Tim Allen’s sitcom Shifting Gears cleverly took a humorous jab at Ryan Reynolds.

In the episode that aired on Wednesday, January 28, viewers watched as Matt (played by Allen) reconnected with his son, Sam (Luke Macfarlane), who had just returned from his naval duties. Sam was apprehensive about breaking the news to his father that he intended to swap his military career for one in acting. Despite initial skepticism, Matt eventually came to terms with his son’s decision.

“That’s the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever heard,” Matt remarked humorously. “But, who knows, you might end up playing the real guy behind the Deadpool mask while Ryan Reynolds gets a pedicure in his trailer.”

Shifting Gears, featuring a talented ensemble that includes Kat Dennings, Seann William Scott, Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, Maxwell Simkins, and Barrett Margolis, isn’t alone in poking fun at Reynolds. NBC’s St. Denis Medical also made a sly comment about the actor’s looks during an April 2025 episode focused on a charity event where Bruce (Josh Lawson) tried to clinch the Dancing with the Caregivers title.

Allen’s Shifting Gears on ABC has become a platform for him to bring back familiar faces, including co-stars from his previous hits like Home Improvement and Last Man Standing. Debuting in January 2025, the series is set in a car restoration business owned by Allen’s character, Matt. The show follows his journey as he reconnects with his long-lost daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), among other storylines. […]

Bruce wasn’t thrilled, however, when Serena (Kahyun Kim) downvoted him as one of the judges.

“I don’t believe in giving 10s,” Serena shared in a confessional. “Ten means you can’t imagine anything better.”

She continued: “Like, Ryan Gosling is the hottest man alive but is he a 10? No. He’s a nine. Ryan Reynolds is a six.”

Reynolds, 49, took on the role of Deadpool in 2016. He has continued to bring the titular character to life in Deadpool 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine. The third Deadpool picked up six years after Deadpool 2 as Wade (Reynolds) attempted to live a normal life but was pulled into a new mission that forced him to team up with Wolverine (Hugh Jackman).

Deadpool & Wolverine reunited Reynolds and Jackman, 57, in their Marvel roles for the first time since 2009.

All’s fair in love and trolling wars — just ask Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Please enter a valid email. Subscribe By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Deal of the Day Don’t Wait! This […]

“My feeling is that character works very well in two ways, one is scarcity and surprise,” Reynolds shared during Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series in December 2024 while talking about the success of Deadpool & Wolverine. “It had been six years since the last one [2018’s Deadpool 2], and part of the reason is that it swallows my whole life. You can’t take your hand off the stick all the way through development, through postproduction into marketing and promo, and then, you kind of [stop].”

Following the success of Deadpool & Wolverine, Reynolds announced his plans to write a new movie reuniting him with Jackman and director Shawn Levy. “I’m spending the year writing,” Reynolds told Variety in 2024. “I’m writing a movie for myself, Hugh and Shawn to do that is not Marvel.”

In addition to Reynolds and Jackman, the third Deadpool film starred Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Aaron Stanford and Matthew Macfadyen.

Shifting Gears airs on ABC Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Hulu.