Kaitlyn Dever Surprises Tim Allen on Set of Shifting Gears for Last Man Standing Reunion

Fans of the beloved sitcom Last Man Standing got a treat recently when Kaitlyn Dever, who portrayed Eve on the show, surprised her on-screen father, Tim Allen, on the set of his new series Shifting Gears. This heartwarming reunion happened four years after Last Man Standing concluded its successful nine-season run. The touching moment was captured and shared on the official Instagram account of Shifting Gears.

In the video, Tim Allen, who plays Mike Baxter on Shifting Gears, walks into the kitchen, expecting to find his current TV daughter, Kat Dennings, at the fridge. However, hes met with a surprise when Dever, who had been absent from the set, suddenly appears. The unexpected meeting stops Allen in his tracks, prompting cheers and laughter from the studio audience. The crowd erupts into applause as Allen pulls Dever in for a warm hug.

The audience warm-up host further confirms the delightful surprise, announcing that its indeed the amazing Kaitlyn Dever. Dever, who has since gained widespread recognition for her roles in the critically acclaimed series Dopesick (Hulu) and The Last of Us (HBO), shares a hug with both Kat Dennings and Tim Allen before leaving the set.

This reunion was extra special, as Allen and Dever last appeared together in the series finale of Last Man Standing in 2021. Due to scheduling conflicts with another project, Dever wasnt able to join her co-stars for the final scenes. At the time, she was working on the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen. Due to strict COVID-19 protocols, Dever filmed her final appearance on Last Man Standing in isolation, appearing only through FaceTime. Kevin Abbott, the executive producer of the show, explained that strict quarantine measures were in place, so Dever could only film with the crew, not the rest of the cast.

Other Last Man Standing Stars on Shifting Gears

Shifting Gears has already featured several familiar faces from Last Man Standing, including Nancy Travis and Jay Leno. In fact, Nancy Travis appeared in the shows second episode, which also featured appearances from Home Improvement stars Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn, and Debbe Dunning.

The fall finale of Shifting Gears is scheduled to air on Wednesday, December 10th, at 8 p.m. on ABC, with episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu. For updates on when new episodes will return in 2026, stay tuned.