Shifting Gears’ Tim Allen on Fatherhood, Sitcom Future and More (Excl.)

Tim Allen He’s been America’s TV dad for so long he might as well walk around with a permanent tool belt and a bunch of unsolicited advice.

from home improvement a The last man standing – and now the ABC Gear change – the actor has built a career playing patriarchs who learn (sometimes reluctantly) that family always comes first. In his latest project, he plays widower Matt Parker, whose world is turned upside down when his estranged daughter (Kat Dennings) returns home, children in tow.

“The connection between Kat and I is very similar to my oldest daughter and I,” Allen, 72, shares exclusively in the latest issue of Us Weekly. “We used to disagree naturally and then come back.”

Long before I was dispensing dad wisdom on the small screenAllen broke out as a stand-up comedian and became a household name thanks to roles in family favorites like Toy Story i Father Christmas movies But the actor’s biggest achievement is raising real-life daughters Katherine, 36, and Elizabeth, 16.

“I don’t know what it’s like to have kids,” she says of bringing her experience to her work. “I like being a father to girls.”

Here, says Allen we like his view of fatherhood, on television and at home, it has evolved, deepened and occasionally surprised him over the years:

What has changed for you when shooting sitcoms?
I wanted to be a guy who was dealing with grief and still active in life: (inspired by) people I’m in awe of in real life who have gone through so much suffering and still show up every day and be good to others. I wanted to honor it.

Looking back on Home Improvement and Last Man Standing, how has your role evolved on set when it comes to bringing in the next generation of talent?

It was new to me, and it took me a while to become (father figure). I felt like a more fun and mischievous older brother for quite a while, especially with the boys from home improvement.

turned on The last man standing with Kaitlyn DeverI was a mentor because I aligned with his style of comedy. I really tried to cheer her up as best I could. She listened and didn’t know she picked it up until occasionally in her scenes.

And you created such a bond that he just visited you on the Shifting Gears set. Have you kept in touch with all your TV kids?
We do parties, birthdays, weddings and, unfortunately, funerals. Their lives have moved on, (but) I’ve done Buzz Lightyear’s voice for (their kids).

What are the challenges of watching them grow?

When it was easy to be a TV parent, it’s easy. When it’s hard to be a TV parent, you’re really worthless. (With the kids) home improvement, it was a long time ago and I was new, and it was really hard for me to be close to a mentor. It wasn’t until later that I became more of a mentor. But they all had great parents.

Related: A guide to the most iconic guest stars of Tim Allen’s ‘Shifting Gears’

Tim Allen’s ABC sitcom Shifting Gears has allowed him to recruit familiar guest stars, including his former co-stars from Home Improvement and Last Man Standing. The hit series, which premiered in January 2025, is set in an auto restoration shop run by Allen’s character Matt. After reuniting with his estranged daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), (…)

You, Ray Romano, Kelsey Grammar, Jerry Seinfeld, there are sitcom stars that stay with us. Do you have colleagues you’ve connected with over the years?
I know all of them, but it’s funny you bring it up. I never knew anyone on All in the Family, The Bob Newhart Show, or Dick Van Dyke’s first show, which started it all.

All of these shows are why I love this format. I love stand-up, there’s nothing like performing live. With sitcoms, you get live audience shows, and that’s an experience for me.

Your previous sitcoms aired for nearly a decade. Was that a pro or a con heading into Shifting Gears?

turned on home improvementI never thought about lineage. turned on The last man standingit was easy to see the growth. Gear change it’s a challenge because I (wasn’t sure where the story could go).

But this group of writers, they are geniuses. Stories keep being made up.

What else should Shifting Gears viewers know about Matt Parker?
You have no idea how smart this guy is. You don’t know who Matt Parker is. It’s a little hard to determine what he really thinks (specifically politically). I like to border all this. This guy has to deal with a car shop and has always wanted to be a designer and an artist. It’s not what you think. He knows ballet and art. We will discover all this. I have always wanted to play an artist who is also a fundamental fixer.