Maxwell Simkins, Barrett Margolis Join Tim Allen’s SHIFTING GEARS Pilot
By Movieguide® Contributor
The cast for Tim Allen’s pilot SHIFTING GEARS continues to fill out as Maxwell Simkins and Barrett Margolis join as Allen’s character’s grandchildren.
“SHIFTING GEARS centers on Matt (Allen), the stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. When Matt’s estranged daughter Riley ([Kat] Dennings) and her kids move into his house, the real restoration begins,” a description of the show reads.
Simkins’ previous projects include THE MIGHTY DUCKS: GAME CHANGERS, BIZAARDVARK and A.P. BIO for TV and HOME TEAM, THE SLEEPOVER, BOOK OF HENRY and LOVE THE COOPERS for movies.
“So happy and honored to get to work on such an incredible show with such incredible people!!! This is just the beginning… can’t wait to get to work!!:),” he posted following the casting announcement.
As for Margolis, SHIFTING GEARS serves as her debut as an actress.
The show marks Allen’s third series with ABC. He has been itching to return to the network since his previous show, LAST MAN STANDING, ended in 2021.
“I am very excited. You know, I tried really hard with HOME IMPROVEMENT, and then LAST MAN STANDING,” Allen told Entertainment Tonight, per Yahoo! News. “Maybe three’s a charm! Maybe I can finally make a statement with this.”
“It was a big event for me, ‘cause I really loved HOME IMPROVEMENT, [so] to do LAST MAN STANDING was a big push, and then I love that family so much,” he later added. “But then ABC said, ‘If you come up with an idea,’ and I said, ‘If I did it, it would be this.’ And we came up with this idea, and we’re getting there.”
Along with Allen, Simkins and Margolis, SHIFTING GEARS will star Dennings as Allen’s daughter, Froy Gutierrez and Daryl Mitchell. Gutierrez will play a mechanic in the shop and Mitchell will serve as Dennings’ younger brother.
SHIFTING GEARS is written by Mike and Julie Thacker Scully who are also on board as executive producers along with Allen, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Richard Baker and Rick Messina. John Pasquin will direct the pilot episode. Dennings and 20th Television will serve as producers.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Tim Allen is returning to ABC with a new pilot order for sitcom SHIFTING GEARS.
“In the project, Allen plays Matt, the ‘stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. When Matt’s estranged daughter and her teenage kids move into his house, the real restoration begins,’” Variety reported.
The actor and writers Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully are also slated to executive produce on the show.
“We are at it again!” Allen announced on X. “ABC just ordered a comedy pilot, SHIFTING GEARS.”
