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Much to the delight of his fans, Tim Allen is headed back to his old stomping grounds on the Disney-owned ABC television network following the decision by network executives to move forward with his new sitcom.
Related: Tim Allen Talks About His Plans For a ‘Home Improvement’ Spinoff Series
Credit: Facebook/Tim Allen
A Detroit Native Becomes Hollywood Royalty
Actor and comedian Tim Allen has become a household name, and his path to superstardom is impressive.
Allen started his professional career as a comedian in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan, but rose to fame in the early 1990s with his hit ABC Television sitcom Home Improvement.
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Credit: Disney/ABC
The show, which aired from 1991 to 1999, showcased Allen as Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor, a humorous and somewhat clumsy handyman and dad. His comedic timing and relatable character quickly endeared him to audiences, making the show one of the most-watched sitcoms of the decade.
The Detroit Comedian Becomes a Beloved Action Figure
Tim Allen has enjoyed a prolific career on the silver screen as well. He is best known for lending his voice to Buzz Lightyear in the Disney/Pixar Toy Story film franchise, which was set into motion in 1995.
Credit: Pixar Animation Studios
Allen’s portrayal of the self-assured but often misguided space ranger has resonated with audiences of all ages for almost 30 years, contributing to the franchise’s massive success. But Allen’s Disney career hasn’t been confined to Pixar’s sentient toy-themed series.
Tim Allen embraced his talents as an actor and a comedian with the role of Old Saint Nick himself in Disney’s The Santa Clause film series, the installment of which debuted in 1994. In the series, Allen plays businessman and dad Scott Calvin, who inadvertently becomes Santa Claus after the former benevolent man in the red suit falls from Calvin’s roof on Christmas Eve.
Credit: Walt Disney Pictures
The jolly role further cemented his reputation as a versatile actor capable of leading both comedic and family-friendly films.
A Return to Television in 2011
Allen made his triumphant return to television in 2011, starring in the ABC sitcom Last Man Standing, in which he played the role of Mike Baxter, a conservative businessman navigating family life.
Credit: Disney/ABC
The show, which aired from 2011 to 2021, served to appease fans of Home Improvement who had been waiting for years for Allen to return to his sitcom excellence.
In 2022, Allen stepped into the television documentary scene with the debut of History Channel’s More Power, which starred Allen alongside his Home Improvement pal Richard Karn and DIY expert April Wilkerson. In December 2022, Allen reprised his role as Santa Claus in Season 1 of The Santa Clauses on Disney+.
Credit: Disney+
Over the years, Tim Allen’s diverse roles and enduring appeal have kept him in the running as one of America’s most beloved and popular television and film actors. That’s never been more evident than now, as Allen—alongside co-star Kat Dennings—is set to star in a brand-new series for which ABC has just given the coveted green light.
Tim Allen’s Career Is Shifting Gears
Allen is set to enjoy yet another comeback to television, as the Disney-owned ABC Television network has approved a brand-new sitcom series titled Shifting Gears.
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Credit: 20th Century Studios/ABC
The show was originally ordered as a pilot at ABC, but the series will include several changes that will take place behind the camera and in front of the camera. Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully, who were originally tapped to write and executive produce the series, have departed.
In addition, Froy Gutierrez, who was originally cast as Nick in the sitcom’s pilot, will be recast as the show moves on to a full series.
A Nod to Allen’s ‘Home Improvement’ Days
The series will star Allen as Matt, “the stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop” whose estranged daughter, played by Kat Dennings, and her teenage children move into his house, setting into motion the “real restoration.”
Though Matt’s work centers around working on old cars, his presence in the shop might easily remind some fans of Tim Allen’s days in the workshop and garage at his house in ABC’s Home Improvement.
Credit: Disney/ABC
The new sitcom’s cast also includes Daryl “Chill” Mitchell as Stitch, Maxwell Simkins as Carter, and Barrett Margolis as Georgia.
Allen stars and serves as executive producer in the series along with Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Richard Baker, Rick Messina, and John Pasquin, who also directed the pilot episode for ABC that was ordered in March 2024.
Related: What the World Needs Now Is More People Like Actor Tim Allen
Tim Allen and Jay Leno in “Last Man Standing”/Credit: Disney/ABC
Shifting Gears is the only half-hour sitcom developed for the network during the 2024-2025 cycle after ABC passed on another sitcom, Forgive and Forget, starring Ty Burrell (Modern Family).
