The Shifting Gears season finale found a way to nod at Seann William Scott‘s comedy film with Ashton Kutcher Dude, Where’s My Car?
“It was a surprise when I read the script,” Scott, 48, exclusively told Us Weekly after the Wednesday, March 19, episode. “I just thought it was really clever and I laughed right away.”
Scott’s only concern was giving the proper onscreen reaction, adding, “The only thing I was thinking is, ‘How would I react?’ Because you don’t want it to be too meta. But I thought it was the perfect [reference].”
He continued: “We’re in a car shop and it just seemed like if you’re going to be doing these kinds of jokes then it seems like a missed opportunity to not bring up that one. But I had no involvement. I just laughed. I was there to enjoy it.”
Shifting Gears, which premiered in January, is set in a car restoration shop opened by Tim Allen‘s character, Matt. Scott’s Gabriel, meanwhile, is a mechanic so during Thursday’s finale, Matt’s daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), comes in wondering about the status of her vehicle by asking Gabriel, “Dude, where’s my car?”
The blink-and-you-miss-it reference comes more than two decades after Dude, Where’s My Car? was released starring Scott and Kutcher. While reflecting on his new ABC sitcom, Scott suggested that Kutcher, 47, should be cast as Riley’s brother in a potential second season of Shifting Gears. The other suggestions? Cillian Murphy and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Dennings, 38, for her part, is hoping her friend Brenda Song will return for more episodes.
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“One of my best friends in the world already did a guest spot. The amazing and perfect Brenda Song — who is obviously a genius and incredible in every way,” she told Us during the joint interview with Scott. “We worked together on Dollface and that’s where we met and we just became best friends from then on. So having her come do this was just the best. I want Brenda Song again.”
While discussing season 2, Dennings and Scott admitted there was one plot line they were hoping wouldn’t get explored again.
“I don’t want to do more dancing. Although for some reason — just because of the other project that I did — pole dancing came up on the show,” he recalled. “I just think no more dancing [would be great]. I can’t do it. I’m still stressed thinking about having to do it right before we would shoot something. It’s anxiety. It’s a real thing.”
Dennings felt the same way, saying, “Instead of what we would want to happen on the show, we’re going to say what we don’t want. And that is that neither of us want to do more dancing.”
Shifting Gears is currently streaming on Hulu.
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