Jenna Elfman joins ‘Shifting Gears’ and returns to multi-camera comedy

EXCLUSIVE: Jenna Elfman, best known for her starring role in the 1997 ABC sitcom Dharma and Gregreturns to the network with a recurring role in another multi-camera comedy series, the upcoming Change gearsheadlined by fellow ABC sitcom star Tim Allen. It is produced by the same studio, 20th Television.

Change gears Tim Allen stars as Matt, the stubborn widowed owner of Parker Customs, a classic car restoration shop. When Matt’s estranged daughter (Kat Dennings) and her children move into his house, the real recovery begins.

Elfman will play Eve Drake, a lively choreographer and owner of the dance studio across from Parker Customs. The role should be a good fit for Elfman, who is a classically trained ballerina and began her career as a professional dancer, appearing in music videos by Depeche Mode and Anthrax and dancing in the 1991 Academy Awards live broadcast. Elfman also did some “interpretive dancing” while hosting the 1999 Emmys with David Hyde Pierce.

The rest of Change gear The main cast includes Seann William Scott as Gabriel, who also works at the store, Daryl “Chill” Mitchell as Stitch, Maxwell Simkins as Carter and Barrett Margolis as Georgia.

Allen executive produces alongside showrunner Michelle Nader, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Richard Baker, Rick Messina, John Pasquin, who directed the pilot episode, Jim Patterson, Bob Daily and John Amodeo. Dennings is the producer. Change gear creators Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully are executive producers on the pilot episode. Produced by 20th Television, part of Disney Television Studios, the series premieres on January 8 and airs at 20.00, where Dharma and Greg spent some time. It will stream the next day on Hulu.

This marks Elfman’s return to multi-camera comedy. After her five-season starring role as Dharma on ABC/20th TV’s Dharma and Gregwhich earned her a Golden Globe and three Emmy nominations, she appeared in two more sitcoms, CBS’ Courting Alex and By accident on purposebefore switching to single-camera half-hours with NBCs 1600 Pennfrom 20. TV, and Fisher grows up and ABCs imaginary Marynone of which went the long way.

Elfman has recently done drama series, including a five-season series regular on AMC’s Fear The Walking Dead. She guest starred in ABC/20. TV drama series Will Trent earlier this year and will next be seen in an eight-episode arc in Season 3 of AMC’s Dark winds. Elfman is repped by WME, Artists First and Latham & Watkins.