Tim Allen on New Sitcom After Failed ‘Home Improvement’ Reboot: ‘Third Time’s a Charm’

Things often come in threes, whether it’s mishaps or miracles, pitfalls or positives. Tim Allen, a staple in the world of sitcoms with “Home Improvement” and “Last Man Standing,” now seems ready to complete his trilogy with a new show, “Shifting Gears.”

At 71, Allen has been a frequent presence on ABC and Fox through his sitcoms. “Home Improvement” ran from 1991 to 1999, and “Last Man Standing” spanned from 2011 to 2021. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Allen expressed just how much “Shifting Gears” means to him as a project where he can pour in his passion to create a quality show.

A “Home Improvement” reboot remained in a state of uncertain limbo for quite some time. Allen had previously mentioned to EW that he had discussed the possibility of a reboot with Disney, with hopes of reuniting with his former castmates. However, Patricia Richardson, who played his TV wife Jill Taylor, shared on the “Back to the Best” podcast that she hadn’t been contacted about any such reboot.

“It was so weird,” she recounted. “I would hear on Twitter or whatever, hearing him publicly say that everyone was on board for a ‘Home Improvement’ reunion, but he never asked me, and he never asked Jonathan [Taylor Thomas], who I talk to.”

Richardson decided to seek clarity and called Jonathan Taylor Thomas. “So I called Jonathan one day, and I said, ‘Has he asked you about this?’ He said, ‘No.’ ‘So why is he saying everyone is on board when he hasn’t talked to you or me?’ I think that’s weird.”

Even though another dose of Tool Time never materialized, Allen’s enthusiasm never waned. “You know, I tried really hard with ‘Home Improvement,’ and then ‘Last Man Standing,'” he told ET. “Maybe three’s a charm! Maybe I can finally make a statement with this.”

He continued, “It was a big event for me, ’cause I really loved ‘Home Improvement,’ [so] to do ‘Last Man Standing’ was a big push, and then I love that family so much.”

“But then ABC said, ‘If you come up with an idea,'” Allen shared, “and I said, ‘If I did it, it would be this.’ And we came up with this idea, and we’re getting there.”

“Shifting Gears” is greenlit for a pilot and centers on Allen’s character, who owns a classic car repair shop. Things take a turn when he finds himself reconnecting with his estranged daughter and her teenage kids as they move in with him. This setup promises a clash of generations, a formula that Allen has adeptly turned into successful programs before.

Will you be tuning in?