Tim Allen Returns to ABC with New Comedy Pilot

Tim Allen, known for the TV show "Home Improvement," will return to ABC in a sitcom pilot, "Shifting Gears." (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Tim Allen this week announced his return to ABC for a new comedy pilot. The veteran actor and comedian, aged 70, shared the news on X, stating, “We are at it again!” and providing a link to a Variety article on the project.

Scheduled to star in and executive produce the ABC pilot, titled “Shifting Gears,” Mr. Allen is set to portray Matt, a stubborn widower and owner of a classic car restoration shop. The narrative unfolds when Matt’s estranged daughter and her teenage children move in, sparking a journey of familial restoration, as described in the project overview. The series will be written by Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully, who will executive produce as well. If it gets the green light, the show will air during the 2024-25 season.

Mr. Scully, probably best known for his work on “The Simpsons,” served as executive producer and show runner for four seasons of the animated comedy series. His credits also extend to producing “The Simpsons Movie” in 2007. Additionally, he has lent his talents as a writer-producer to hit series such as “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “The Carmichael Show,” and “Parks and Recreation.”

The equally accomplished Ms. Thacker Scully has made significant contributions as a writer and co-executive producer on “The Simpsons,” as well as shows like “Fuller House” and the animated series adaptation of “Napoleon Dynamite,” which she co-developed. Collaborating with Mr. Scully, she co-created shows like “Complete Savages” for ABC, featuring Keith Carradine and Erik Von Detten, and “The Pitts” for Fox, which showcased an early starring role for Lizzy Caplan of “Mean Girls” fame. Both Mr. Scully and Ms.  Thacker Scully have directed in addition to their writing and producing credits.

Mr. Allen’s return to ABC marks a significant point in his career, notably after his successful stint on the network with “Last Man Standing” from 2011 to 2017. Despite the show’s strong ratings, it was abruptly canceled by ABC in 2017, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, only to be revived by Fox in 2018, where it ran until 2021.

Before his tenure on “Last Man Standing,” Mr. Allen gained prominence on ABC with his role as Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor in the beloved sitcom “Home Improvement,” which aired from 1991 to 1999. The show revolved around the life of Tim Taylor, a television show host navigating the challenges of raising three mischievous boys with the support of his wife and eccentric neighbor.

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Mr. Allen has expressed an interest in a “Home Improvement” re-boot in previous interviews. Back in 2018, he told Entertainment Tonight that he was “very interested” in the idea. “I can’t say everybody, but it has been floated,” Mr. Allen remarked. “And more than I would have expected said, ‘Yeah, that would be cool to do it years later,’ like Roseanne.”

The original “Home Improvement” series aired for eight seasons on ABC. If the spinoff were to materialize, it would join a trend of sitcom reboots and spinoffs from its era, including Roseanne, Will & Grace, Saved by the Bell, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In addition to his television projects, Mr. Allen is also involved in ventures with Disney.  He most recently starred in and executive produced “The Santa Clauses” for Disney+. In the spinoff from the 1994 Christmas classic “The Santa Clause” and its sequels, the comedian reprises his role as Scott Calvin/Santa—an ordinary man who finds himself in the role of Santa Claus after a fateful Christmas Eve incident.

According to his official website, Mr. Allen is scheduled to perform two live stand-up comedy shows in April in California.

The Epoch Times reached out to ABC for a statement.