Shifting Gearshit the asphalt runningwhen it premiered. The sitcom starringKat DenningsandTim Allenis one of the several new sitcoms in the 2024/2025 TV season, and according to viewership data by the ratings company Nielsen,Shifting Gearsis the most-watched sitcom this season. 11.4 million viewers watched the show live and on streaming for the first seven days after the episode premieres, putting it ahead of other competitors by over a million viewers.Shifting Gearshas claimed the top spot, beating out ongoing shows and universes like CBS’GhostsandYoung SheldonsequelGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
The current TV season saw all four major broadcast networks debut new half-hour comedies, andShifting Gearsis way ahead of all of them, doubling the viewership of some.Happy’s Placecomes in second with 5.7 million viewers;St. Denis Medicalis third with 5.2 million viewers;Poppa’s Houseis fourth with 4.9 million viewers; andGoing Dutchcomes in with 2.7 million viewers at number five.Shifting Gearsalso leads in the key demo with a 2.43 rating, beating out all other ABC programs, including dramas.
Good ratings are a great indicator of a show’s potential longevity. But even with the stellar viewership, Allen is concernedhe might have to retireat some point. “This [sitcom] probably will be the end of it,” Allen toldUSA Today. “That sounds depressing, but I did [Shifting Gears] because it seemed like a good idea that would be fun. That’s really it,” he added. At 71, Allen knows this might not last forever, but the show will go on as long as he can perform. He talked about enjoying his return to sitcoms, saying,
“Back in the day, this is how it was, you rehearsed it and shot it in front of real people, and I love that. In the movies, OK maybe I make the crew bust up, but that’s it. Doing Shifting Gears, I get to aim for the whole audience plus the crew. There’s nothing like it.”
What Is ‘Shifting Gears’ About?
According to the official logline, the show “follows Matt, the stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. When his estranged daughter, Riley, and her kids move into his house, the real restoration begins. " It starsAllen as Matt,Dennings as Riley,Seann William Scottas Gabriel,Daryl Chill Mitchellas Stitch,Maxwell Simkinsas Carter, andBarrett Margolisas Georgia.
In the next episode airing tomorrow, February 12, “A Valentine’s Day visit to his late wife’s grave sparks an unexpected connection for Matt in an unlikely place. Meanwhile, Riley is thrust into the spotlight for a promotional video at the dance studio,” reads the official logline.
Tune in to ABC on Wednesdays to watch new episodes or stream on Hulu and Disney+.
Shifting Gears
