Kat Dennings makes a brand new pal on Shifting Gears — performed by Lilly Singh — because of a top quality chat about divorce.
In Us Weekly‘s unique clip from the Wednesday, October 8, episode of the hit ABC sitcom, Dennings' Riley spends time with Jen as they bond over their respective marriages coming to an finish.
“My ex was the worst. He received actually into CrossFit — after which much more into his coach, Xavier,” Jen says earlier than Riley counters, “I married a bass participant.”
Whereas Jen acknowledges that Riley gained with the more serious ex, she additionally had some sound recommendation.
“However hey, the additional you get from the divorce, the simpler it will get. Now I simply do no matter I need,” she notes. “I began making ice cubes out of wine.”
Jen then suggests a “women' evening” to Riley, who replies, “Actually? Afternoon hold adopted by same-night hold? Are we shifting too quick? Do I even care?”
When Shifting Gears premiered in January, viewers had been launched to Matt (Tim Allen) and his estranged daughter as they discovered themselves residing collectively and dealing to restore their relationship. Season 1 adopted Riley and her youngsters — Carter (Maxwell Simkins) and Georgia (Barrett Margolis) — integrating themselves into Matt's life whereas coping with the fallout from her marriage to ex Jimmy (Lucas Neff).
The season 1 finale marked an finish to Riley and Jimmy's marriage — and opened the door for a potential romance with Gabriel (Seann William Scott).
“Riley is actually hours out of her marriage. She ought to actually pull it again somewhat bit,” Dennings, 39, joked to Us in March about Riley's future with Gabriel. “She's been separated for a very long time and he or she hasn't been emotionally on this relationship. However nonetheless, she simply received out of a really lengthy relationship.”
She continued: “She additionally actually loves Gabriel as a pal. So I believe there's a number of causes for the sluggish burn.”
Whereas Dennings wasn't in a rush to see Riley decide to a brand new romance, she was thrilled to see the place her character goes — particularly after forming a bond along with her onscreen father.
The Shifting Gears solid has had extra success of their courting lives than their fictional counterparts. Shifting Gears, which premiered in January 2025, launched Us to a automobile restoration store opened by Tim Allen‘s character, Matt. After reuniting together with his estranged daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), the duo work on automobiles —and repairing their relationship. The […]
“It clicked fairly quick. We had lunch after I accepted the function, and I felt instantly like I might belief him for some cause,” she shared in January. “And he opened up actually quick to me. So I [was] like, ‘OK, this man is like letting me in.'”
Dennings mentioned her and Allen's “on the spot” connection had solely gotten stronger.
“For some cause it labored fairly instantly — possibly as a result of I've grown up watching him for a lot of my life, but it surely simply labored. It felt very natural,” she recalled. “And as [filming has] progressed, our scenes are so humorous, if I do say so myself. The arguments are my favourite scenes to play as a result of I've no concern. There's no concern for both of us. We simply completely go for it, and it's a lot enjoyable.”
On the time, Dennings couldn't assist however reward the “magical state of affairs,” including, “I used to be having a chat with a pal and I wasn't positive what to do subsequent. She was like, ‘Effectively, in case you might simply describe your dream undertaking, what would it not be?' I used to be like, ‘I'd like to do a sitcom once more.' I simply described this precise situation. Then the following day, I received the decision about this.”
She concluded: “It was surprising. I'm nonetheless weirded out about it as a result of I really feel like I wanted for it and there it was. So that's the way it occurred. And I grew up watching [Tim's show] House Enchancment, so I used to be very excited in regards to the concept of being his daughter. It's simply been so improbable and I really feel very fortunate.”
Shifting Gears airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET earlier than streaming the following day on Hulu.
