Tim Allen’s former on-screen daughter surprised him on the set of Shifting Gears, adding a warm moment to the show’s production. Kaitlyn Dever, who portrayed Allen’s TV daughter Eve on Last Man Standing from 2011 to 2021, stopped by the ABC comedy’s set for an unscripted visit that left the actors and crew delighted.
The moment was captured and shared on the show’s official Instagram page, showing Allen, age 72, turning a corner into a kitchen to find Dever, 28, calmly browsing the fridge. The scene drew laughter and applause from the audience as Allen approached to greet her with a hug.
Last Man Standing followed Mike Baxter, a senior executive at a sporting goods store, with Dever’s Eve as one of his three daughters. Since then, Dever has built a robust TV career, including roles in Apple Cider Vinegar and The Last of Us.
Back in December 2019, Allen served as an announcer for the 77th Golden Globes nominations and announced Dever’s Best Actress nomination for the miniseries Unbelievable. He commented at the time about the special moment of reading the nomination for his former TV daughter and congratulating her among other nominees.
Shifting Gears marks a new chapter for Allen. He portrays Matt Parker, an auto shop owner who reluctantly takes in his estranged, newly divorced daughter Riley and his two grandchildren. The cast will also welcome Luke Macfarlane later this season as Sam, Allen’s son, who has been referenced but not yet seen on screen.
Season 1 debuted in January, followed by a fall season 2, positioning Shifting Gears as the latest milestone in Allen’s long-running career that began with Home Improvement (1991–1999) before leading to Last Man Standing.
In a reflection on his career, Allen recently told TVInsider that he feels he’s completed a loop, noting that he often passes by the old Home Improvement set on the Disney lot, where the sign remains. He described the feeling as almost finishing where he started.
Shifting Gears airs on ABC on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern, with new episodes available for streaming on Hulu the day after they air.
