Kat Dennings Calls Tim Allen Her ‘Favorite TV Dad’ in New ABC Sitcom

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Kat Dennings, star of ABC‘s new sitcom ‘Shifting Gears,’ has named Tim Allen her ‘favorite TV dad’ in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE. The 38-year-old actress, known for her roles in ‘2 Broke Girls‘ and ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,’ opened up about her on-screen chemistry with Allen, 71, and her journey to landing the role.

‘Tim Allen, I will say, is my favorite TV dad of all time. It’s been a real joy doing this show,’ Dennings told PEOPLE. She praised Allen’s long-standing crew, many of whom have worked with him since his days on ‘Home Improvement‘ (1991–1999) and ‘Last Man Standing‘ (2011–2021). ‘They followed him through all of his projects, which I think is a real testament to him as a person.’

‘Shifting Gears,’ which premiered on January 10, 2025, follows Matt (Allen), a widowed classic car restoration shop owner, as he navigates life with his estranged daughter Riley (Dennings) and her two children. The show debuted to 6.1 million viewers and a 0.7 demo rating, marking ABC’s strongest performance in the time slot in recent years.

Dennings revealed that the role came at a pivotal moment in her life. ‘I was in a dark, sad moment in time, feeling lost and unsure of my next move,’ she said. After a friend suggested she envision her ‘dream job,’ Dennings realized she wanted to return to multi-camera sitcoms. ‘The next day, I got this call to do this show. It felt like I wished for something and I got it.’

The actress also reflected on her childhood admiration for Allen, citing his iconic roles in ‘The Santa Clause‘ films and the ‘Toy Story‘ franchise. ‘He’s a big part of my consciousness growing up, so it was very surreal to work with him,’ she said. ‘But in a great way because he’s a very kind person.’

Dennings has previously worked with other notable TV dads, including the late Bob Saget on ‘Raising Dad‘ (2001–2002) and Steve Carell in the 2005 film ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin.’ She described Saget as a ‘lovely, lovely person’ and recalled Carell’s anxious energy on the set of his breakout film. ‘Steve Carell, I remember him being like, ‘God, I hope this works out.’ And now he’s one of the biggest stars in the world, rightly so,’ she said.

‘Shifting Gears’ airs Wednesdays on ABC, following ‘Abbott Elementary,’ which also saw a ratings boost with its midseason premiere. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the show has garnered a 77% approval rating from TVLine readers, with many praising Allen’s signature humor and Dennings’ comedic timing.

As for the future of ‘Shifting Gears,’ Dennings remains optimistic. ‘I’ve been very lucky. I’ve had very good experiences,’ she said of her on-screen dads. ‘This show feels like a meant-to-be thing.’