Kat Dennings never expected to get so emotional while filming Shifting Gears, but sometimes, a scene just hits differently.
Even though the ABC sitcom has quickly become a fan favorite for its sharp humor and heartfelt moments, some scenes cut deeper than expected. The series follows Riley (Kat Dennings), a single mother forced to move back in with her estranged father, Matt (Tim Allen), after a messy divorce leaves her with no other options. From the very first episode, father and daughter are forced to confront years of hurt, and things get emotional fast.
During a recent appearance on the Not Gonna Lie podcast, Dennings opened up about one particularly raw moment between her and Allen. “We were both dreading it,” she admitted. “We were like, ‘Oh God, we have to cry. What is this?’” But when the cameras started rolling, neither of them could hold back.
“I looked at him and I started crying, he looked at me and he started crying,” she shared. “It was real. It wasn’t even acting at that point.” Dennings, known for her sharp wit and dry humor, found herself in new territory playing a mother for the first time. “It’s a new experience for me,” she said. “But working with Tim… he’s just so present. He really feels these things. And that just makes the funny parts even funnier—it’s such a relief to do.”
And it’s not just the cast who’s feeling the impact. Shifting Gears has been pulling in massive numbers, averaging over 11 million viewers per week—beating out hits like Ghosts and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Despite its runaway success, ABC has yet to announce a second season.
What makes things even more nerve-wracking for fans is the fact that the network hasn’t clarified how many episodes the first season will have. As of now, it looks like the order was only for ten. With the final (or maybe final?) episode set to air this Wednesday, March 19, audiences are left wondering—will ABC bring Shifting Gears back for more?
For now, fans can catch up on every episode on Hulu. But if the show’s emotional highs and laugh-out-loud moments have proven anything, it’s that Shifting Gears isn’t just another sitcom—it’s something special.
