Shifting Gears’ Maxwell Simkins Drove Tim Allen’s Car — With Just a Permit

Playing Tim AllenAli’s grandson Transmission gears It has come with some perks to Maxwell Simkins — including driving the on-screen sitcom legend’s actual car despite only having a permit.

“There are a few episodes where I’m driving. I don’t even have my license in real life [but] “I have my permit,” Simkins, 19, told EXCLUSIVELY Us Weekly. “So, as long as I have someone over 18 in the car with me, they can drive with me. And when Tim is in the car, he says, ‘Are you sure you know what you’re doing?’

Simkins noted that Allen, 72, has “a lot of confidence” in him. Getting the opportunity to shoot with cars was a highlight for the young actor.

“I love the episodes where I’m in the auto shop with the guys. Those are some of my favorites,” he said. “I keep telling writers that if they’re short on ideas, I’d love to go back to the auto shop with those guys.”

Simkins continued: “I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of cars but I can admire a beautiful car. I wouldn’t say I’m a car fan to the point where I know everything about cars but I can definitely admire a beautiful car.”

Transmission gearswhich premiered in January, follows Matt and his estranged daughter Riley (Kat Dennings), where they find themselves living together and working on their relationship after losing their mother. Matt is also close to Kat’s children: Carter (Simkins) and Georgia (Barrett Margolis).

“Working with Tim is incredible. He doesn’t have an off switch for being who he is,” Simkins explained. “What you see on camera is who he is. He’s funny and outgoing and always doing little things.”

The actor expressed his gratitude for the lessons he learned from Allen in two seasons.

He continued: “But I think the one thing I learned from Tim is a huge thing. I learned from him and from Darryl ‘Chill’ Mitchell as well, take your time with jokes and not rush them.” “Sometimes I get excited or nervous and I’m quick to make jokes. But they really taught me to take time — sometimes longer than you expect — to make it fun.”

Simkins spoke highly of Dennings’ mentorship as well, saying, “She shows up on that set every day off the book and takes the time to pay attention to the lines a lot. Most actors will give her a few days and they’ll learn as they go. She’s already on the second day of writers’ vacation and knows our lines, knows to block and write every single note. She’s teaching us all to be very professional and do our best.”

Lessons Simkins learned Transmission gears He hopes to take it with him on future projects.

“I started out in comedy and I hope to end up in comedy. But my heart really lies in doing a lot of dramatic roles. I feel like as I get older, I like to explore that side of me and try a lot of different things,” he said. we. “I would love to be able to do something really deep, like a character study.

Simkins isn’t just about acting. He is also currently working on screenplays.

“There’s a limited series I’ve been working on that I’ve been trying to get done. It’s based on a true story and I’m very excited about it. I hope the guys we’re making will love the story as much as we do,” he joked. “I feel like this show is young at heart and it’s a really good story.”

Transmission gears It returns to ABC on Tuesday, December 10 at 8pm ET before airing the next day on Hulu.