When season three of Hacks premiered May 2, it had been two years since a new episode dropped on Max. The hiatus wasn’t an unprecedented length — Severance, anyone? — but it presented a potential challenge to the showrunners: how to elevate the season enough to recapture viewers’ attention while staying true to the heart of the show. But according to the trio behind Hacks (longtime comedy partners Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello), they knew during production that they were clearing the hurdle. “One of the people who is a great barometer for us is Jean Smart, since she’s been working so prolifically for so long,” says Downs. “So when she says to us, ‘This is the best episode we’ve ever done,’ it’s just, wow.” Adds Aniello: “We really listen to her; it’s always, ‘What does Jean think?’ ”
So, which episode did Jean say was the best you’ve ever done?
PAUL W. DOWNS “Bulletproof,” the season finale. She felt like it had the highest highs and the lowest lows and the most amount of emotion we’ve ever done. I think it was such a juicy episode for the actors, and as we were shooting, we could feel how special it was.
How many versions of the last line [after Ava reveals she’s blackmailing Deborah to become head writer] said by Hannah Einbinder’s character (“I would, wouldn’t you?”) did you go through?
JEN STATSKY That might have been in the first draft, to be honest. It came very quickly — sometimes that’s good, sometimes that’s bad, but in this case, it felt like fewer words meant more. “I would, wouldn’t you?” is something we’ve been carrying with us for a while. I also think that might have been the first take, too. We did multiple takes, but that very first one, they both really locked in.
DOWNS That was also day one of us coming back from the strike.
STATSKY If there were any first-day-back jitters, I think it played in the anxiety of the scene.
Has the process of talking to press and fans about this season changed the way you think about any of the show’s themes?
DOWNS I’ll speak just for me. We love the twist at the end, and we felt like it was the right thing to do for the characters, but I have to say that I had a lot of anxiety around how people would feel about that. Disharmony between Deborah and Ava can sometimes not be people’s favorite thing. It was always the right thing for the story and the characters, and we’ve been building to it for a long time, but you just never know if everyone’s going to be like, no, be friends. But then the amount of people who are lit up by it has been really exciting. People were so stoked on Ava making that move, and it felt really good.
STATSKY I agree with what Paul said, and I also think in watching it back, it really feels like there’s this wonderful ensemble. Jean and Hannah are so good, but we had all the characters rallying around Deborah’s cause this season to achieve this huge goal of hers. I didn’t even know how affected I would be by watching this ensemble performance. I feel so lucky to work with that caliber of actors across the board.
Where do you look for feedback on the show, to take the temperature of how viewers are reacting to and connecting with the material?
DOWNS One thing that always stands out is when people approach you and say it got them through a hard time, those moments are so touching. But I think it’s also been wild to see that this season, moreso than any other, people are talking to us about getting their dad into it, or they watched with their teen daughter who now thinks her grandma is more cool. It’s been a delight that people of every age, gender, orientation can connect to it.
Paul, you’re nominated for the first time for your acting work on the show. Will this change your now well-documented proclivity for cutting your own lines first?
DOWNS I don’t think it will change. I’m thrilled and honored, but as a writer, we all care so much about story so I’m always going to be pushing for what’s best in the writing and not what’s best for my character. It’s this interesting thing I do where I’m like, no, give that line to somebody else. But I’m already the luckiest person to even make this show so I don’t need to fight for more than I have.
Which scene from the season was the hardest to crack?
LUCIA ANIELLO In terms of writing, I would say the big argument in “Bulletproof” was the thing that had to be really worked on. Ava comes in with so much anger, and Deborah has her point of view, but then we had to get Ava to go from such a place of anger to so vulnerable and then to hurt. They both had to be able to unload, and we wanted to make sure it felt like you could understand where they’re coming from even if you didn’t agree with either or both of them. And the most technically difficult was the premiere’s opening drone shot that works it way through the casino. This was done completely practically, without effects, so it was very complicated to execute.
Do you have a favorite joke or bit from this season?
ANIELLO It’s so hard to say. I know I’m biased, but Paul’s performance on “Leave us alone!” in the finale makes me absolutely scream every single time. Being around Paul, that’s something people now yell at him all the time.
Is anyone challenging you to pickleball?
DOWNS Oh, god. Actually it’s so funny, a couple people have been like, let’s go play pickleball. I’m like — we could get a coffee? I’m not great at pickleball, but it is fun. I’ll say that I get why people are so into it.
As we see Deborah sitting down to the table with her late night show writers before the end credits roll, how much is she going to have to contend with the concept of the glass ceiling next season? Could her show already be doomed? Essentially, I’m asking if the networks have fucked her.
DOWNS We’re all scared to respond. But let’s just say … you’re a smartie. (Laughs.)
STATSKY Call it astute viewing.
Okay, I’ll pivot to something you actually can answer. Which do you think we’ll see first: a female late night host or a female president?
DOWNS Wow. I think President.
ANIELLO I would love it to be President.
DOWNS Yeah, President. Can you believe that?
STATSKY I think President too, wildly. Which is crazy because there’s multiple late-night shows and only one President.
This story first appeared in an August stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
