Griffin Gluck Talks About the Adorable TV Reunion He Had Filming "Cruel Summer"

Griffin Gluck Talks About the Adorable TV Reunion He Had Filming "Cruel Summer"

We've been watching actor Griffin Gluck on both the big and small screens since he was a kid. From his roles in projects like Just Go With It, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, and Locke & Key, the 22-year-old has literally grown up before our eyes.

Now, he's starring as Luke, the boy-next-door on season 2 of Cruel Summer, which had its double-episode premiere on June 5 on Freeform. (You can stream the show on Hulu, with plans beginning as low as $7.99 per month.)

We know Luke quickly gets involved in a love triangle with childhood friend Megan (Sadie Stanley) and new girl Isabella (Lexi Underwood), but it was two of Griffin's other co-stars that made us do a double take: actors Paul Adelstein and KaDee Strickland, who play Steve and Debbie, respectively.

the cast of cruel summer
L-R: Griffin Gluck as Luke Chambers, KaDee Strickland as Debbie Landry, and Paul Adelstein as Steve Chambers on Cruel SummerFrank Ockenfels/Freeform

Paul is Griffin's onscreen dad on the mystery show — for the second time. Over a decade ago, Paul and Griffin starred together on Private Practice, a spin-off of Grey's Anatomy that ran for six seasons, as father and son. Griffin joined the cast in 2011 and stayed on until the show's finale in 2013.

To make an adorable reunion even better, KaDee played Griffin's stepmother on the medical series, and now she is the girlfriend of his TV dad as well as the mother of his TV best friend. Some things come full circle!

Seventeen asked Griffin about the reunion and he shared how thrilled he was to be able to work with them again. "Paul and KaDee were definitely the best choices for the roles in the first place. So, I think it was kind of just a happy coincidence."

griffin gluck, kadee strickland, paul adelstein
L-R: Griffin Gluck as Mason Warner, KaDee Strickland as Dr. Charlotte King, and Paul Adelstein as Dr. Cooper Freedman on Private PracticeVivian Zink/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Griffin then revealed he actually reunited with another Private Practice alum on Cruel Summer: Bill Purple.

Bill is both an executive producer and director of the Freeform series and, back in 2012, he directed an episode of Private Practice — one that holds a special memory for Griffin. "He filmed the first scene I ever cried in," Griffin recalled.

While we couldn't find a photo of Bill and Griffin during their Private Practice days, they both posed on the red carpet during Cruel Summer's sophomore season premiere on May 31, 2023. Bill is on the far left while Griffin is on the right, standing next to KaDee and looking extra dashing in a pair of sunglasses.

cruel summer season 2
David Livingston/Getty Images

This interview has been edited for length and/or clarity.

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