Michelle Nader, showrunner of ABC’s Tim Allen comedy Shifting Gears, said she wants White Lotus alum Jennifer Coolidge to appear on the series and teased that the show will contain intentional Easter eggs and serialized storylines.
Speaking at ABC’s Summer Soirée on Sept. 5, Nader said producers are considering multiple guest performers and are looking for the right roles. "A couple of people are telling us [that they want to join the show]. I can’t say who and we’re thinking of how to get the right role. But we also have our people that we want to see," she told reporters. "I want to get Jennifer Coolidge in the show. I want to get some of those people to come around. We have a lot up our sleeve."
Nader described deliberate efforts to blend elements of modern television into the sitcom format. "We were very intentional about those things because what we want to do in a modern sitcom is bring the elements of modern television — like serialization and streaming," she said. "So we felt like we really wanted to slow play these relationships in a romantic comedy way. So yes, you’re going to see some real results from those Easter eggs."
Shifting Gears premiered in January and centers on Matt (Tim Allen), who runs a car restoration shop while rebuilding a rocky relationship with his daughter Riley (Kat Dennings). The series has featured a number of recognizable guest stars, including Jenna Elfman, Brenda Song and Nancy Travis.
Elfman, who plays a love interest for Allen’s character, praised the cast and the show’s approach to family and generational dynamics. "I’ve worked with Tim before on a film, so I know he’s lovely. He’s so good at what he does," she said in February. "It’s like you don’t even see it happening, and then all of a sudden, it’s just brilliant. I loved [the] take on how to approach the family at the center of [Shifting Gears] and the generational divides culturally, politically and emotionally. It’s a sitcom but it’s grounded with talent who knows how to act and who knows how to deliver comedy."
Travis, who previously played Allen’s wife on Last Man Standing, said returning to work with Allen felt like a reunion and noted the number of crew members who migrated from that series to the new one. "Tim is nothing if not loyal. So it was great to walk on that set and see most of the crew was from Last Man Standing," she told Us Weekly. "I wouldn’t be surprised if everybody from Last Man Standing shows up on Shifting Gears in one way or another. If Tim has his way, he’ll make sure that everybody from [costar Kat Dennings’] 2 Broke Girls comes on too."
Nader framed potential guest appearances and Easter eggs as part of a broader strategy to make a contemporary sitcom that rewards repeat viewing and streaming audiences. She emphasized that storylines will unfold gradually, particularly romantic and intergenerational relationships, rather than relying solely on one-off punchlines.
Shifting Gears returns Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu. Nader did not provide a timeline for any confirmed guest casting beyond the creative intent to pursue performers such as Coolidge.
The show’s mix of established sitcom conventions and serialized elements underscores an industry trend toward hybrid formats that aim to satisfy both broadcast viewers and streaming subscribers.