Tim Allen’s Disney Series Marks Major Reunion 9 Years in the Making

Tim Allen’s new Disney series is dishing out a heaping dose of fan service with an overdue reunion, bringing back a pair of former costars whose on-screen chemistry first captivated audiences nearly a decade ago. It’s common for longtime sitcom castmates to nurture a bond that endures long after the series finale, and it’s always a treat to see the same actors sharing the same screen years later — that’s why Shifting Gears is bringing in a special guest star next season.

Beth Behrs is set to guest star in Season 3 of Shifting Gears, reuniting her with former 2 Broke Girls co-star Kat Dennings. Behrs will play Dr. Johnson, an ER doctor who treats Riley (Dennings) for a back injury. This marks the pair’s first onscreen reunion since 2 Broke Girls, which ran for six seasons from 2011 to 2017. The guesting also brings Behrs back together with Shifting Gears showrunner Michelle Nader, who previously served as a showrunner on 2 Broke Girls.

Behrs and Dennings’ on-screen chemistry in 2 Broke Girls was the show’s biggest strength. Their odd-couple dynamic played well with their characters’ polar personalities — Dennings as an underclass girl who’s waitressing to make ends meet, and Behrs as a formerly high-society girl forced to work at Dennings’ diner following a financial misfortune. Their witty and often scathing banter made for hilarious comedic moments, and they might recapture that magic in the Shifting Gears episode.

The pair have become close friends in real life, having openly expressed their support for each other outside of work. Dennings has transitioned into film and streaming after 2 Broke Girls, appearing in the MCU’s Thor: Love and Thunder and WandaVision before moving into Shifting Gears as series star and producer. Behrs has since starred in Monsters University, Hello My Name Is Doris, and CBS’s The Neighborhood.

Shifting Gears stars Allen as an auto shop owner who reluctantly takes in his estranged daughter (Dennings) and his two grandchildren following the death of his wife. The show is a callback to classic 1990s sitcoms, filmed with multiple cameras in front of a live audience. It’s a breath of fresh air in the era of streaming and short-form video, when viewers prefer to either binge or burst-consume content. Shifting Gears amassed about 17 million multi-platform viewers seven days after its January 2025 debut, proving renewed interest in traditional network TV shows. It was confirmed for a third season in April.

Allen had his own cast reunion in Shifting Gears Season 2, which guest-starred his Home Improvement co-stars Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn, and Debbe Dunning as members of the same support group Allen’s character attended. Allen’s former Last Man Standing co-star, Nancy Travis, also appeared in the episode.