🚨 TIM ALLEN SHAKES UP SITCOM: One Star on the Chopping Block
Tim Allen’s hit ABC sitcom, Shifting Gears, is back for a second season, but sources are buzzing about one star whose return is looking extremely doubtful. While the core cast—including Allen’s Matt and Kat Dennings’ estranged daughter Riley—is locked in, the fate of Lucas Neff, who plays Riley’s now ex-husband Jimmy, is hanging in the balance after a messy on-screen divorce.
The entire premise of the show centers on Matt and Riley repairing their father-daughter relationship. Riley chose to end her marriage to Jimmy at the end of Season 1, meaning Neff’s character has been effectively written out of the Parker family dynamic. The creative team has made no confirmation about Neff’s return, leaving fans to speculate whether the actor has been quietly given the axe.
Meanwhile, the series is going full-throttle into the long-awaited romantic plot between Allen’s character and Jenna Elfman’s Eve Drake, the “spirited choreographer” across the street. Showrunner Michelle Nader teased that the relationship is kicking it “into high gear” for Season 2, promising a “roller-coaster” dynamic now that they’ve solidified their connection.
🛠️ TOOL TIME TRIUMPH: Three Home Improvement Legends Return
The biggest headline for Season 2 isn’t the drama—it’s the massive nostalgia wave coming with a triple reunion of Allen’s Home Improvement costars. Fans of the classic 90s sitcom are losing it over the confirmed appearances of Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn, and Debbe Dunning.
Richardson and Karn, who played Allen’s wife Jill and sidekick Al Borland, respectively, are set to reprise their roles in some capacity, alongside Dunning, who played tool girl Heidi. The three are reportedly set to “offer support” to Allen’s Matt in a deeply emotional storyline, signaling a full embrace of Allen’s classic TV history.
This is a strategic, high-wattage PR move by ABC to capitalize on the massive success of the original series. The fact that three legends are returning for a full-blown reunion suggests the writers are digging deep into Matt’s character history and his “grief” from losing his wife—a storyline Allen said was close to his own heart.
👨👦 MISSING MEMBER: The Introduction of Matt’s Son
Adding another layer of family complexity is the introduction of a completely new character who has only been mentioned in passing: Matt’s son. Deadline confirmed that Luke Macfarlane will be joining the cast as Sam, the previously missing member of the Parker family.
Sam was only briefly brought up in Season 1 as a “Navy hero,” but little else was mentioned about the adult son who was conspicuously absent from the family drama. His sudden arrival in Season 2 suggests the writers are creating new dynamics to fill the void left by the potential departure of Neff’s character, Jimmy.
Meanwhile, fan-favorite Seann William Scott is confirmed to return, but he has one major request for the new season: NO MORE DANCING! Scott confessed his anxiety over a pole dancing plot line in the first season, admitting, “I’m still stressed thinking about having to do it… It’s anxiety. It’s a real thing.” Despite his fears, Scott’s character is back alongside Daryl “Chill” Mitchell and Maxwell Simkins, who returns as Riley’s son Carter.
💃 DANCING AND DIVA DRAMA: New Characters Stir the Pot
The cast is also expanding with two major guest stars set to stir up trouble in the automotive/dance studio universe. YouTube sensation Lilly Singh is joining the show as Riley’s new “mom friend,” but the friendship will be immediately “derailed by unexpected mama drama.” The introduction of Singh guarantees a new level of social media chaos and high-stakes suburban rivalry.
In a surprising, unscripted cameo, baseball star Mookie Betts will be making his scripted TV debut, playing himself. While the exact plot line is a mystery, his appearance ensures a viral moment designed to attract a sports-centric audience beyond the show’s core fanbase. The writers are clearly swinging for the fences with Season 2’s guest roster.
The full main cast, including Barrett Margolis and Nancy Travis (reprising her role as Charlotte from Last Man Standing), is confirmed to return, ensuring continuity for the ensemble cast surrounding Allen and Dennings.
🤔 THE ROMANTIC RED FLAG: Allen’s Cautionary Stance
Despite the showrunner’s tease of Matt and Eve “kicking it into high gear,” Tim Allen himself has always been “really cautious” about introducing a romantic interest after his character lost his wife. Allen previously stated he only wanted it to happen “over time and happens organically with two people that do not get along.”
This internal friction—the actor’s cautiousness versus the showrunner’s desire for drama—could lead to some serious behind-the-scenes tension, especially as the romance becomes a central plot point. Allen believes his new character is closer to his real, more “philosophical” self and is “not a ‘man’s man'” in the traditional sense, making the romance a high-stakes emotional challenge.
The chemistry between Allen and Elfman is crucial to the show’s future, and Nader’s promise of a “roller-coaster” ride suggests they won’t make it easy for the couple—or for Allen’s conservative vision for his character.
❓ LUCAS NEFF’S FATE: Will Jimmy Ever Return?
The biggest, unanswered question remains the fate of Lucas Neff. With Riley choosing to divorce Jimmy in the finale, the character has no clear ties to the Parker family home or the garage where the show is set. Neff’s absence in the latest round of casting announcements speaks volumes, suggesting his run may be over.
However, in the world of sitcoms, a divorce doesn’t always mean a permanent exit. Could Jimmy return for a dramatic custody battle over Riley’s kids, Carter and Georgia? Or is Neff the first major casualty of Shifting Gears’ massive sophomore overhaul? The silence from the studio is deafening, and fans will be watching the premiere closely for any sign of the missing ex-husband.
