Changing Gears it wouldn’t be a hit without it Tim Allenfeedback – but what feedback do leads have about the program?
A runner Michelle Nader you are only told Us Weekly about working with Allen, 72, sharing earlier this month, “It’s a sense of the authenticity of his character and who Tim is as well. We’re very different, obviously. And we’re coming out of it with male and female perspectives.”
Nader noted that Allen helped shape the story.
“Believe me, we are going back again [forth] with him and me. We definitely go back and forth on things because we both have strong opinions about things,” he added. “At the end of the day, Tim has to play it cool, so he has to be comfortable.”
Changing Gearswhich premiered in January 2025, follows Matt (Allen) and his estranged daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), as they find themselves living together and working to repair their relationship after the death of their matriarch.
Tim trusts me and I trust him, he’s the one who said, ‘I don’t want to be in a long distance relationship because I wouldn’t want to do that at my age,’ Nader said. Us about the season 2 storyline with Matt and girlfriend Eve (Jenna Elfman). “I didn’t understand, but I said, ‘Okay, okay.’ Then we figured out how to make that offensive, and I think it works. “
Despite briefly showing Elfman, 54, leaving the show, Nader confirmed that it was always the plan to bring Eva back.
“Sometimes in life – especially as you get older – things are more difficult than when you were in your 20s,” Nader continued. “I always wanted to respect the fact that Matt was the guy who lost his wife. He was a widower and he was still going to visit her. I wanted to give him the respect he deserved and he wasn’t really ready to commit fully.”
It wasn’t until the introduction of Elfman’s character that the game took off.
“Let’s just talk about that magical person. He was a good person,” said Nader. “That’s the thing about sitcoms is the internal emotions that everyone thinks are really high. But they’re really high in real moments — even if they don’t feel.”
Meanwhile, Allen opened up about shaping the show. “[Matt’s] very much like me. I am very much an artist. I was a design student and a philosopher, and my strong sense of humor is about messing with people in a good way,” shared Nathi in January 2025. “I came from a large family run by women. So my opinion is very different about men. I don’t think we are running things. So I want it to be that guy. He’s not a ‘man’s man’ at the time, and he wasn’t trying to be anything other than what he’s doing.”
The actor noted that Matt is “not like the other guys” he’s played before.
“This is a new actor and it’s very close to him [who I am]. I’ve been through grief in my life with the loss of my father,” he added at the time. “I’m blessed to be a comedian, that’s why [character] is something. If I did it again, I wanted to get closer to [man] that I.”
Changing Gears currently streaming on Hulu.
