The 1 Thing Reba McEntire & Rex Linn Don’t Agree on While Filming Happy’s Place

The actors have different endearing approaches to prepare for shooting scenes, according to cast mate Pablo Castelblanco.

A sitcom is nothing without its ensemble cast, and Happy’s Place is no exception. The cast has a deep bench with Reba McEntire returning to sitcoms as Bobbie Jo, who inherits her father’s tavern and finds out about his secret daughter Isabelle (Belissa Escobedo). (McEntire previously starred for many seasons on the hit sitcom Reba.)

Pablo Castelblanco plays the bar’s accountant Steve, and Tokala Black Elk plays waiter Takoda. The show brings together the band of loveable characters in the charming Tennessee tavern. In a chat with NBC Insider, Escobedo and Castelblanco opened up about joining the show alongside sitcom legends.

Belissa Escobedo and Pablo Castelblanco share what it’s like to work with Reba McEntire

Is there anything Reba McEntire can’t do? The country music star has soared on the Billboard charts, is a Coach alum on The Voice, has a killer sweet potato casserole recipe, and proven her acumen as an actress with her iconic 2000s sitcom with her namesake.

Melissa Peterman as Gabby and Reba McEntire as Bobbie in Happy’s Place Season 1, Episode 1. Photo: Casey Durkin/NBC

Though Happy’s Place is a completely new concept and show from McEntire’s last sitcom, she reunites with Melissa Peterman (Reba, Young Sheldon) and many of the same crew and writers joined as well, according to Escobedo.

“It feels like… being part of a resurgence of sitcom television, and that’s very special ,and so I’m feeling so lucky,” Escobedo said. “Reba is an angel, so it’s awesome to go to work every day and have it be her at the forefront.”

Bobbie (Reba McEntire) and Isabella (Belissa Escobedo) during the Pilot Episode of Happy’s Place. Photo: Casey Durkin/NBC

For Castelblanco, one of the biggest joys for an actor is the chance to be doing a multi-cam sitcom.

“You get to rehearse it and then performing in front of a live audience,” Castelblanco explained. “It’s like you’re opening a play every time you tape an episode.”

Working with the cast of Happy’s Place has been a “delight” for him.

“I’m working with great people that are hilarious,” Castelblanco said. “They’re all doing a very specific thing.”

Rex Linn and Reba McEntire appear during a segment on TODAY on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. Photo: Nathan Congleton/NBC

McEntire’s real-life love Rex Linn rounds out the cast as Bobbie’s love interest, the bar’s short-order cook Emmett.

“They’re so cute that they’re gross,” Escobedo joked about the couple’s dynamic on and off set. “No, I’m just kidding, but they are like sickeningly sweet…I love seeing them be happy…I can’t imagine how cool it is to go to work and be able to be with your boo. That’s really sweet.”

Castelblanco called them the “sweetest couple ever.”

“They’re also, like, very supportive of each other,” Castelblanco said. “I feel like they know their tempos really well. Rex loves to rehearse the episodes. I think Reba’s like… waits a little bit more to see what the final lines are gonna be.”

The different methods lead to the actors pushing each other in either direction, Castelblanco explained.

“Like, ‘Oh, you should rehearse more,’ and she’s like, ‘Well, you should wait until the lines…’ and I just love that they’re, like, keeping each other safe and… happy, but then at the same time they’re kind of like…you know they’re a couple,” Castelblanco said.

Season 1 of Happy’s Place returns Friday, January 3, 2025 at 8/7c on NBC. New episodes are available the next day on Peacock.

Happy’s Place Cast Update Sets Up A Major Reba Reunion, 18 Years After The Comedy Series Ended and fans are very excited and looking forward to it

Happy’s Place Cast Update Sets Up A Major Reba Reunion, 18 Years After The Comedy Series Ended

The new cast update for Happy’s Place confirms a Reba reunion. The new 2024 comedy series follows Bobbie (Reba McEntire), a woman who unexpectedly finds herself partnering with her lost half-sister, Isabella (Belissa Escobedo), in running her late father’s tavern. Since its release in October 2024, Happy’s Place has earned mostly positive reviews and solid viewer retention. On top of that, McEntire has already reunited with several Reba cast members, and now it appears that list will grow.

Now, Variety reported that Christopher Rich and Justina Machado will have guest roles in Happy’s Place. This casting news marks a Reba reunion between McEntire and Rich, who portrayed the role of Brock Hart, the ex-husband in the 2007 sitcom.

In Happy’s Place, Rich will portray Maverick, a funny tattoo artist who can only do tattoos with his right hand due to a stroke. On the other hand, Machado, known for her roles in Jane the Virgin, One Day at a Time, and Queen of the South, plays Maritza, Isabella’s mother and a successful lawyer.

What This Means for Happy’s Place and Its Characters

Happy’s Place Is Tapping Into Recognizable Talent

Rich and Machado’s casting reaffirms Happy’s Place’s commitment to tapping into familiar and veteran talent. Rich and McEntire’s reunion is clearly not the first, as the series has already brought many familiar Reba cast members to the spotlight, including Melissa Peterman and Steve Howey.

While Howey has just a guest role as Danny, Peterman portrays the main character, Gabby, a bartender who helps Bobby at the tavern. However, Rich is major since this would mark his reunion with McEntire after the 2001 comedy series ended 18 years ago.

On the other hand, Machado’s involvement enriches Happy’s Place’s ensemble with a new character who brings depth, strength, and a no-nonsense attitude.

With the key premise focused on Bobby learning about her lost half-sister, the introduction of Isabella’s mother could establish more details about the relationship between her and Happy. However, it’s uncertain when either Machado or Rich will make their guest appearances.

Our Take on Happy’s Place’s Guest Star Announcement

New Characters Promise New Relationships & Dynamics

Bringing Rich and Machado into Happy’s Place further strengthens the show’s character-driven approach. Rich’s appearance provides a nostalgic nod to their time on Reba together, while Machado adds a revived dynamic to the series, particularly how it will impact Isabella and Bobbie.

These additions demonstrate the sitcom’s commitment to diversifying its character roster and creating a viewing experience where humor and heart coexist. As Happy’s Place continues to evolve, guest roles will likely contribute to its overall success and audience engagement.

Source: Variety

‘Price is Right’ contestant and her mother end up on the floor while celebrating in wild TV moment

Screenshots showing the contestant and her mother on “The Price is Right.” (Cover image source: Instagram | @therealpriceisright)

Antics of contestants on “The Price is Right” are one of the things that make the show entertaining and relatable, but sometimes their joy can be too much for the host and audience alike. In a rare moment on the show, another person from the audience came down to celebrate with the contestant and they both collapsed to the floor together in front of model Alexis Gaube, who seemed helpless and baffled.

The contestant in question was a woman named Alexandria and she had made it to the final round of the show, which was Showcase Showdown. Her opponent was bidding for a trip to the Seychelles and a car, and the price she guessed was $5,793 less than the actual value of both prizes. This gave Alexandria a chance to seal the deal if she could guess the price of a hot tub and the trip.
Screenshot showing the moment Alexandria realised that she had won Showcase. (Image credit: Instagram | @therealpriceisright)
But unlike a lot of other contestants, she had help. Her mother was in the studio and she was determined to help her daughter out. With her guidance, Alexandria guessed $22,500 as the price of both the trip and the hot tub, and that was only $164 away from the actual price of both prizes.

The rules of the game state that if a contestant guesses an amount within $250 of the actual price of the items, they win both showcases, including the car.

Alexandria rushed over to the location of the car and her mother also made her way onto the stage and hugged her. In their excitement, they fell to the floor while the rest of the people on stage didn’t know what to do as per TV Shows Ace.

“The Price is Right” audience has always been quite helpful to the competitors for decades now. Even when Bob Barker was the host, the people behind the camera never shied away from helping a contestant win big. A contestant named Brenda experienced this nature of the audience as well.

She was playing the Any Number game to win the prize. In this game, there are three rows. The first row had four digits that represented the price of the car. The second row had three digits that represented the price of the teddy bears.

The third row also had three digits that represented a certain amount of cash in a piggy bank. The numbers available were 0 to 9 and no digit repeated itself.

The contestant had to guess a number that appeared in its corresponding box.

The first object with its price revealed was to be awarded to the player. Before guessing every single digit, Brenda turned to the audience for help.

It took some time and the situation turned tense, but she ultimately revealed the price of the car first thanks to the people in the studio and got what she had wanted the most..

[BREAKING NEWS] Famous ‘The Price Is Right’ Game That May Be Getting Retired

Famous ‘The Price Is Right’ Game That May Be Getting Retired

The Price Is Right has added several games to the retirement bunch. Is it a game that viewers would be okay with not seeing anymore? It seems viewers want the games switched up a bit anyway. Also, there are some fans who think is too hard. Keep reading to find out more about this.

The Price Is Right Games In Retirement

The Price Is Right has several games that have been retired. This may be due to financial reasons, viewer requests, or just because they were not liked by the production team. For example, games in retirement include, Add Em’ Up, Bullseye I, Hit Me, Hurdles, Penny Ante, The Phone Home Game, Super Ball!!, Trader Bob, and Walk Of Fame.

However, there may be another game being added to that list. Fans would like to see some of these games back. However, not all are missed. These games were all retired while Bob Barker was the host of the game show.

Drew Carey Youtube

The Game That May Get Retired

Viewers are hoping to see the game, 3 Strikes, retired as well. They think the game is just too hard and it is not enjoyable to watch. Fans went to Reddit to give their opinions.

Hardest: Three Strikes

Three Strikes is basically a middle finger to anyone who wants to win a car.

3 Strikes is the hardest.

If you’re lucky enough to get your the show and they reveal Stack the Deck or 3 Strikes to you, just walk off the stage and wait for the Showcase Showdown.

3 Strikes is not a fun game

I legitimately can’t remember the last time I saw a player get more than 1, maybe 2 numbers before striking out so I’m not a fan of this game either lol,

I despise 3 strikes. Way too much luck involved,

Fans are not loving the game. It is not easy and does not result in many wins.

Price Is Right

It seems that 3 Strikes is the hardest game in fans’ opinions. They do not think it is fair to the contestant. While it is a rare game to see, viewers would not mind never seeing it again. They would like to see more contestants winning cars and not losing.

However, easier games may not be in the show’s best interest due to financial reasons. What do you think about the game? Would you like to see it get laid to rest? Sound off in the comments below.

Drew Carey reveals tragic loss of former fiancee still affects him

Drew Carey hosts daytime and nighttime episodes of The Price Is Right. Pic credit CBS
Drew Carey opened up about how the tragic loss of his former fiance, Amie Harwick, still affects his mental health and how he views dating.

Carey, 66, was engaged to Harwick, a marriage and family therapist, in January 2018.

However, they ended their engagement later that same year. Two years later, Harwick was discovered dead in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood.

Days later, her ex-boyfriend, Gareth Pursehouse, was arrested. In 2023, he was convicted of Harwick’s murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Drew and Harwick had planned to meet to discuss some things after their breakup, but their meeting never happened.

He recently shared how that tragic loss has affected his “ideas about relationships and intimacy” and what has helped him with his depression.

Drew opened up about his former fiancee: ‘Her death still affects me’

In a recent Us Weekly interview, Drew spoke about the impact losing his former fiancee had on him. According to the actor, comedian, and game show host, he thinks about her daily.

“It’s such a loss. Her death still affects me and my ideas about relationships and intimacy. It was all damaged by first our breakup, and then, the day before she died, when she texted me. It had been a really bad breakup for both of us, but a necessary one,” Drew told Us Weekly.

He indicated he didn’t want to think about Harwick or see a picture of her after their breakup. However, he said Harwick contacted him via text “out of the blue,” mentioning she’d been “thinking about forgiveness” and wanted to meet up to discuss “some things.”

Drew said he texted back that he “loved” Harwick and would see her next week. However, the next day, she was murdered.

“It destroyed me for a while. I still don’t date. I have women I go out with and spend time with, but it’s all platonic, and I don’t care about anything else. Amie’s death really affected everything,” he explained.

Drew shared what helped him with depression and moving on

Carey, 66, regularly appears on television screens as host of The Price Is Right.

Many viewers enjoy watching the entertaining game show, as he has brought his unique personality to it.

Carey also advocates mental health, part of his closing message during each episode.

In his Us Weekly interview, he said that he believes everyone could benefit from talking with a therapist, something he did to address his depression.

In addition, he said self-help books, meditation, and avoiding triggers like social media have helped him get through his depression.

Carey also shared that three of Harwick’s best friends reached out to him after her funeral with a message that helped him move on.

“We wanted to tell you how much Amie loved you and cared for you and how well she spoke of you,” Drew recalled them telling him.

Carey said he was “so moved” after receiving that message. Along with reconnecting with Harwick’s parents, Carey said, “Amie’s memory and the things she lived for keep us going.”

As part of his closing message, Carey tells everyone, “I love you,” at the end of each episode of The Price Is Right.

“I think it’s important to tell people you love them. It might be the last time you see them. You don’t know,” he said.

Ken Jenning’s Problematic Past Tweets Cost Him the Jeopardy Hosting Job

Executives cooled on Jennings after people resurfaced his ableist tweet from 2014.

Ken Jennings seemed like a shoo-in for the role of Jeopardy! host. After all, he held the record for longest winning streak and was widely considered to be the GOAT of the beloved trivia series. He also had great chemistry with the man who lorded over Jeopardy! for fifty years and made the show his own: Alex Trebek.

He was a fan favorite and had been working as a consultant on the show since 2020.

According to the Wall Street Journal, as recently as nine months ago, executives at Sony Pictures Entertainment all agreed Jennings would make an ideal successor to Trebek, despite his limited hosting experience.

But things began to unravel when Jennings was announced as Jeopardy!’s first, rotating guest host.

In the lead-up to the episode’s airing, fans resurfaced some of his old tweets. “Nothing sadder than a hot person in a wheelchair,” read one from 2014. Jennings quickly apologized but it did little to stymie the PR damage.

Then the tweet resurfaced again when Jennings came to the defense of his Omnibus co-host, John “Bean Dad” Roderick, whose thread about his parenting style caused a global meltdown on Twitter.

People familiar with Sony’s selection process told the WSJ that executives were concerned by reactions to the tweet and feared a fan-powered backlash.

The subsequent dip in Jennings’ focus group ratings didn’t help his case. These factors combined convinced the Sony execs to put the kibosh on Jennings and resume, in earnest, the hunt for a new host.

Evidently, in choosing Jennings, Sony executives had hoped to avoid a chaotic selection process that has consumed other host-driven shows like NBC’s The Tonight Show in recent years.

Unfortunately, what they’ve ended up with instead is a process that makes the Conan O’Brien fiasco of 2010 seem like a perfectly orchestrated transition.

‘Jeopardy!’ Fans React After Ken Jennings Makes Rare Mistake

Jeopardy, Inc.

Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings made a rare mistake on Monday night’s episode. Fans were shocked that his error was broadcast and didn’t get reshot since the game show isn’t live.

TJ Fisher, from San Francisco, California, played his third game on Monday, October 6. He won with a total of $21,035 after a triple stumper about the HBO Max show, The Pitt.

Although fans were shocked that none of the contestants knew about the Emmy-winning drama, they were even more shocked by what Ken Jennings said at the end of the episode.

He said that Fisher had a three-day total of $59,924, but then turned around and said, “TJ will be back tomorrow for a third win. We’ll see you then.” Fisher is actually going for his fourth win.

Fans picked up on the host’s mistake. “I am so excited because I just caught an error on Jeopardy! for the first time! At the end, Ken said that tomorrow we will watch TJ go for a third win, but it will actually be his attempt at a fourth. I feel so eagle-eyed and very impressed with myself,” a Reddit user said.

“My wife was shocked that the crew didn’t catch it and have Ken do a retake,” another replied.

“I knew Ken goofed. I’m surprised they didn’t catch that. It happens,” a third wrote.

“Yes, I know they usually retake things like that, so I was surprised it didn’t happen, but even more surprised that my attention was sharp enough to notice! Truly no judgment on Jeopardy!–much less on Ken!–just shock that I caught something that the much smarter and more attentive people making the show didn’t,” the original commenter replied.

Facebook users also caught the mistake. In Jeopardy Fan Group, a fan said, “Did anyone else notice Ken end with: Champ’s 3-Day total of $59,xxx and tomorrow he’ll go for his third win. On Monday, October 6.”

Some people said they didn’t notice it, but others did. “He misspoke. It’s not a big deal,” one fan said.

“I did!” commented another.

Did you notice Ken Jennings’ mistake? Let us know in the comments.

Jeopardy!, weekdays, check local listings, stream next day on Hulu and Peacock

Jeopardy! fans call out host Ken Jennings for ‘harsh’ post as he vacations in Australia

Ken Jennings’ fans have gone after the Jeopardy! host for what they are calling a ‘harsh’ post, as Jennings and his wife mark their 25th wedding anniversary

Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings has stirred up debate among fans with a witty social media post during his anniversary trip to Australia.

The 51-year-old game show host, currently vacationing with wife Mindy Jennings to mark their 25th wedding anniversary, shared a photo on Instagram that featured the storefront of The Reject Shop, a popular Australian dollar store. Jennings captioned the image, “This Australian dollar store called… and they’re running out of YOU!”

The post triggered a flood of replies, with users reacting to what some described as a “harsh” jab. One wrote, “Ken delivering it hard – ii love it!” Another wrote, “Whoa! They went right to the point,” following Jennings suggesting changes to the long-running show.

“This must be where my parents adopted me from,” joked another.

Another comment read, “What’s the conversion rate from Jerk Store to Reject Shop?” while one follower wrote, “Ouch.”

Several users responded as if personally targeted by the post. “Why you gotta call me out like that Ken?” one asked.

Another wrote, “That’s what I should have said!”

Jennings has been sharing highlights from his time off from the game show.

Earlier in the week, he posted an image of an old Yellow wooden object with a plaque that read, “I’m very old. Please don’t climb on me.”

He captioned that post, “Message to my haters.”

That photo also saw a large amount of fan support. “We could never hate you!” one follower wrote. “You’re the GOAT,” added another.

The tone of the Reject Shop post struck a slightly different chord.

“Harsh!” a commenter replied. Another wrote, “Ken, don’t remind us of your mortality. I’m still mourning Alex [Trebek]!!!!!!” referencing the longtime Jeopardy! host, who died in 2020 from pancreatic cancer.

Jennings took over as the show’s permanent host following Trebek’s death, initially sharing the role with Mayim Bialik before becoming the sole host in December 2023.

Recently, Jennings took a hard look at his old outfits from his historic 74-game winning streak in 2004.

“If I’m seeing that right, that is a terrible tie and really it’s a color of shirt I would never wear,” Jennings told E! News, while reacting to one photo featuring a beige shirt paired with a Coca-Cola patterned tie. “I guess if you like Coca-Cola, you’re into that outfit. That’s really unfortunate.”

Jeopardy! returned for Season 42 on Monday, September 8, and airs weekdays at 7 PM PST.

The Fate of Tim Allen’s ‘Shifting Gears’ Has Finally Been Decided

ABC is keeping the engine running on its newest family comedy. The network has officially renewed Shifting Gears for Season 2, giving fans more time with Tim Allen and Kat Dennings‘ delightfully dysfunctional father-daughter duo. Created by Julie Thacker Scully and Mike Scully, with Michelle Nader serving as showrunner, the multi-cam sitcom follows estranged father Matt (Allen) and daughter Riley (Dennings) as they attempt to rebuild their fractured relationship — with plenty of sarcasm, misunderstandings, and reluctant bonding along the way.

There initially seemed to be little chance of the show not being renewed when it debuted in January and quickly became ABC’s most-streamed comedy premiere ever, pulling in a whopping 17 million cross-platform viewers in just seven days, but doubts began to creep in as live viewership dipped as the season progressed, even though the show consistently saw solid gains in delayed viewing.

Plot details for Season 2 are being kept under wraps, but Season 1’s finale teased new romantic entanglements for Matt, renewed tensions with Riley, and plenty more opportunities for generational clashes between Allen’s conservative leading man and the more liberal younger members of the cast—the exact kind of juxtaposition that his audience has come to expect and enjoy.

Tim Allen Loves His Role in ‘Shifting Gears’

Allen is one of the kings of sitcoms in Hollywood, but after leading two of television’s most successful sitcoms—Home Improvement (1991-1999) and Last Man Standing (2011-2021)—he truly wasn’t sure if he really wanted to do another series. But when he was proposed Shifting Gears, and saw that the set was designed after his own North Hollywood garage, he admitted it was “what I always wanted” from a show.

“I love the sitcom format because of my stand-up,” he explained. “I get to be in a live audience situation. When they said, ‘What would you do if you did another one?’ I said, ‘If a guy had just lost his wife and he’s still able to be funny and [work on] a relationship with an older daughter … and I’d like to build hot rods!’ Kat Dennings said, ‘[Some people] get into a relationship because [their] parents don’t like it. Your parents tell you not to do something, so you do it.’ My daughters are not like that. I mean, we’ve had our problems, of course.”

Kat Dennings Says ‘Shifting Gears’ Has Been “A New Experience”

Dennings has also spoken recently of how much she’s enjoying her part in the series. She was interviewed on the Not Gonna Lie podcast, saying she was excited about playing a mother for the first time in her career, even though she joked she’s still “12.” Dennings stated it was the chance to try something new that drew her to the series, as well as getting to act with Allen, adding that he’s always “very present” and “really feeling these things.”

“In the first episode, we both get emotional and it was real. It’s incredible to deal with him and the kids. I mean, everybody is really amazing. That just makes the funny parts even funnier and such a relief to do. It’s just been a very good, organic-feeling show to me. Which is new, it’s a new experience for me.”

What is ‘Shifting Gears’ About?

The show sees Allen play Matt Parker, who runs a car restoration shop and has been widowed for a short period of time. His life is turned upside down when his estranged daughter, Riley (Dennings) rocks up with her two kids — Carter and Georgia — in tow. The new normal forces Matt to try and confront past grievances he may have had, while trying to reconnect with his family. Maxwell Simkins plays Carter, Riley’s teenage son. He is socially awkward, dependent on technology and a source of a lot of the generational clash humor on display. Barrett Margolis plays Georgia, Riley’s younger daughter. She brings youthful energy to the household and often serves as a bridge between her mother and grandfather. Seann William Scott and Daryl “Chill” Mitchell play Gabriel and Stitch, two family friends who work at the auto shop alongside Matt, and provide a lot of the comic relief.

Where Do I Know Tim Allen From?

Allen made his name as Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor in the long-running sitcom Home Improvement, which aired between 1991 and 1999 on ABC. It made him a household name and led to two massive breakout movie roles for the comedian. Allen also returned to sitcoms between 2011 and 2021, when he played Mike Baxter, a conservative outdoor goods store exec and family man on Last Man Standing for both FOX and ABC.

The first major movie role for Allen was Scott Calvin in Disney’s The Santa Clause. Allen played a miserly, career-driven divorcée who neglected his son, before being given the chance to become Santa Claus and redeem himself. He would then reprise the role in two sequels and Disney+’s The Santa Clauses series. Allen is also the voice of Buzz Lightyear in Pixar’s legendary Toy Story franchise. Allen has voiced the Space Ranger from 1995 through to today, with Toy Story 5 due for release in 2026.

Shifting Gears is streaming now on Hulu. Stay tuned for more updates on the progress of Season 2.

The Fate of Tim Allen’s ‘Shifting Gears’ Has Finally Been Decided

ABC is keeping the engine running on its newest family comedy. The network has officially renewed Shifting Gears for Season 2, giving fans more time with Tim Allen and Kat Dennings‘ delightfully dysfunctional father-daughter duo. Created by Julie Thacker Scully and Mike Scully, with Michelle Nader serving as showrunner, the multi-cam sitcom follows estranged father Matt (Allen) and daughter Riley (Dennings) as they attempt to rebuild their fractured relationship — with plenty of sarcasm, misunderstandings, and reluctant bonding along the way.

There initially seemed to be little chance of the show not being renewed when it debuted in January and quickly became ABC’s most-streamed comedy premiere ever, pulling in a whopping 17 million cross-platform viewers in just seven days, but doubts began to creep in as live viewership dipped as the season progressed, even though the show consistently saw solid gains in delayed viewing.

Plot details for Season 2 are being kept under wraps, but Season 1’s finale teased new romantic entanglements for Matt, renewed tensions with Riley, and plenty more opportunities for generational clashes between Allen’s conservative leading man and the more liberal younger members of the cast—the exact kind of juxtaposition that his audience has come to expect and enjoy.

Tim Allen Loves His Role in ‘Shifting Gears’

Allen is one of the kings of sitcoms in Hollywood, but after leading two of television’s most successful sitcoms—Home Improvement (1991-1999) and Last Man Standing (2011-2021)—he truly wasn’t sure if he really wanted to do another series. But when he was proposed Shifting Gears, and saw that the set was designed after his own North Hollywood garage, he admitted it was “what I always wanted” from a show.

“I love the sitcom format because of my stand-up,” he explained. “I get to be in a live audience situation. When they said, ‘What would you do if you did another one?’ I said, ‘If a guy had just lost his wife and he’s still able to be funny and [work on] a relationship with an older daughter … and I’d like to build hot rods!’ Kat Dennings said, ‘[Some people] get into a relationship because [their] parents don’t like it. Your parents tell you not to do something, so you do it.’ My daughters are not like that. I mean, we’ve had our problems, of course.”

Kat Dennings Says ‘Shifting Gears’ Has Been “A New Experience”

Dennings has also spoken recently of how much she’s enjoying her part in the series. She was interviewed on the Not Gonna Lie podcast, saying she was excited about playing a mother for the first time in her career, even though she joked she’s still “12.” Dennings stated it was the chance to try something new that drew her to the series, as well as getting to act with Allen, adding that he’s always “very present” and “really feeling these things.”

“In the first episode, we both get emotional and it was real. It’s incredible to deal with him and the kids. I mean, everybody is really amazing. That just makes the funny parts even funnier and such a relief to do. It’s just been a very good, organic-feeling show to me. Which is new, it’s a new experience for me.”

What is ‘Shifting Gears’ About?

The show sees Allen play Matt Parker, who runs a car restoration shop and has been widowed for a short period of time. His life is turned upside down when his estranged daughter, Riley (Dennings) rocks up with her two kids — Carter and Georgia — in tow. The new normal forces Matt to try and confront past grievances he may have had, while trying to reconnect with his family. Maxwell Simkins plays Carter, Riley’s teenage son. He is socially awkward, dependent on technology and a source of a lot of the generational clash humor on display. Barrett Margolis plays Georgia, Riley’s younger daughter. She brings youthful energy to the household and often serves as a bridge between her mother and grandfather. Seann William Scott and Daryl “Chill” Mitchell play Gabriel and Stitch, two family friends who work at the auto shop alongside Matt, and provide a lot of the comic relief.

Where Do I Know Tim Allen From?

Allen made his name as Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor in the long-running sitcom Home Improvement, which aired between 1991 and 1999 on ABC. It made him a household name and led to two massive breakout movie roles for the comedian. Allen also returned to sitcoms between 2011 and 2021, when he played Mike Baxter, a conservative outdoor goods store exec and family man on Last Man Standing for both FOX and ABC.

The first major movie role for Allen was Scott Calvin in Disney’s The Santa Clause. Allen played a miserly, career-driven divorcée who neglected his son, before being given the chance to become Santa Claus and redeem himself. He would then reprise the role in two sequels and Disney+’s The Santa Clauses series. Allen is also the voice of Buzz Lightyear in Pixar’s legendary Toy Story franchise. Allen has voiced the Space Ranger from 1995 through to today, with Toy Story 5 due for release in 2026.

Shifting Gears is streaming now on Hulu. Stay tuned for more updates on the progress of Season 2.