Tim Allen's 'Shifting Gears' Is At Risk Of Cancellation Despite Record-Breaking Debut

“Tim Allen’s ‘Shifting Gears’ Is at Risk of Cancellation Despite Record-Breaking Debut”

Shifting Gears made waves again in January when it launched with a large 17 million viewers throughout platforms in simply seven days — which was truly the most important multi-cam comedy debut in ABC historical past. However in line with a brand new report from Deadline, the Tim Allen and Kat Dennings-led sitcom could also be headed for an surprising stall. Regardless of its robust begin, the present is now vulnerable to cancelation as a consequence of declining rankings and the price of its star-studded solid. Sure, a present that profitable won’t be renewed. Insanity.

Created by Julie Thacker Scully and Mike Scully, with Michelle Nader as showrunner, Shifting Gears follows estranged father and daughter Matt (Allen) and Riley (Dennings) as they attempt to rebuild their relationship. The ensemble solid additionally contains Seann William Scott, Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, Maxwell Simkins, and Barrett Margolis.

Whereas the sequence launched to large numbers — pulling in 6.1 million dwell viewers and 7.38 million whole viewers for its premiere episode, “Restoration” — the viewers didn’t maintain. By the finale, dwell viewers had dropped to 3.77 million, with multi-platform totals additionally sliding. That regular decline, paired with the present’s high-profile and sure costly solid, is what’s fueling hypothesis that Shifting Gears won’t return for a second season.

Is There Hope For ‘Shifting Gears’?

There may be nonetheless a glimmer of hope for Shifting Gears. Whereas dwell rankings have dipped, the present persistently sees a bump in delayed viewing. Episodes like “Valentine’s” and “Career” every gained greater than 1.5 million viewers after their preliminary airing. Although nonetheless a drop from the early excessive, this implies the present has an viewers — simply not one which tunes in dwell.

And including to the uncertainty of all of it is the present state of ABC’s comedy slate. With The Conners wrapping up in just a few weeks and Abbott Elementary already renewed, the community is mild on sitcoms. No new comedy pilots are on the way in which, and Shifting Gears is one in every of solely two multicam comedies on ABC’s lineup. That may hopefully work in its favor going ahead.

ABC’s latest monitor file may also assist. The community is taking its time with renewals, with Will Trent, 9-1-1, and The Rookie additionally nonetheless ready on official greenlights. The success of Excessive Potential, one other drama that noticed delayed-viewing boosts, led to a renewal — and Shifting Gears might observe the same path. ABC’s ultimate choices on renewals are anticipated within the coming weeks. Keep tuned to Collider for extra updates on the destiny of Shifting Gears.