been renewed for season 2. Troubling reports surfaced in late March that indicated Shifting Gears had seen a sharp decline in ratings across the 10 episodes of season 1. Despite this, ABC opted to pick up another season, and renewed Shifting Gears alongside Grey’s Anatomy, 9-1-1, The Rookie, and Will Trent. No further details are known about season 2 yet, but information will likely come soon.

Shifting Gears premiered with to 6.10 million viewers (via Programming Insider) but dropped to 3.77 by episode 10 (via Programming Insider).

Shifting Gears Season 2 Is Confirmed

A Second Gear For Shifting Gears

If ratings continue to slide into season 2, the series likely won’t be around for season 3.

Though Shifting Gears got off to a blazing hot start, it became clear as season 1 wore on that ratings were dipping considerably. However, ABC opted to renew the show in April 2025, and green-lit the Tim Allen comedy for a second season. This renewal is a good sign that the show can recover, but it’s clear that ABC will be keeping a close eye on Shifting Gears in season 2 to make sure their investment was worthwhile. If ratings continue to slide into season 2, the series likely won’t be around for season 3.

No production information is known at this time, but it can be assumed that ABC is aiming to have the show air in the midseason slot. Shifting Gears wasn’t part of the network’s fall slate, and based on the ratings, it would make sense to leave it for January or February 2026. Midseason shows are an important part of any network’s yearly success, and Shifting Gears just doesn’t have the momentum to take a fall schedule slot from one of ABC’s bigger series just yet. However, Tim Allen’s shows almost always succeed, and season 2 might be where Shifting Gears picks up steam.

Shifting Gears Season 2 Cast Details

Expect The Main Ensemble To Return

Since sitcoms often rely on a familiar ensemble from season to season, it’s expected that the main cast of Shifting Gears will return to reprise their roles in season 2. Leading the show as its star (and principal draw), Tim Allen will certainly return as widower and auto mechanic shop owner Matt Parker. Coming back to play Matt’s adult daughter Riley, MCU and Two Broke Girls star Kat Dennings will undoubtedly be back. Jenna Elfman joined the series as dance instructor, Eve, and she’ll likely be back so that she can continue her relationship with Matt.

Meanwhile, it’s almost certain that Sean William Scott will be on hand to once again play Gabriel, a close family friend of Matt and Riley’s who works for Matt’s shop. His affection for Riley was a poorly-kept secret in season 1, and their will-they-won’t-they could continue into season 2 as well. Daryl “Chill” Mitchell adds to the supporting cast as Matt’s longtime employee and right-hand-man, Stitch, while youngsters Maxwell Simkins and Barrett Margolis play Riley’s kids, Carter and Georgia, respectively.

The series will likely follow in the footsteps of other sitcoms and employ a wide range of guest stars from week to week, but it’s unclear which of those could stick around. Often, sitcom guests become full-fledged supporting characters over the long run, but it’s too early in the show’s run to speculate.

The cast of Shifting Gears season 2 will probably include:

Shifting Gears Season 2 Story Details

More Generational Clashes Are Expected

Shifting Gears is hardly the most groundbreaking sitcom of all time, and with that in mind, it will likely continue to deal with familiar themes and ideas going forward. The heart of the story is the slowly growing relationship between Matt and Riley, but the two still have a long way to go before they can fully heal from 15 years of separation. On top of that, they’re both dealing with their own grief as they separately try to cope with the loss of Matt’s wife (Riley’s mom). While this could be the thing that ultimately brings them together, it could be another wedge as well.

Season 1’s finale saw Riley continuing to struggle with her purpose in life, though she made major strides throughout the 10 episodes. Instead of running back to her husband Jimmy when he deigned to show up again, she asked him for a divorce. This could continue to play out across season 2, especially with Gabe’s affection for Riley becoming public knowledge. Throughout all that, Matt and Riley’s relationship took a big step when he told her he trusted her to make the right decision, instead of instantly judging her.

On the topic of burgeoning romances, Matt and Eve finally locked lips in the season 1 finale, and they will probably continue to be an item going forward. Riley learned that Gabe carried a torch for her, but he rejected her kiss when she was too drunk to properly consent. While this might stall their eventual romance for a while, it helps build it on a solid foundation instead of compulsive decisions. Shifting Gears season 2 has a lot to work with, and it could be where the show really takes off.

Everything to Know About St. Denis Medical Season 2. Here’s when your favorite new sitcom returns.

NBC’s hilarious new sitcom, St. Denis Medical, will soon return for its sophomore season. Whether it’s the silly hospital antics, sweet love stories, or cringe-til-you-laugh awkward situations, there’s so much to enjoy about the show. Here’s everything we know about the upcoming second season.

When does St. Denis Medical Season 2 air?

The series returns fall 2025 on NBC. Stay tuned for details.

What the cast wants to see in Season 2

The cast of St. Denis Medical spoke to NBC Insider about their hopes for their characters when the show comes back, and their answers were just perfect. Actor Josh Lawson, who plays surgeon Dr. Bruce, revealed, “Believe it or not, I really enjoy the actual ‘doctoring’ part of the character. I hope they throw more and more complicated emergencies and surgeries at me. They’re always conscious of making the medical sequences as truthful as possible, and I love learning about that world.”

As nurse Matt, Mekki Leeper wants to explore the character’s crush on fellow nurse Serena (Kahyun Kim). “The Matt and Serena of it all is a little secretive to talk about, so who knows? But I can tell you this, Matt is learning stuff, man,” said Leeper. “In Season 2, he is gonna know how to do, I don’t know three things, maybe four. I look forward to it.”

Superstore alum Kaliko Kauahi plays nurse Val. “I hope Val gets to continue delivering sass and keeping it super real in the ER,” the actress said. Added star Alison Tolman, “I just want to interact with more characters. I want more fun guest stars. I want a mother-in-law to show up… I really want to meet, like, whoever Matt’s weird Craigslist roommate is.”

Allison Tolman in a promotional portrait for St. Denis Medical.

Photo: JSquared Photography/NBC

When it comes to twists, David Alan Grier thinks there’s going to be a lot for Dr. Ron: “Perhaps he gets involved in… overextending himself on Bitcoin, slot machines. I would definitely love to see Dr. Ron take all of his money and just go on an investing spree because his emotions could go up and down like the stock market, literally.”

Wendi McLendon-Covey suggested, “I would like to see [Hospital Admin Joyce] play more of the marimbas…[and to] see what else Joyce has going on and why she is so weird.”

St. Denis Medical Season 1 episodes are available on Peacock.