Tim Allen's New ABC Pilot Sets A Galaxy Quest Reunion

Summary Tim Allen reunites with his Galaxy Quest co-star Daryl Mitchell for the ABC comedy pilot Shifting Gears.

Shifting Gears has not yet been ordered to series, but stands a good chance of being picked up.

Kat Dennings is set to co-star as well, while Froy Gutierrez was just cast alongside Mitchell.

Tim Allen's new ABC comedy pilot Shifting Gears adds one of his former Galaxy Quest co-stars to the cast list. The multi-cam pilot was ordered back in March, and will star Allen and Kat Dennings in leading roles. The plot follows Matt (Allen), a headstrong widower and owner of a classic car shop whose life is turned upside down when his estranged daughter (Dennings) and her teenage kids move into his house. The show is written by Mike Scully and Julie Thacker-Scully, who will executive produce along with Allen. Dennings is also a producer.

According to Variety, Allen's former Galaxy Quest co-star Daryl Mitchell has joined the cast in the role of Ed, a former Marine and mechanic at Matt's shop. Mitchell will team up with Allen for the first time since the duo worked together on the cult sci-fi parody movie, and it is believed that he will be a regular on the show, should the pilot go to series. The pilot will see Allen reuniting with ABC for a third sitcom, following success with Home Improvement and Last Man Standing.

The series has also cast Froy Gutierrez as Nick, Matt's son, a game coder who put his work on pause to help with the shop.

What The Tim Allen & Daryl Mitchell Reunion Could Mean For Shifting Gears

They Know Each Other's Comedic Styles

Comedies always work best when the dynamics of the cast are as symbiotic as possible. Allen and Mitchell teaming up again builds on an existing on-screen comedy partnership, which could prove very fruitful. As they are already accustomed to each other's comedic styles, their dynamic behind the scenes could enhance the Matt and Ed partnership on Shifting Gears and up the humor considerably. The reunion also makes for a fun Easter egg for Galaxy Quest fans, especially those interested in a sequel.

Could Shifting Gears See Tim Allen Return To A Leading Primetime Role Once Again?

Allen Has A Successful History On TV

Should the Shifting Gears pilot be picked up for a full season, it will mark Allen's return to primetime for the first time since Last Man Standing ended in 2021. There are many moving parts involved in taking a show from a pilot to a full series, and having a lead with Allen's pedigree is bound to help Shifting Gears' chances. Allen currently stars in and executive produces the Disney+ series The Santa Clauses, which aired season 2 in 2023. However, this could even strengthen Shifting Gears' prospects, as The Santa Clauses is associated with Disney, who owns ABC.

Last Man Standing seasons 1-9 are available to stream on Hulu.

Shifting Gears is not the only project Allen could have in the works in the near future. The actor has already floated the idea of a Home Improvement revival and the possibility of Galaxy Quest 2. He will also return as his iconic character Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 5. For now, his IMDb page lists only this pilot among his upcoming projects. If the pilot is well-received, and Shifting Gears is picked up for a full season, Allen will become a prominent TV presence once again.

Source: Variety