Jenna Elfman wasn’t certain she would return to sitcoms—until the opportunity arose to join Tim Allen’s hit ABC series, Shifting Gears.
“We all love a good sitcom, but it has felt hard to do in terms of streaming and social media and the great sitcoms were before all of that,” Elfman, 53, exclusively told.
“I really love the format [of Shifting Gears]. So I’ve been interested in doing one, but I didn’t feel hopeful that it could be done well or fresh or new.”
A conversation with showrunner Michelle Nader was all it took for Elfman to decide Shifting Gears was the right fit.
“I’ve worked with Tim before on a film, so I know he’s lovely. He’s so good at what he does. It’s like you don’t even see it happening, and then all of a sudden, it’s just brilliant.
But Michelle Nader and I had a phone conversation, and she was walking me through what her plan is in terms of the sitcom and making it feel fresh, which is so hard,” Elfman explained.
She continued: “So Michelle—and the rest of the cast and crew—are just kicking ass. It’s so good. She just wanted to have a fresh take on what a strong woman looks like. Everything she said resonated with me. It felt like home for me.”
Elfman became a household name with her role in the hit sitcom Dharma & Greg, which earned her a Golden Globe and three Emmy nominations. Although she has remained active in television, fans have been eager for her return to a multi-camera sitcom.
Shifting Gears
“I loved [Michelle’s] take on how to approach the family at the center of [Shifting Gears] and the generational divides culturally, politically, and emotionally. It’s a sitcom, but it’s grounded with talent who knows how to act and who knows how to deliver comedy,” Elfman said.
“At the same time, the writing really supports that as well. Everything felt right for me to come play, and I’m so glad I did because I had a very good time. We just finished filming the final episode last night, and it’s so good.”
Why Jenna Elfman Didn’t Feel Hopeful About a Sitcom Return—Until Tim Allen’s Shifting Gears
Premiering in January, Shifting Gears follows Allen’s character, Matt, as he reconnects with his estranged daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), following the death of his wife. Elfman takes on the role of Eve Drake, a lively choreographer who runs a dance studio across from Matt’s classic car restoration shop.
“You’re going to see more of the dynamic between Matt and Eve,” Elfman teased about her recurring role. “Just more forthright communication, opinions, and exchange. You get to see people being their full selves in each other’s face. It’s really fun.”
Elfman also praised Allen, 71, for being an ideal scene partner. “He’s so confident as a comedic actor. He’s just confident and I’m confident, and we don’t care if something [doesn’t land],” she shared.
“When you’ve been doing it long enough, you’re not paranoid about a joke not working and you don’t care. There’s no preciousness, and there’s enough confidence to support the exploration of the scene of humor.”
Shifting Gears airs on ABC Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET and streams the next day on Hulu.
