If something needs repairs, Tim Allen is your go-to guy – but make sure you have a backup plan.

“I’m good at diagnosing,” Allen told Yahoo Entertainment. “I usually break it before I fix it.” Case in point: He recently disassembled his daughter’s rowing machine to fix a problem, only to find that all it took was the push of a button.

This mix of good intentions and learning is Allen’s trademark and has made him one of television’s most popular dads. From the tool-wielding Tim Taylor onwards DIYer to the funny Mike Baxter Last man standing, He has built a legacy of sympathetic father figures known for being both skilled and incredibly misguided.

Now Allen is back gear change, a new sitcom premiering January 8th on ABC. Only this time it looks a little different.

Unlike his previous sitcom roles, Allen’s Matt Parker is a gruff widower whose estranged daughter, played by Kat Dennings (2 broke girls), moves in with her two children in tow. Together, the family faces the challenge of dealing with grief, rebuilding their relationships and healing old wounds.

It’s an act that’s very close to Allen, who lost his father in a car accident as a child.

“My dad was a doer,” Allen said. “He always worked hard and we did things with him, whether it was gardening or working on his car. That’s why I’ve always valued men who know how to do things.”

You can tell by the roles he plays.

“In every sitcom I’ve done, I’ve always wanted the men and women to be best friends and loving,” he said. “Both my parents, my father and my mother, were like that before he died. I always thought that set the tone for the family.”

Allen knows that sitcoms don’t fully reflect real life.

“Ultimately, this show is about how terrible things happen to wonderful people and they remain human. They don’t fall apart,” he said. “Nobody’s family sorts these things out in 24 minutes. Matt struggles with grief. He restores cars, but what he really restores is his relationship with his daughter.”

Dennings has come full circle alongside Allen.

“It feels like we’ve been doing this for a really long time,” she told Yahoo Entertainment. “Everyone was really excited to see Tim back.”

Dennings’ character Riley is just as stubborn and strong-willed as her father. Riley is ideologically progressive while Matt is more conservative. Despite their frequent arguments, they share an openness to learn from each other.

“Their belief systems are very different, but she is his daughter,” Dennings explained, adding that the moments when their differences come to a head are some of her favorite moments.

A little humor on set also helps. Dennings called Allen a “dad joke lover” and said she and the crew were often victims of his pranks – like when he routinely pretends to walk into walls to make them laugh.

“It gets me every time,” she said. “It’s hilarious. He makes the set a lot of fun.”

Riley is a far cry from Max Black, the snarky, witty waitress Dennings brought to life 2 broke girls.

“I’m doing this show very differently, in a positive way,” she said. “Now, at 30, I feel much more relaxed.”

Also rounding out the cast are Seann William Scott and Daryl “Chill” Mitchell as Gabriel and Ed, a duo who work at Matt’s auto repair shop. They add humor to the series and play a subtle role in helping Matt build his relationship with Riley, each in their own way.

“We have two different strengths and it works perfectly,” Mitchell told Yahoo Entertainment of the pair’s on-screen chemistry: Scott’s talent for “analyzing scripts” and Mitchell’s talent for “pushing for the joke” in her scenes.

Scott joined the series after the pilot episode had already been filmed, replacing a character played by Froy Gutierrez in the pilot episode. Scott said the cast and crew welcomed him to the set with open arms.

“Chill hugged me. He was so kind and so warm,” Scott remembers.

“And starstruck!” Mitchell interjected. “I was over the moon, dude. When you came through that door, I said, ‘Yo, it’s about to come in.'”

“I think that’s exactly what you said,” Scott replied, noting that he and Mitchell often add their own “special sauce” to the script.

“Things happen in the auto shop that are just selfish for (our characters),” he said. “That was fun for us.”

In one moment, Mitchell, using a wheelchair, playfully shows Allen’s character the importance of using respectful language when referring to wheelchair users.

“It was a very teachable moment,” Mitchell said. “A lot of times (people) say things and they don’t mean to be mean, but I’ve learned that people just don’t know the facts.”

As for Allen, he said the auto repair shop is at work Changing gears is more than just a backdrop. It’s a metaphor for the show’s deeper message.

“I want Matt Parker to be there for everyone,” he said. “He’s lost the love of his life, his daughter is coming back, and in the midst of it all, there’s something about this man that makes restoration possible.”

Changing gears Premieres January 8 at 8pm ET on ABC.