Shifting Gears Episode 3 Just Set Up A Bizarre Tim Allen Shared Universe

Warning: Spoilers for Shifting Gears episode 3

It’s no secret that TV actors love to bring previous co-actors in on their projects, but Shifting Gears episode 3 just established the potential to do so in a very bizarre way. The episode specifically relies on one particular Easter egg that was noted well before the series even began to air.

Shifting Gears marks Tim Allen’s return to sitcoms, with his last major project being the streaming series The Santa Clauses. With a new detail potentially setting up a world of guest stars, and with Shifting Gears' season 2 renewal still on the horizon, it seems especially important that this new detail could mean the creation of an entire new shared sitcom universe with Tim Allen playing all of the most important parts. Although Shifting Gears' cast already wields a fair amount of star power, the establishment of a shared universe could mean ramifications that affect the entire future of the series' success.

Mike Baxter's Truck Appearance Establishes That The Last Man Standing Co-Exists With Shifting Gears

Tim Allen's Character From Shifting Gears Specifically Mentions Knowing Mike Baxter

When the episode establishes that Matt Parker (Tim Allen) is in possession of a green Ford F100, eagle-eyed viewers would have already noticed this as the same truck Mike Baxter had stolen from him at the end of Tim Allen's sitcom Last Man Standing. That would already be great as a visual reference, but Matt specifically says this car was stolen from a man in Denver whom he happens to know personally. The truck itself was spotted by fans before the show even premiered, but its actual inclusion could mean a lot for the show's future.

Considering Last Man Standing also takes place in Denver and involves this same stolen truck, the reference is far from subtle. It’s very clear that Shifting Gears is establishing a connection with Tim Allen’s former sitcom. But the real interest doesn’t end there. Much of the episode revolves around Gabriel (Seann Willaim Scott) performing unsanctioned modifications on the truck. This could easily upset Matt’s client, Mike Baxter, and lead to an even greater connection between the two shows. Better yet, the sheer potential for this outcome hints at an even greater use of car-based cameos.

Shifting Gears' The Last Man Standing Link Makes A Home Improvement Connection Also Possible

Mike Baxter Can’t Exist In Shifting Gears Without Tim Taylor Existing As Well

Now that a random automobile has somehow managed to forge a connection between two sitcoms, it isn’t unlikely that Tim Taylor’s hot rod will also make an appearance. But the crossover potential doesn’t end there. It’s already been established that Last Man Standing and Home Improvement take place in the same universe, with Mike Baxter meeting Tim Taylor in the ninth season of Last Man Standing. This means that, if Mike Baxter exists in Shifting Gears, Tim Taylor exists as well.

Tim Allen is well-known for bringing former co-stars in on his shows. Patricia Richardson, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and Richard Karn (Jill, Randy, and Al from Home Improvement) all appeared on Last Man Standing. Jonathan even played a character named Randy, an obvious callback to Home Improvement. With Tim Allen’s enthusiasm for casting former co-stars, the fact that all three of his sitcoms exist in the same universe means that he can bring them back in even more nostalgic ways. The next time Shifting Gears fans see a Randy, he may very well be the one fans knew from childhood.