{"id":220848,"date":"2026-02-05T01:25:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T01:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/05\/why-tim-allen-wouldnt-date-on-shifting-gears-before-jenna-elfman-reunion\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T01:25:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T01:25:02","slug":"why-tim-allen-wouldnt-date-on-shifting-gears-before-jenna-elfman-reunion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/05\/why-tim-allen-wouldnt-date-on-shifting-gears-before-jenna-elfman-reunion\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Tim Allen Wouldn’t Date on Shifting Gears Before Jenna Elfman Reunion"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Shifting Gears<\/em><\/a> viewers might be surprised to find out that the ABC sitcom initially chose not to have Tim Allen<\/strong><\/a>\u2018s character date around before bringing Jenna Elfman<\/strong><\/a> back as his love interest.<\/p>\n

During the Wednesday, February 4, finale of the hit ABC sitcom, Matt (Allen) made an effort to meet someone new after his split from Eve (Elfman) \u2014 by going on a traditional values dating app. TradSwipe didn\u2019t work well for Matt, who ended up on a disastrous date with Lynn (Angela Kinsey<\/strong>). He then had a chance encounter<\/a> at the bar with Eve that inspired them to get back together following a shocking split.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt had to be her. It literally had to be Eve,\u201d showrunner Michelle Nader<\/strong> exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em> about the plan for Allen\u2019s longterm onscreen love interest. \u201cBut we have a widower \u2014 who is played by Tim Allen after he has always been married on his previous shows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nader noted that there was never a plan to have Matt too involved in the dating scene, adding, \u201cTim isn\u2019t really a guy that would be comfortable dating a lot of women. The idea was, \u2018Should we do this show about this older guy dating?\u2019 Because obviously it\u2019s going to be about family, inevitably you\u2019re going to get to dating.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>What Tim Allen, Jenna Elfman Said About ‘Shifting Gears’ Romance After Split<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tShifting Gears broke up Tim Allen and Jenna Elfman\u2018s characters \u2014 but is there a chance they could rekindle their romance? The ABC series marked the first time Allen has starred on a sitcom where his character isn\u2019t married. (Allen\u2019s characters on hit sitcoms Home Improvement and Last Man Standing were already in committed relationships [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Shifting Gears found ways to explore Matt\u2019s love life \u2014 without making it the sole focus.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the season 2 finale, that kind of date is fun. It was Angela \u2014 who is amazing and so funny \u2014 but I don\u2019t think that would have worked for Matt\u2019s character on a daily basis to be going out or dating a younger woman because that\u2019s just not who he is as a person,\u201d Nader explained. \u201cWe did have to figure out who is the right person that you\u2019re going to root for? We caught Jenna and then the magic was there.\u201d<\/p>\n

She continued: \u201cI thought it was going to be but then it really is. They really love working with each other and they have a lot of chemistry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"Tim<\/div>
Disney\/Raymond Liu<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ABC series, which premiered in January 2025, marks the first time Allen has starred on a sitcom where his character isn\u2019t married. (Allen\u2019s characters on hit shows Home Improvement<\/em> and Last Man Standing<\/em> were already in committed relationships when each series began.)<\/p>\n

After mourning the loss of his wife, Allen\u2019s character Matt formed a connection with Eve<\/a>. The pair dated throughout the second season before calling it quits due to long distance. They rekindled their relationship in Wednesday\u2019s finale, which turned into Matt agreeing to join Eve on the road for her job.<\/p>\n

\u201cTim trusts me and then I trust him. He was the one that said, \u2018I wouldn\u2019t want to be in a long distance relationship because I wouldn\u2019t at my age want to do that,’\u201d Nader noted to Us<\/em>. \u201cI didn\u2019t understand but I was like, \u2018OK, all right.\u2019 Then we figured out how to make that poignant and I think it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n
\"Shifting<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>\u2018Shifting Gears\u2019 Cast: Who the ABC Stars Have Dated in Real Life<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tThe Shifting Gears cast has had more success in their dating lives than their fictional counterparts. Shifting Gears, which premiered in January 2025, introduced Us to a car restoration shop opened by Tim Allen\u2018s character, Matt. After reuniting with his estranged daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), the duo work on cars \u2014and repairing their relationship. The [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Nader revealed that it was always the plan to bring Elfman, 54, back, saying, \u201cSometimes in life \u2014especially as you get older \u2014 things are more complicated than they are when in your 20s. I always wanted to respect the fact that Matt was this guy who lost his wife. He was a widower and he would still visit her. I wanted to give him the right kind of respect and he wasn\u2019t really ready to really fully commit.\u201d<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until Elfman\u2019s character was introduced that the show<\/a> evolved.<\/p>\n

\n
\n