Kaitlyn Dever reunites with former TV dad Tim Allen on "Shifting Gears" set

Kaitlyn Dever caught Tim Allen completely off guard when she visited the set of his current ABC sitcom, Shifting Gears, during a scene. Dever, who portrayed Allen's daughter Eve for nine seasons on Last Man Standing, kept her visit a secret, creating a heartfelt reunion with her former TV dad.

A video posted on the Shifting Gears Instagram account shows Allen walking onto the set and looking visibly surprised as Dever appears in the soundstage kitchen. The moment quickly turned joyful, with Allen laughing and embracing Dever as the audience cheered.

Kat Dennings, who plays Allen's daughter Riley on Shifting Gears, joined in on the fun. In the clip, Dennings hides behind the kitchen counter while Dever takes her place, giving Allen a playful shock before celebrating the reunion together.

An announcer introduces Dever to the audience: "The amazing Kaitlyn Dever! Eve from Last Man Standing and countless other incredible projects. Kaitlyn Dever, everyone! What a special night!" Dennings later rises to hug Dever, sharing in the excitement and clapping alongside Allen.

The Shifting Gears Instagram caption highlighted the surprise: "Some behind-the-scenes love for you: the best surprise. Thanks for stopping by, @kaitlyndever!" Allen had previously shared his joy over the reunion on X, writing, "Kaitlyn Dever stopped by my taping tonight at Shifting Gears. Such a lucky man. Truly blessed to have worked with and loved so many of my cast."

Dever appeared as a series regular on Last Man Standing from 2011 to 2017, returning for recurring appearances over the shows next three seasons. Since leaving the sitcom, she has starred in films such as Booksmart, Rosaline, and No One Will Save You, while also taking supporting roles in Ticket to Paradise, Beautiful Boy, and Dear Evan Hansen. On television, Dever has earned Emmy nominations for her work on The Last of Us and Dopesick.

Devers upcoming projects include the films Godzilla x Kong: Supernova and See You When I See You. Shifting Gears continues to air new episodes on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Author: Gavin Porter