Shifting Gears

This is a typical Tim Allen showcase with plenty of scope to turn into a decent show. Granted its only the first episode but so far i'm not a big fan. Canned laughter is killing it for me, it happens way to much and when things arn't even that funny. Lose it completely and maybe it will go the distance but in the format its in i can see it getting cancelled after one season which is a pity, i'm a big tim allen fan and love kat dennings. Cant beleive that the trial screening didnt point this out. Its maybe worth watching up to 3rd or 4th episode to see if it improves but if it dosnt then its a big miss for me.

No sitcom is perfect in the pilot. A sitcom needs several episodes to get into its own rhythm. I'm not going to write this one off yet. Tim Allen is a sitcom veteran. Kat Dennings is memorable from her role on two broke girls. They are perfect casting to play estranged father and daughter reunited after Riley and her kids need to move in with her father after the matriarch has passed away. I don't expect much from the first episode. There are few laughs though. Traditional sitcoms with audiences are a dying breed. We need them to make a comeback though. I'll watch it because I love Kat Dennings too. We will see where the show take us.

I really like Tim Allen and Kat Dennings, and so I was hopeful about their pairing as sitcom veterans in Shifting Gears. I like the premise too and find it relatable. It's challenging when you don't always see eye to eye with your parent but you love them regardless. And as someone who comes from a family with a mix of liberals and conservatives, I like shows that have characters from both sides of the table.

I will say, though...it could just be that it's the first episode and they need more time working together, but the chemistry of the actors seems off. Kat's not really giving me a "became a mom at a young age" vibe yet. Everyone just felt a bit awkard but I will say it's an awkward situation to have to ask your parent for help when your relationship isn't the best. But I couldn't help but feel everything was just a pinched forced.

Tim and the granddaughter connect well, though. She was the best out of all of them, in my opinion. She seemed to be the one that interacted with everyone the best and felt the most natural in the role. She has a bright eyed optimism that is refreshing to see that breaks from the stereotype of " kids these days are just spoiled screen zombies with zero social skills."

I still like the premise, though. And I still got a bit choked up at the end - it felt like Kat and Tim finally "clicked", not just as father and daughter, but as two actors telling a story. So maybe they will find their footing eventually? I'm going to give it more time. Hoping it becomes my comfort show.

Love both Kat and Tim, was really looking forward to this series premiering. However I can't figure out if I like or hate the show and it's because of the laugh track. A scene that may give the viewer a smile or light chuckle is overshadowed by boisterous canned laughter, not only inappropriate but Totally ruins the scene. Because I am a fan of both of these actors and have hopes the series will be enjoyable, next episode I'm muting the volume and turning on the closed captioning to be able to assess if I'm hating the show or just turned off the show by the canned laughter. Sad it has to come to this.

We are trying to give this show a chance, but the canned laughter is awful. The lines aren't that funny to have constant laughter multiple times in a sentence breaking up the dialog. We aren't stupid. We know how to laugh if something is truly funny. The whole plot is kind of sad, from his daughter being a single mom, to him losing his wife, to the kids struggling with their issues, which makes it even more inappropriate to laugh all the way through it. I hope they read these reviews and treat the audience with more respect. We need more shows that are lighthearted and lift us up instead of dragging us down with endless vulgarity and violence, so I hope they improve the dialog and cut way back on the fake laughter.