Family Drama ‘How to Survive Without Me’ Scores HBO Max Series Order

HBO Max is adding to its original series lineup — and its broadcast-esque roster of shows that run 15 episodes per season.

The streamer has picked up a drama called How to Survive Without Me, about a family dealing with the loss of its matriarch. Ray Romano, Kaley Cuoco, Joshua Jackson and Rita Wilson lead the cast of the series, which comes from writers Greg Berlanti and Bash Doran (from a story by Berlanti, Doran and Robbie Rogers).

The show, which HBO Max put into development last year, will produce 15 episodes for its first season, similar to the model followed by HBO Max’s Emmy-winning medical drama The Pitt. Also like The Pitt, How to Survive Without Me is produced by Warner Bros. Television, where Berlanti and his production company have an overall deal.

“The first show I ever created [Everwood] was a family drama, almost exactly 25 years before this one was picked up,” Berlanti said in a statement. “It’s been incredibly emotional to return to this kind of storytelling and I’m so grateful to Casey, Sarah, Joey and everyone at HBO Max for asking, to Channing, Brett and Clancy and the Warner Bros. team, and finally our brilliant cast — Ray, Kaley, Josh, Rita and the rest of our extraordinary ensemble and crew. To also co-create it with Bash and my husband, Robbie, and draw from our own families’ experiences of love and loss has made the whole show the most personal thing I’ve worked on in years.”

How to Survive Without Me follows the DeAngelis family in the wake of matriarch Beverly’s (Wilson) death. The family has “begun to drift, unsure how to manage their complicated, evolving lives without her guidance,” the logline reads, “but in true Beverly fashion, she found a way to keep running the show from the beyond. Should they wish to experience Beverly’s final work, the family must find the time — and make the effort — to remain connected and be there for each other through all of life’s challenges yet to come.”

Julia Schlaepfer, Jack Ball, Kylar Miranda, Julian Grey, Scarlett Abinante, Tommy Dewey, Matthew Kellison, Colette Porch and Ella Rubin also star. Dar Zuzovsky, Genevieve Angelson, Joe Romano, Katie Aselton, Katie Monds, Kevin Changaris, Pressley Hosbach, Richard Blackmon, Sofía Rodríguez-Toymil, and Will Yun Lee have guest roles.

“Ray Romano, Kaley Cuoco, Joshua Jackson, and Rita Wilson lead a dream cast perfect for this emotional, extraordinary story,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original programming at HBO Max. “We’re delighted to be in business again with Greg and our partners at Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television.”

Added Channing Dungey, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group and WBD U.S. Networks, “All of us at Warner Bros. Television are thrilled to have another new series from our brilliant partner Greg Berlanti and his team. This is an incredible cast bringing to life a deeply personal, heartfelt story — one filled with laughter, and the kind of warmth that makes it instantly relatable. We are excited to be part of this next chapter with HBO Max and can’t wait to bring this beautiful story to fruition.”

Berlanti and Doran executive produce How to Survive Without Me with Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman and Rogers of Berlanti Productions, Ryan O’Connell and director Daniel Minahan.

How to Survive Without Me is one of four series orders that prolific Berlanti Productions has secured in the past 18 months, all at different platforms. The company is also behind Prime Video’s horror series Stillwater (based on the comic of the same name), Netflix’s Scooby-Doo: Origins and Afterlife With Archie at Disney+.