Anyone who’s ever seen a single episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey knows the wisdom behind never working with family. But what of the Hollywood nepo babies, who so often find themselves in the family business? John Owen Lowe, son of my mom’s celebrity hall pass, Rob Lowe, gets it. He’s worked with his dad on The Grinder and 9-1-1: Lone Star, and he says those experiences “drove him bonkers,” so now they’re taking their bonkers hearts and turning them into art with Netflix’s Unstable.
“It’s basically the same [as our real-life dynamic],” John Owen said of his and his father’s characters on the show. “I like to give my dad a hard time. And people found that to be entertaining, which was surprising to me. And I came to him and said, ‘Hey, would you be willing to let me make fun of you in front of the nation on TV?’”
And then he proved his point, explaining that his dad responded with, “I would love nothing more,’ because he loves being on TV so much.” Like father, like son.
But it turns out working so closely together was “a terrible idea” for his “mental health.”
“Two weeks into filming the first season … I had a legitimate little mental breakdown,” John Owen said. “I walked off set and I went into my trailer, and I went, ‘Oh shit. I was trying to become my own person and get distance away from him and I am now his co-star.’ … My face is next to his on a one sheet, and I’ll be doing press with him. It was like all these realizations dawned on me and I remember calling my representatives, which is so funny. I said, ‘I’ve got to call my reps.’ That’s the first thing.” Hey, at least you’ve got mediators. If I worked with my dad and had a mental breakdown—which I definitely would—I’d have to call my mom. But, apparently his reps just told him to “chill out,” which is basically the same thing my mom would say to me in that scenario, so, I still feel bad for him.
The way he got past it is the same way we all get past conflicts with our parents, and they aren’t Rob Lowe: he remembered they’re gonna die someday.
“You should feel grateful that you get to do this for a variety of reasons. Namely this, you know, my dad won’t be around forever. It’ll be amazing that we share this together and, B, it’s hard to work in the entertainment industry.”
So, you know, enjoy your famous parents while they’re alive and can get you jobs. Unstable season 2 premieres on Netflix August 1st.