If You Can’t Get Enough Of Tim Allen’s New Show On ABC, Revisit His Original ’90s Sitcom Now Available On Netflix
Four years following the finale of Last Man Standing, Tim Allen returns to network TV in Shifting Gears, which has been a massive success and coincidentally coincides with the actor’s first sitcom’s arrival on Netflix. The ABC comedy series stars Allen as Matt Parker, a classic car restoration shop owner. During the premiere of Shifting Gears, Matt begrudgingly agrees to let his estranged daughter (Riley Parker, played by Kat Dennings in the Shifting Gears cast) and her children move in with him.
Shifting Gears broke the record for ABC’s most-streamed series premiere, averaging almost 17 million views and beating The Connors‘ debut in 2018 (via Variety).
Allen’s new ABC show Shifting Gears made a strong debut on January 8, 2025, and has garnered great ratings for the network. Unfortunately, it hasn’t received the best reviews from critics (it has a 42 percent Rotten Tomatoes score). Nevertheless, audiences are seemingly loving Shifting Gears. If fans are eager for more, though, the good news is that Allen’s critically acclaimed sitcom from the ’90s is now available on Netflix.
All 8 Seasons Of Home Improvement Are Now Streaming On Netflix
Tim Allen Rose To Prominence Via Home Improvement
As of February 1, 2025, all eight seasons and 204 episodes of Home Improvement can be found in Netflix’s library. Tim Allen starred as Tim “The Toolman” Taylor in the 1990s ABC sitcom. His character was the face of the show, as Tim hosted his own home improvement series in the fictional universe — Tool Time. So, essentially, it was a show-within-a-show.
|
Home Improvement Cast |
Role |
|---|---|
|
Tim Allen |
Tim Taylor |
|
Patricia Richardson |
Jill Taylor |
|
Earl Hindman |
Wilson Wilson Jr. |
|
Taran Noah Smith |
Mark Taylor |
|
Jonathan Taylor Thomas |
Randy Taylor |
|
Zachery Ty Bryan |
Brad Taylor |
|
Richard Karn |
Al Borland |
|
Debbe Dunning |
Heidi Keppert |
Home Improvement launched Allen’s acting career, as he mostly did stand-up before getting cast in the ABC sitcom. He was nominated for an Emmy for his role in 1993 and won a Golden Globe for his performance as Tim Taylor in Home Improvement in 1995. It’s safe to say that the ’90s sitcom is a highlight of Allen’s career.
Related
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Shifting Gears episode 3 episode 3 includes a nod to one of Tim Allen’s most famous roles, but the future is uncertain for the Disney classic.
Shifting Gears & Home Improvement Share A Lot In Common
Both Are ABC Sitcoms
It has been over 30 years since Home Improvement premiered, and Tim Allen is now back on ABC, starring in a sitcom similar to his first show. Of course, both Home Improvement and Shifting Gears are ABC sitcoms that star Allen. However, they share much more in common. The two comedy series center around families, with the patriarch’s job being one of the story’s focal points. Tim hosted a home improvement show, while Matt owns an auto shop. Home Improvement and Shifting Gears also share Allen’s humor, meaning if viewers love one ABC sitcom, they should check out the other.
Shifting Gears
5/10
- Release Date
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January 8, 2025
- Directors
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John Pasquin
Sources: Variety, Rotten Tomatoes
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