Behrs and Dennings Reunite for 'Shifting Gears' Season 3

Key points

• Beth Behrs is set to guest star as Dr. Johnson in the upcoming third season of the ABC sitcom 'Shifting Gears.'
• The role reunites Behrs with Kat Dennings, who plays Riley, and showrunner Michelle Nader, all of whom worked together on '2 Broke Girls.'
• In the episode, Behrs's character treats Dennings's character for a back injury.
• The third season of 'Shifting Gears' is scheduled to premiere in early 2027.
• Behrs recently finished her eight-season run on CBS's 'The Neighborhood' in May 2026.

Background

The third season of 'Shifting Gears' was renewed in April 2026. The series follows Matt, a widowed car shop owner, and his estranged daughter Riley. Previous seasons featured other sitcom reunions, including Tim Allen's 'Home Improvement' co-stars in season two.

How outlets are covering it

All three major outlets (Deadline, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter) reported the casting news on August 18, 2026, with consistent details regarding the character name, role, and reunion aspect. Variety and THR emphasized the '2 Broke Girls' reunion angle more heavily in their headlines, while Deadline focused on the casting announcement itself. No discrepancies were found in the core facts.

Why it matters

The casting of Behrs and the reunion with Dennings and Nader signals a strategy for 'Shifting Gears' to leverage nostalgia and established sitcom chemistry to drive viewership for its third season.

What to watch

The third season of 'Shifting Gears' is expected to premiere in early 2027 on ABC. No specific airdate for Behrs's episode has been announced yet.