Actor Rob Lowe is fueling the rumors surrounding his show “9-1-1 Lonestar,” after weighing in on the benefits and challenges of working with his son.
The 60-year-old, who stars and serves as executive producer for the Fox “9-1-1” television spin-off, said the network has yet to make a decision but alluded that this would be the show’s fifth and final season.
“It feels like it’s probably the end of an era of a certain type—well, it doesn’t feel like it. It is the end of an era of a certain type of show we once had an opportunity to make, and I think they’re great.”
While there has yet to be an official cancellation announcement, Lowe is proud of what the show has accomplished and the door it has left open for other similar productions to follow.
“We wanted to go out making our case for the value of shows like that, and I think we did a really good job. The stories that we were able to tell on a weekly basis in terms of the scope and scale—that’s probably the thing I’m the most proud of. They were truly like mini-movies every week,” he said.
The departure of other cast members contributed to the circulating rumors. In June, Sierra McClain, a series regular, left following reports of drama surrounding cast renegotiation, while actress Robyn Lively also expressed she would not be returning.
Meanwhile, Lowe’s son, John Owen Lowe, served as a writer on the first three seasons, and being new to the craft, he took the opportunity to learn from “some of the best.” Overall, he was thankful for the experience in being able to create unique and lovable characters.
The elder Lowe echoed that sentiment, praising his son for his work and storytelling abilities. The two noted that the process was a learning experience, finding strengths within each character and “leaning into them.”
“I don’t think there is another show on television with as diverse a cast as we had, telling the kind of diverse stories that we did. Owen was there as a way to tell those kinds of stories and I’m really proud of how we were able to do it,” Lowe said.
Aside from their success, the Lowes are no stranger to criticism, especially when working so closely with a loved one in the entertainment industry.
Critics say that John Owen received special treatment and connections to advance his career thanks to his father’s network.
“Nobody thinks twice when your kid joins the family plumbing business, or becomes a painter or an architect or a dentist, or becomes a second-generation doctor … I happily opened doors for Johnny in this business … That’s what dads do, if they can,” Lowe said to the criticism.
When asked how he handles that judgment, John said that since he chose to do a show with his father, “I made that bed, and I got to sleep in it.”
“The thing that I have learned to be grateful for and to stay mindful of is that my work ethic is what will keep me around, and actually help me find longevity in this industry. I can both be grateful for what’s been provided to me and continue to push myself,” he said.
The elder Lowe said that opportunities presenting themselves do not guarantee a successful outcome.
“But the other side of it is, they’ve got to walk through the door. It’s like, you can get them on the team, but if they don’t put points on the board, they’re going to get cut.”
