The holiday-themed mid-season finale of ABC’s Shifting Gears aired on December 10, 2025, bringing festive drama and a special guest star to the Parker family. The episode, titled “Nutcracker,” featured the show’s core cast navigating romantic troubles and holiday pressures. Here is a complete look at the actors who appeared in this special episode.
The Core Parker Family Cast
The show’s main cast, who have been present since the series began in January 2025, returned for this holiday episode. Their established chemistry drives the show’s family dynamic.
Leading the cast is veteran comedian and actor Tim Allen. He plays Matt Parker, the widowed owner of Parker Customs, a classic car restoration shop. Matt is a gruff but caring family man who is still mourning the loss of his wife. Allen, famous for his role as Tim Taylor on Home Improvement and as the voice of Buzz Lightyear, also serves as an executive producer on the series.
Playing Matt’s daughter is Kat Dennings as Riley Parker. Riley is a recently divorced mother of two who moves back in with her father. Dennings, known for 2 Broke Girls and roles in Marvel films, brings a firm yet kind presence to the role. She is also credited as a producer on the series.
Rounding out the immediate Parker family are the younger actors playing Riley’s children. Maxwell Simkins plays Riley’s son, Carter, and Barrett Margolis plays her daughter, Georgia. Both young actors have appeared in all episodes of the series to date.
Key Supporting Characters in the Shop
The cast of characters at Matt’s auto shop provides much of the show’s comedy and supporting friendship.
Seann William Scott plays Gabriel (often called Gabe), a kindhearted mechanic at Parker Customs. Scott, who first gained major attention in American Pie, brings an eccentric and likable energy to the shop. His character’s past with Riley adds depth to their relationship.
Daryl “Chill” Mitchell stars as Stitch, another employee and close friend of Matt’s. Mitchell is a veteran actor known for his roles in sitcoms like Veronica’s Closet and Ed.
Special Guest Stars for the Holiday Episode
The “Nutcracker” episode introduced a notable guest star playing a key parental role.
Emmy-winning actress Pamela Adlon guest-starred as the mother of Seann William Scott’s character, Gabriel. Adlon is best known for creating and starring in the critically acclaimed series Better Things. Her character’s visit is a central plot point in the episode.
The episode also featured recurring guest star Jenna Elfman as Eve Drake. Elfman, famous for Dharma & Greg, plays Riley’s former boss who is now in a relationship with Matt. The episode description notes that Matt and Eve’s relationship is “on thin ice”.
Another recurring character appearing is Carson Fagerbakke as Amelie, Gabriel’s new girlfriend. In the episode, Gabe enlists Riley’s help to make a good impression on his mother.
Full Cast List for “Nutcracker” (Season 2, Episode 8)
The official cast list for this specific episode, sourced from IMDb, includes the following actors and their roles:
- Tim Allen as Matt Parker
- Kat Dennings as Riley
- Seann William Scott as Gabriel
- Daryl Mitchell as Stitch
- Maxwell Simkins as Carter
- Barrett Margolis as Georgia
- Jenna Elfman as Eve Drake
- Pamela Adlon as Gabriel’s mother
- Carson Fagerbakke as Amelie
- Isabella Feliciana as Lily Martinez
- Anand Mahalingam as Feraz
- John Eddings as Santa
- Jesse Williams as Andy
Jesse Williams, known for Grey’s Anatomy, appears in a recurring role as Andy. The cast list confirms that fan-favorite character Lily Martinez, played by Isabella Feliciana, also appears in this holiday installment.
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Episode Synopsis and Future Release Schedule
The episode “Nutcracker” revolved around holiday pressures. The official description states:
“This holiday season, the Parkers discover that romance isn’t always a smooth ride as Matt and Eve are on thin ice, Gabe enlists Riley to help Amelie impress his mom, and Carter seeks help with his ‘promposal.’”
This episode served as the mid-season finale for Shifting Gears Season 2. After airing on December 10, 2025, the show will take a break.
New episodes of Shifting Gears will resume on January 7, 2026. The show airs on ABC on Wednesday nights at 8:00 p.m. EST/PST. Episodes are available for streaming the next day on Hulu and Disney+.
Also Read: Home for Christmas Season 1-2 Recap: All You Need to Know Before Season 3 Premieres
