Kat Dennings recently revealed that Tim Allen is her favorite on-screen dad, sharing her excitement about working with him in the new ABC sitcom Shifting Gears. In an interview with People, Dennings, 38, praised Allen’s portrayal of her father in the show, where he plays a widower running a car repair shop who is reluctantly reunited with his estranged daughter (played by Dennings) and her children.
She gushed, “Tim Allen, I will say, is my favorite TV dad of all time. It’s been a real joy doing this show.” Dennings also admired Allen’s professional integrity, noting that he’s surrounded by a talented crew who has worked with him from Home Improvement to Last Man Standing. “They followed him through all of his projects, which I think is a real testament to him as a person,” Dennings said.
The duo shares a fun, playful dynamic on-screen, often engaging in humorous banter and bickering. Dennings enjoyed these moments, saying, “We have a very funny banter. We really enjoy these scenes where we’re arguing. It’s really fun.”
For Dennings, the opportunity to work with Allen was especially meaningful, as his iconic roles in The Santa Claus movies and Toy Story were a big part of her childhood. “He’s a big part of my consciousness growing up, so it was very surreal to work with [Allen], but in a great way because he’s a very kind person.”
Shifting Gears premiered on January 8, 2025, on ABC and is available for streaming on Hulu.