Over the past decade, everyone has gotten to know superstar actress Jean Smart who has starred in TV series like Fargo (2015), Legion (2017), Watchmen (2019) and Mare Of Easttown (2021). Having been in the business for almost 40 years, the three-time Emmy winner has done all kinds of roles, but Smart is once again getting attention for her performance as a veteran stand-up comedian who decides to change her act in HBO's comedy-drama series Hacks.
After the first season wrapped up in North America in June, fans in Thailand can now see all 10 episodes of Hacks, which recently dropped on streaming service HBO GO. Created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky, Hacks sees Smart play opposite newcomer Hannah Einbinder as two women from different generations who banter over a shared passion for the art of stand-up comedy. In addition to Smart and Einbinder, Hacks features series regular Carl Clemons-Hopkins and recurring guest stars Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald and Paul W. Downs.
The plot centres on the life of Deborah Vance (Smart), a fictional legendary Las Vegas stand-up comedian who has a residency, but her show isn't doing what it used to, so she risks losing her job. Therefore, she plans to spice things up in order to get to that next step and keep being the person she is. However, then comes 25-year-old Ava Daniels (Einbinder), a Gen Z comedy writer who is unable to find work due to being "cancelled" after a controversial tweet went viral for the wrong reasons. Ava is sent in to counter Deborah's jokes and make her relevant again. The two reluctantly team up and are forced to learn to accept and respect each other's differences along the way.
Life recently joined a roundtable interview with both stars of Hacks, where Smart and Einbinder told us about the show, and how they originally got involved with the project.
Deborah is funny, strong and doesn't care what people think about her. How much did you channel yourself into this character?
Smart: Well, my sense of humour is probably more outgoing than my actual soul. I care and think way too much about what people think of me. So I do care, you know. There's something about Deborah's sense of humour. I seem to be drawn sometimes to characters who use humour to deflect people and discomfort and pain. And maybe that is a part of me as well. But I hope I'm a lot nicer than Deborah.
Did you enjoy your roles and how important are these characters to you?
Smart: I thought this checked every box I could hope for in a role. If I could have sat down and written a list of things I wanted in my next job, this checked every single thing on the list. And I'm still kind of amazed that I am being given these incredible opportunities at this stage in my career.
Einbinder: I would say that the character of Ava is important to me. This project came at the right time. I come from a stand-up background and that went away during the pandemic without any sign of return. And this is my life now. This show revealed to me how fulfilling a new medium and acting could be as an expression of my soul through the beautifully written words that our creators provided us with and through collaboration with Jean and the rest of our cast. And so, this character, especially as a young queer character, was important to me and I'm glad she exists.
Jean, as this is the first show you worked on with Hannah, what was your first impression of her?
Smart: Well, they sent me some tapes of a young actress and also I looked up Hannah's stand-up material and I was impressed. So, I said this girl definitely has to be in the final mix. Not long after, we met in person and under strange circumstances because it was at the height of the pandemic but we met in a giant football-field-sized empty soundstage. It sort of looked like a bad detective movie where there's a lamp and two chairs. Then, they put Plexiglas between us. They wanted to see a picture of us sitting next to each other and how we looked physically together. But she was always my first choice, so I was thrilled when they cast her.
What were your guys' reactions when you first read the scripts?
Einbinder: Well, it made me laugh. Since I was reading a lot of scripts, none made as big an impression as this 30-page piece. It was outrageously clear, funny, and deep. As I was turning every single page, I was blown away. What struck me most about it was just how laugh-out-loud funny it was. And keep in mind, I was home alone in my bedroom but still laughing out loud.
Smart: The balance of the humour and the pathos in the story for both women is just pitch-perfect I think. I mean yes, we want to make people laugh and entertain but when you get to find out about these women's personal problems and obstacles in their lives, it just seemed like it had everything.
Hacks is a show about stand-ups and while I understand that Hannah is experienced in the stand-up scene in real life, Jean, I want to know was there anything difficult about taking the patterns and rhythms you learned as a stand-up and applying them to a character?
Smart: I think I was looking forward to that part of it. It was so much fun and I've always loved watching comedians. I didn't particularly do any research because I knew it had to be my own creation. I couldn't copy somebody else's rhythms and patterns. And I think most actors are really good mimics, so I'm just a copycat. But it was just so much fun. I mean I didn't get to have an actual audience and in most of those scenes, it was just a few crew members.
Einbinder: Jean is a natural and I still maintain that Jean is a comedian at heart. She imbued natural rhythms as she is a naturally hysterical storyteller.
Can you share your most memorable scenes in Hacks or any interesting moments behind the scenes?
Smart: One of my favourite scenes is the very first one where you see us meet for the first time at Deborah's house. This was also the scene we auditioned together. So, that scene actually got the most rehearsal. It's like you're cringing while watching because these two people are from very different worlds but they meet and it's painful but also fun to watch. However, the fact Ava isn't completely cowed by Deborah and stands up to her is a fun surprise. It was kind of shocking to Deborah because nobody does that or nobody stands up to her. And then that's why the story begins.
