Tim Allen is in his element. After wrapping up another day filming his new ABC sitcom, “Shifting Gears” (Wednesdays, 8 EST/PST, streaming the next day on Hulu), he steps out of the Disney lot in Burbank, California, and hops into his powerful Tesla Plaid sports car. (Cue his well-known grunt.)

Work and automobiles bring joy to the seasoned comedian and actor. The alternative fills him with anxiety: “I just love being around the camera crew and the actors so much that the thought of leaving set to play golf makes me uncomfortable,” Allen admits.

He hasn’t had much opportunity for golf. At age 71, the Midwestern entertainer has built an impressive legacy with three successful sitcoms, including “Home Improvement” and “Last Man Standing,” which ran for eight and nine seasons, a remarkable feat in the sitcom world.

“Someone likened me to the Tom Brady of television because of those three sitcoms, and although I hadn’t thought of it that way, it stuck with me,” he shares, obviously delighted with the comparison. However, he understands that this journey won’t last indefinitely.

“I think this might be the conclusion of my television career,” Allen reflects, although he continues to be a popular figure in films like “The Santa Clause 2” and on the stand-up comedy stage. “That sounds gloomy, but I took on ‘Shifting Gears’ because it felt right and would be enjoyable. That’s my main motive.”

Tim Allen believes his latest character, Matt Parker, is a true reflection of himself

In “Shifting Gears,” Allen portrays Matt Parker, a widower and owner of an auto restoration shop, who is also a father to two adult children. One of them, daughter Riley (played by Kat Dennings), moves back in with her two teenagers after separating from her rock musician husband. The cast also features Seann William Scott and Daryl “Chill” Mitchell as employees at the shop, along with Maxwell Simkins and Barrett Margolis as Parker’s grandchildren.

The humor emerges from the generational clash between Matt’s traditional and conservative mindset and Riley’s modern outlook. Meanwhile, the emotional depth unfolds as both grapple with the loss of their family matriarch who passed away suddenly from a heart attack.

For Allen, Parker is a character that closely resonates with his true self. He explains further:

“This character is the most accurate representation of who I am today,” he notes with enthusiasm. “‘Home Improvement’ was basically an extension of my stand-up, while ‘Last Man Standing’ was influenced by raising daughters and aimed for a main character smarter than Tim Taylor (his character in ‘Home Improvement,’ famously opposite Pamela Anderson).

“Now, Matt Parker embodies a deeper part of me,” Allen continues. “He shares my background as a design and philosophy student. He’s grumpy because he’s experienced loss, similar to my father’s passing during my childhood, which I can relate to. I also run a car shop. So he reflects the essence of my stand-up work and is truly evolved from all my previous roles.”

Tim Allen sees business owners as frontline political players aiming to support their employees

Allen connects with Parker’s views, highlighted in a recent episode where he questions his daughter’s efforts to secure special educational accommodations for her son. Parker worries that labeling his grandson could harm the boy’s self-esteem.

Allen characterizes Parker as “liberal in spirit but conservative in thought.” He also notes that his characters often appear politically right-leaning due to their business-oriented backgrounds.

“People in business genuinely believe that taxes can impede their growth, affecting their ability to care for their employees,” he states, then adds with a chuckle, “I do enjoy stirring the pot a little.”

He recalls a recent conversation with an administrator at the school his teenage daughter Elizabeth attends, whom he shares with his wife Jane Hajduk. (He also has an adult daughter, Katherine, from his previous marriage with Laura Deibel.)

“The school was changing its brochure, and the term equality was shifting to equity,” Allen points out, addressing a complex issue, especially in light of President Trump’s rollbacks on diversity policies.

“I asked the administrator if that meant concerns about the current value of my home. He replied, ‘No, it’s about equity.’ I countered, ‘But that’s precisely what equity means—what’s my home worth after I finish paying on it?’ He insisted it was ‘a different equity.’ The more I tried to clarify, the more frustrated he became.”

Allen finds delight in that type of dialogue, linking it to his character from “Shifting Gears.” “I really appreciate this new role,” he expresses. “Matt is a thinker, an artist, and a doer, trying to navigate the complexities of life while making a living.”

‘Shifting Gears’ received mixed reviews from critics but quickly won over viewers

Something about the world of Parker has struck a chord with TV audiences. Despite receiving lukewarm reviews from critics (the show holds a score of 49 out of 100 on Metacritic), it emerged as ABC’s most-watched series premiere on streaming platforms with approximately 17 million views across various formats. For Allen, being part of a sitcom not only allows him to surround himself with hardworking individuals he respects but also revives the thrill of performing before a live audience.

“Back in the day, you’d rehearse and perform for an audience, which I cherish,” he recalls. “Sure, in movies, I may get a few laughs from the crew, but with ‘Shifting Gears,’ I can engage the entire audience as well as the team. There’s nothing quite like it.”

Well, nothing besides perhaps the excitement of working on the cars in his garage. Interestingly, while one might expect Allen to champion traditional gas-powered vehicles, he advocates a different approach for the future of cars.

“The future, much like politics, will require compromise,” he remarks. “It will blend various elements to provide the best possible outcomes.”

He might well be describing his formula for Tim Allen sitcoms: a mixture of heartfelt family moments, humorous complaints, and a track record of high ratings.