Michelle Nader Joins ABC’s ‘Shifting Gears’ As Showrunner As She Inks Overall Deal With 20th Television

Nellie Andreeva
·2-min read

EXCLUSIVE: Michelle Nader has been tapped as executive producer and showrunner on the upcoming ABC multi-camera comedy series Shifting Gears (working title), starring Tim Allen and Kat Dennings. It is the first project under an overall deal the veteran writer-producer has signed with the studio behind Shifting Gears, 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios, to write, develop and produce comedy, drama and limited series for linear networks and streamers, with an emphasis on platforms across Disney Entertainment Television.

Nader succeeds Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully who served as writers, executive producers on the Shifting Gears pilot but exited before the project was picked up to series. This marks Nader’s third series with Dennings; she previously served as executive producer/showrunner on CBS’ 2 Broke Girls and Hulu’s Dollface, both starring Dennings.

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Shifting Gears, which will go into production in November, stars Allen as Matt, the stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. When Matt’s estranged daughter, Riley (Dennings), and her teenage kids move into his house, the real restoration begins.

The series also stars Daryl “Chill” Mitchell as Stitch, Maxwell Simkins as Carter and Barrett Margolis as Georgia.

Nader, who is of Lebanese descent, serves as executive producer/showrunner on 20th Television’s upcoming comedy series Deli Boys for Onyx Collective on Hulu, created by Abdullah Saeed and developed by Jenni Konner and Nora Silver. Shifting Gears and Deli Boys are on different production schedules, so Nader would be able to do both if they both get renewed for second seasons.

“Michelle’s writing is full of characters with edge, heart and a true point of view, and she has the uncanny ability to do this across all formats from big multi-cams to edgier subversive streaming hits,” Said Karey Burke, President of 20th Television. “She always elevates the work and the voices of those around her, and we look forward to collaborating on all of the projects we can build together.”

Nader’s TV credits also include the U.S. iteration of Kath & Kim, which she created, The King of Queens, and Spin City. She is currently writing a feature for New Line Cinema with Jordan Weiss.

“Eric, Karey, Carolyn, Jane, and Mariel have been inspiring creative partners to me with Deli Boys and now Shifting Gears and beyond,” Nader said. “I look forward to working closely with Brendan and everyone on the 20th team. This is a hard business and it’s rare that you find people that you align with so effortlessly; I feel very lucky.”

She is repped by CAA and attorney Ken Richman.

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