Shifting Gears started strong when it premiered this past January, as the Season 1 premiere attracted 6.1 million same-day viewers. Although viewership declined as the season continued, it was the strongest series debut for ABC since 2018. After keeping the cast and fans waiting for an update, ABC announced ahead of the show’s finale in April that Shifting Gears was renewed for Season 2.
Shifting Gears Season 2 Was Officially Announced
Shifting Gears Season 2 Was on the Fence for Several Weeks
There was initial radio silence from ABC after the season finale of Shifting Gears aired in March. When the sitcom’s first season aired, Dennings admitted she had no idea whether there would be a Shifting Gears season 2. Although some television shows are greenlit right off the bat (Matlock season 2 was announced after only two episodes), ABC was most likely waiting to see how the rest of Shifting Gears panned out before making a final decision.
Of course, we’re all on pins and needles about it, but hopefully, we will. You just never know with TV, but we’ve gotten such great numbers, and I’ve heard that people are happy. So who knows?
On April 3, ABC finally announced that there would be a Shifting Gears Season 2. Ultimately, there are several possible reasons why the network decided to give Shifting Gears another shot. Shifting Gears did premiere with high numbers despite the sitcom’s declining viewership over time, and ABC may hope that Shifting Gears Season 2 will generate enough interest. Against other sitcoms, Shifting Gears generally performed well, and since the series ended on several cliffhangers, ABC has a good opportunity to tie up loose ends.
Who Is Returning for Shifting Gears Season 2?
Shifting Gears Has an Ensemble Cast Featuring Familiar Faces
Shifting Gears has a strong list of actors driving the sitcom’s plot, and most of them are all but assured to return for Season 2. Tim Allen, Kat Dennings, Maxwell Simkins, and Barrett Margolis are the foundations of the Parker family, and none of the four actors is expected to be replaced. Concerning Matt’s employees at Parker Customs, Gabriel (Seann William Scott) and Stitch (Daryl “Chill” Mitchell) have the best chance at returning for Shifting Gears season 2, as Gabriel and Riley’s relationship ended on a cliffhanger, while Stitch was a strong presence.
There’s one unseen Shifting Gears character who may finally make their on-screen debut: Sammy Parker. Sammy, Riley’s brother and Matt’s other child, was mentioned several times throughout season 1 of Shifting Gears, but never appeared. Sammy was also revealed to be best friends with Gabriel during their time at North Hollywood High School. Now that there will be a Shifting Gears Season 2, viewers may finally get a glimpse of the elusive Parker in the Shifting Gears’ ever-changing home, who was described as being in the Navy.
What Will Shifting Gears Season 2 Be About?
Old and New Relationships Will Undoubtedly Be Explored in Shifting Gears Season 2
Shifting Gears season 2 has a lot to address among several characters, and ABC has several decisions to make. Will Matt and Eve become a couple? Is Riley going to take a chance on Gabriel, and if so, how will Matt react? With new relationships possibly on the horizon, there’s one big relationship that will continue to take center stage: Matt and Riley. Throughout Shifting Gears Season 1, Matt and Riley butt heads, but also showed an effort on both sides to patch up their old wounds to move forward. Matt and Riley ended up in a better place than they started, but that doesn’t mean their work is done just yet.
When Will Shifting Gears Season 2 Premiere?
Season 2 Doesn’t Have an Official Release Date (Yet)
There is going to be another season, but as of May 2025, ABC has not announced a release date. Since the sitcom was just renewed, it’s unlikely that production has started again, so it may be a while for viewers to tune into Shifting Gears season 2. However, there are several possibilities for when Shifting Gears may return. Since the series premiered in January 2025, the second season could premiere in January 2026, depending on when the cameras pick back up. Considering the tight schedule that would entail, Shifting Gears Season 2 has a better chance of premiering during the latter half of 2026.
