It’s only a matter of time before ABC renewsShifting Gearsfor a second season, and while waiting for any news concerning its future, fans should check out five similar sitcoms.Tim Allen’s TV show, created by Julie Thacker Scully and Mike Scully,follows the relationship between the actor’s character, widower Matt Parker, and his previously estranged daughter, Riley (played by Kat Dennings).Riley, who is in the midst of a divorce, and her two children move in with her father at the beginning ofShifting Gears, kicking the series into motion.
All 10 episodes ofShifting Gearsseason 1 are now available to stream on Hulu.
To no one’s surprise,Shifting Gearshas been a success. Allen’s TV shows typically perform well, and his 2025 sitcom is his latest hit.Shifting Gearsset a viewership record for ABCas its series premiere garnered around 16.95 million views across live and streaming, the highest sinceThe Connersdebuted in 2018 (perTheWrap). Consequently, it would be a complete shock if ABC canceled the show.Fans should expect to see Allen and Dennings return to their screens forShifting Gearsseason 2during the 2025–2026 TV season. Until then, they can watch other sitcoms to fill the void.
5Last Man Standing
Stream On Hulu
The first series thatShifting Gearsfans should watch (if they haven’t already) while waiting for season 2 isLast Man Standing,of course.Last Man Standingis Allen’s most recent show, aside fromShifting Gears. It premiered in 2011 on ABC and ran for six seasons on the network before it was canceled and then picked up by Fox for three more seasons. The sitcom ended in 2021, and Allen made his return to TV four years later viaShifting Gears.
Given its story centering around Allen’s typecast conservative character and family values,Last Man Standingis the perfect replacement forShifting Gears.
Allen’s character, Mike Baxter, is a senior executive and the director of marketing for a sporting goods store chain in Denver. Meanwhile, he has a wife, three daughters, and a grandson at home. Given its story centering around Allen’s typecast conservative character and family values,Last Man Standingis the perfect replacement forShifting Gears. It also helps thatAllen reunited with some of hisLast Man Standingco-starsin his new ABC series.
4Home Improvement
Stream On Netflix & Hulu
Last Man Standingwasn’t Allen’s first successful sitcom —Home Improvementwas. In fact,Home Improvementwas Allen’s breakthrough. He rose to prominence via the 1990s ABC comedy series, whichlasted for nine seasons and over 200 episodes.It revolves around Allen’s Tim Taylor, the host of a home improvement show calledTool Time, and his family (a recurring theme in the actor’s sitcoms).Home Improvement’s long run should keepShifting Gearsfans preoccupied during the hiatus between seasons 1 and 2.
If You Can’t Get Enough Of Tim Allen’s New Show On ABC, Revisit His Original ’90s Sitcom Now Available On Netflix
Tim Allen returns to network TV in 2025 via his new ABC sitcom Shifting Gears, while one of his first comedy series is streaming on Netflix.
32 Broke Girls
Stream On The Roku Channel
If one is going to watch Allen’s past TV shows to pass the time while waiting forShifting Gearsseason 2, they should also check outDennings' former sitcom,2 Broke Girls.Dennings starred as Max Black alongside Beth Behrs' Caroline Channing in the CBS comedy series. Max and Caroline, who come from very different backgrounds, work alongside each other as waitresses at a local diner in Brooklyn, New York.
Max and Caroline meet at the beginning of2 Broke Girls. Despite their differing personalities, they form a friendship, move in together, and start saving up money to open their own cupcake business.2 Broke Girlsultimately ran for six seasons and 138 episodesbefore ending in April 2017.
2Lopez vs Lopez
Stream On Netflix & Peacock
IfShifting Gearsenthusiasts are searching for a similar TV show that is still on the air, look no further thanLopez vs Lopez. The NBC sitcom stars George Lopez and his real-life daughter, Mayan, as fictionalized versions of themselves.Lopez vs Lopezis essentially the inverse ofShifting Gearsas it begins with George moving in with Mayan after his moving company went bankrupt, and just likeMatt and Riley inShifting Gears, they are estranged at the start of the series.
1Mom
Another sitcom that features an estranged parent/child duo isMom, starring Allison Janney and Anna Farisas the said pair. However,Momis a bit more dramatic thanShifting Gears.The CBS comedy-drama follows Janney’s Bonnie and Faris' Christy, who are both addicts helping each other stay sober by moving in together.
Kristen Johnston
Tammy Diffendorf
Over the course ofMom’s eight seasons and 170 episodes,Bonnie and Christy (along with Christy’s daughter, Violet) experience many highs and lows. Other characters include significant others (old and new) and Bonnie and Christy’s friends from AA. Similar toShifting Gears,Momwas a ratings success, but it was also a critical success as Janney won two Emmys for her performance in the comedy-drama.
