Joshua Jackson is promoting his new HBO Max series “How to Survive Without Me.”
Co-created by husbands Greg Berlanti and Robbie Rogers, along with Bash Doran, the series follows a family after the death of patriarch Beverly.
“The show picks up six months after the patriarch of this big family passes away, and he writes a book for his kids that they can only read when they’re together, because he’s the glue that holds this family together,” Jackson told me at the Airbnb.org Gala in Los Angeles on Thursday. “So she reaches out from beyond the grave to her five adult children and her husband to make sure the family stays together.”
Rita Wilson will play series regular Beverly, Ray Romano will play his widow Leo, and Kaley Cuoco and Jackson will play his children Kate and Cooper.
“And then HBO, which is sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll,” Jackson said.
Ah?
“I’m too old for this nonsense,” Jackson said. “I have to keep this together.”
“I hope this show continues for a few more years, but if the pilot and the first few episodes are anything to go by,” she added, patting her belly, “I really have to stay on top of things.”
This series also marks a first for Jackson; She is forced to dye her hair for the first time to look younger.
“That’s how I know I’m getting old; it’s the first time they say, ‘Hmm, I don’t know,'” he said. “And from Greg [Berlanti]more! I’ve known him literally since I was a kid. “We were both children.”
Jackson first worked with Berlanti on “Dawson’s Creek” almost 30 years ago, starting in 1998.
The Airbnb.org gala celebrated Airbnb’s philanthropic arm, which provides free emergency shelter during the crisis. “I think it’s really cool that they’re giving back to the community,” Emily Bader, star of the upcoming “13 Going on 30” sequel, told me on the carpet. “It’s not that hard to give away what it represents.” Jimmy Kimmel hosted it, José Andrés designed the food, and Charli xcx made a surprise performance.
The star-studded guest list also includes Charlize Theron, Cynthia Erivo, Tracee Ellis Ross, Serena Williams, Paul Bettany, Matthew McConaughey, Camila Alves McConaughey, Zoe Saldaña, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Sienna Miller, Greta Lee, Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Alba, Kelly Rowland, Demi Lovato, Katie Couric, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jaden Smith, Madelyn Cline, La La Anthony, Ava DuVernay, will.i.am, Adéla, Megan Rapinoe and Quen Blackwell.
The idea for Airbnb.org began in 2012 when a host opened his home to people displaced by Hurricane Sandy. Other hosts followed, and in 2020, the effort inspired Airbnb to launch Airbnb.org, an independent, nonprofit organization. Since then, Airbnb.org has provided more than 1.6 million nights of free stay to more than 250,000 people worldwide.
“Fourteen years ago, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, a host opened his home to people who had nowhere else to go,” said Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO. This simple act of generosity turned into Airbnb.org. Since then, we’ve helped provide more than 1.6 million nights of free accommodation to people in crisis. Now when someone books a home on Airbnb, they will help someone else find a place to stay when they need it most. This is Airbnb at its best.”
Unlike most galas that involve a fundraising element or a program honoring one or two people, Airbnb threw the party to toast charity work and also announced it was donating another $500 million to Airbnb.org.