While working on the third season of Ryan Murphy’s first responders drama 9-1-1 Lone Star, John Owen Lowe kept having the same conversation with his manager and agent. After years as a writer on the series, which his father Rob Lowe  stars in and executive produces, John Owen felt like he was “going insane” working so closely with his dad.  

“I couldn’t get out of his shadow,” John Owen tells Tudum. “[My manager and agent] would laugh at my pain, but also point out that it wasn’t just me — that it was a relatable concept for others.” 

So the team came up with the only sensible answer: John Owen should make a show with his ever-present old man. And the father-son duo should star in it together. The final product became sitcom Unstable, co-created by the Lowes alongside Santa Clarita Diet boss Victor Fresco. Rob plays the lovably narcissistic superstar Ellis Dragon, dad to John Owen’s quick-witted Jackson, who rolls his eyes even as he follows in his father’s footsteps. Although Rob and John Owen may be actors, Ellis and Jackson are biotech geniuses.

“When you’re lost in a forest, sometimes the only way to get out is to go deeper. You know what I mean?” John Owen asks wryly. That kind of thinking brought the 27-year-old the biggest “learning experience” of his life. 

What inspired you to make Unstable? 
Growing up with a dad in the spotlight, I quickly learned that in order to survive his ego I had to humble him. Once the world started to catch on to this dynamic [on social media] and enjoy it, it opened the door to continue my journey of humiliating him. Only now I am fortunate enough to do it on TV.

When did you realize people enjoyed your relationship enough to build a show around it? 
Although we’d known there was demonstrated interest around the way that I give my dad a hard time — the interpersonal humbling of a narcissistic man — we couldn’t ever quite figure out the TV angle of it. I never really thought about diving deeper into the belly of the beast with him.

Then it dawned on me that the angle was to try and highlight how insane our dynamic is through a lens that others can, and I think do, relate to — which is how parents are always so annoying to their children.

And what’s one surprising way you relate to your character? 
I’m also a musician, I play the piano. Jackson plays the flute, which is something I would never do. No offense.

Why did you pick an instrument for Jackson that wasn’t the instrument you play?
I will credit the masterful Victor Fresco — the flute was his idea. We thought that the flute was having a resurgence, perhaps thanks to Lizzo. It’s also a funny instrument. It’s hard to look cool playing the flute. 

Lizzo does it, but there’s not many other people who can do it. I certainly can’t.

If you twerked as you played the flute, that might help. 
You know what? You’re onto something nice. I’m going to go back to the drawing board with that.

Although you’ve appeared in projects like The Grinder and Holiday in the Wild, this is your first time in a leading role. What was that like for you as an actor? 
It was definitely a learning experience for me. There’s not a whole lot that could prepare you for carrying something like this with as much work, as much energy and as many emotions that go into it. You inevitably become so invested in it that it’s just draining, but in a good way. 

I feel very fortunate that my first leading job was on this show, because it was something that was so personal to me. And I did have my dad there, both fortunately and unfortunately. So I had a lot of support.

You were also an executive producer on Unstable, which only brings you closer to the project. 
It’s funny. It’s definitely more taxing, but executive producing was what I felt prepared to do. Before I found my niche in writing and acting, I really, really invested myself in [production]. I was an assistant to a director for a summer. I was a production assistant on many different sets and in writers’ rooms. I got to really experience firsthand what it takes to make a show or run a movie. I'm fortunate that I had a certain appreciation for every facet of the process. 

In between all that work, you definitely needed some downtime. So who was your best friend on set? 
My best friend on set was my dad! 

I am blinking in Morse code. Please help me.

This interview has been edited and condensed. 

Unstable TeaserWatch Lowe and his son/co-star John Owen explain how their off-screen dynamic led to their new show.