Seann William Scott breaks down Shifting Gears Season 2 and its big Christmas episode surprise.
As Shifting Gears races into the holiday season, Seann William Scott is preparing fans for one of the most exciting moments of Season 2. Pamela Adlon — the unmistakable voice of Bobby Hill and the creator/star of Better Things — steps into the sitcom as Gabriel’s mom for the Christmas episode “Nutcracker” airing on ABC on Decemeber 10th 8/7 pm Central and next day on Hulu.
When asked what viewers can expect, Scott said the holiday chapter brings out new sides of his character and shakes up family dynamics. “I think we see Gabriel’s mom come into town, and Pamela Adlon plays it,” he said. “She’s fantastic, and so she’s hilarious… literally a comedic ninja. Everything she said was hilarious.”
The episode follows Matt and Eve navigating a rough patch, Gabe leaning on Riley to help Amelie impress his mother, and Carter preparing a big promposal — all wrapped in the show’s classic mix of warmth, banter, and holiday chaos. When Scott confirmed Adlon was playing his mother, he didn’t hold back how perfectly she fit: “It’s pretty classic.”
Adlon’s appearance continues a streak of impressive guest stars the series has attracted across two seasons. As Scott put it, “The guest stars we’ve gotten on the show… it seems like we get legends coming in just to play with us each week.”
Season 2’s Rhythm and Why the Show Feels Better Than Ever
Scott didn’t hide how much Season 2 has meant to him personally. “The show is so much fun,” he said. “It’s the greatest gift… I’m having the time of my life.” Getting to perform in front of a live audience each week has been a major highlight. “We get to perform it in front of a live audience every Tuesday evening, which is so much fun,” he said. “Now you have an audience that really enjoys the show… it’s just been a ball.”
He credited the writing team for evolving characters thoughtfully and responding to what works on set. “They know more information, and they’re able to kind of go, okay, let’s write toward this… this is working for this character and performer.”
A strong example of that growth is the deepening dynamic between Gabe and Riley. Scott said working with Kat Dennings has been one of the greatest joys of the show. “Kat is a genius… every single take she does something different and her timing is incredible,” he said. “I just adore her.” He even compared her comedic instincts to icons: “It reminds me… of Lucille Ball, like those kinds of… or Carol Burnett.”
The writers have leaned into that chemistry, but Scott said they’re handling it with care. “They’ve been really smart about teasing whether they’ll be in a relationship or stay friends,” he said.
Why Shifting Gears Works: Nostalgia, Warmth, and Classic Sitcom DNA
During our call, I shared that Tim Allen‘s Home Improvement has always been one of my own comfort shows — something I continually rewatch. Scott immediately connected with that sentiment.
“That’s one of them, for sure,” he said. He told me he remembers watching it with his dad in the kitchen. “That has a very special place in my heart,” he said. The show brings him right back to childhood: “Spending time with my dad… sitting around watching these characters you watch every week.” He also mentioned growing up with Good Times, Family Ties, and Different Strokes. “Nick at Night was on the house all the time,” he said.
That nostalgic foundation influences how Scott views Shifting Gears. When asked to describe Season 2 in a single sentence, he landed on something that perfectly captures its heart. “I think it’s funny. I think it’s got a lot of heart… and it feels like comfort food.”
It’s a description that resonates. The show’s mix of humor, generational storytelling, family banter, and live-audience energy creates something familiar — the kind of sitcom that once dominated primetime lineups every week.
The Righteous Gemstones: A Career Moment That Still Stands Out
Before discussing the Shifting Gears holiday episode, Scott reflected on one of the most unexpected and rewarding roles in his television career: his turn on HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones final season.
“It was such a great experience on Gemstones,” he said. Scott explained that he first met Danny McBride and David Gordon Green long before their rise, during a period when they wrote a script he still remembers vividly. “This is before Pineapple Express… they wrote one of the funniest scripts I’ve ever read.”
He spent years hoping they’d work together, and the eventual opportunity felt like fate. “To get a chance to work with this incredible group of performers… and do something totally different than anything I’ve done, I felt really, really lucky.”
The role also let Scott stretch into darker, more dramatic corners — something fans were thrilled to see. And for someone who’s moved between comedy, action, drama, and now multi-cam sitcoms, the range continues to define his career.
Seann and Chill: A Duo Built on Improv and Trust
One of the strongest pairings in Shifting Gears is the comedic dynamic between Scott and co-star Daryl “Chill” Mitchell. Their scenes feel effortlessly playful — and there’s a reason.
Scott said Mitchell has mastered the art of dropping the perfect idea at the perfect moment. “He improvises a lot, and he’s so strategic about when he throws in his ideas,” Scott said. He explained that Mitchell knows when to save his surprises. “The stuff that he comes up with… usually stays in the episodes and usually gets the audience going wild.”
Their real friendship off-camera only fuels the timing between their characters on screen.
Cars, Go-Karts, and Why Seann Still Isn’t a Car Guy
Because the show revolves around a restoration shop, I reminded Scott about his now-famous admission from our last conversation — that he had never changed his own oil and once drove a car that “sounded like a go-kart.”
He laughed and confirmed that nothing had changed. “Dude, I know nothing,” he said. “In fact, I think I got dumber.” He recalled a recent moment on the road. “I tried to… wash [my windshield] with the little windshield wiper thing… no liquid came out.” He considered refilling it himself, but gave up quickly. “I’m too lazy to even go on YouTube… I’m going to bring my car in to just add the little wiper fluid stuff.”
His driving test story matched the chaos of Season 2’s DMV-focused episode. “I failed the written test three times in a row the same day,” he said. Eventually, a DMV employee took pity on him. “Finally the guy just felt bad… he’s like, just, Daryl, I’ll sign it.”
Even so, Scott maintains, “I think I’m a good driver. I just don’t know what things I got wrong.”
Looking Ahead and Hoping for Season 3
As Shifting Gears continues to build its audience, Scott hopes fans will get even more adventures with the Parker family. He’s optimistic — and especially grateful. “I’m having the time of my life,” he said. He’s also aware of how special it is to be part of a sitcom that resonates today.
The series offers the blend of humor, nostalgia, and character warmth that audiences often miss. And for Scott, the reason people keep watching is simple: Shifting Gears, he says, “feels like comfort food.”
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
