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Los Angeles Times
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘The biggest mistake of my life': 6 actors on typecasting, comedy idols and more
Hailing from some of today's funniest TV series, six actors gathered recently for an uninhibited conversation about what it takes to make people laugh at The Envelope's Emmy Roundtable for comedy actors. In Netflix's 'Running Point,' Kate Hudson plays Isla, a woman who becomes pro basketball's first girl boss when she takes over the family franchise. In ABC's 'Abbott Elementary,' Lisa Ann Walter portrays Melissa Schemmenti, a tough grade school teacher in Philly's underfunded public education system. With Hulu's 'Mid-Century Modern,' Nathan Lane takes on the role of Bunny, an aging gay man who brings together a chosen family when he invites two friends to reside in his Palm Springs home. 'Hacks' co-creator Paul W. Downs does double duty as Jimmy, the manager to legendary comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) in the Max series. Bridget Everett, creator of HBO's 'Somebody Somewhere,' plays Sam, a cabaret singer who moves back to her family's sleepy Kansas town to take care of her dying sister. And David Alan Grier stars as Dr. Ron, a devoted physician and cranky veteran who's seen it all in the overrun ER of a small-town hospital in NBC's 'St. Denis Medical.' The talented group spoke with The Times about their respective shows, typecasting and the risks one takes to make great comedy. Read on for excerpts from our discussion — and watch video of the roundtable below. The best comedy pushes boundaries, which means it can also skirt the edge of offensive. How do you know if you've gone too far, or haven't pushed it enough? Downs: In the 'Hacks' pilot, Jean Smart's character, Deborah Vance, says there is no line. I think there's nothing off limits, because it's really about execution and thoughtfulness. The thing that makes edgy comedy not funny is when it causes harm, when it's something that's punching down, when it's not something that can bring people together. That, to me, isn't worth it. But there's nothing that's too taboo, because that's what comedy is for. It's to examine things, explore things, get close to the edge. Everett: I think that comedy is about making people feel good. I want to make people feel joy. So as long as I'm not hurting anybody's feelings, I think everything's on the table. Grier: I don't think you know the edge and that's why it's dangerous. I've done things where I thought, 'This is too much,' and things where I thought, 'We didn't go far enough.' So you have to play that game. My intention is never to anger and offend, but you do have to put yourself in that position and take a chance, especially with comedy. You can prescreen it, but who are you prescreening it to? Sixty-year-old white women? High school kids? You have to take a chance. Hudson: I'm not a stand-up [comedian], so it's fun to watch people walk that line. It's exciting. What are they going to say? Is it going to be offensive? Is it not? Is it going to be brilliant? That's part of what's fun about being an audience of adult comedy. But I don't like mean comedy. It's really hard for me to see. I've been asked to do roasts a million times, and I just can't do it. It just doesn't move me in any way. Lane: I was asked. This was the biggest mistake of my life. ... A Friars [Club] Roast that was going to happen. [Jerry Lewis] was going to be roasted. And Richard Belzer said to me, 'Oh, Nathan, would you be a part of it? Would you do it? It would mean a lot to Jerry.' And I'm like, 'Oh, yeah, sure. I'll do the roast.' And then I'm suddenly there and I'm sitting next to Paul Shaffer and Jeff Ross, who apologized in advance for what he might say. And I realized then that, 'Oh, you're not getting up and just roasting this person. You're attacked. You're on the dais.' So I thought, 'Oh, what have I gotten into?' And I had asked them, 'Please let me go first.' And I had worked out jokes. I had a couple of writers help me, and there was an initial joke, which was, 'The only reason I agreed to do this was because I thought by the time it happened, Jerry would be dead.' Walter: I'm on a show that's got a lot of kids, and families can watch it together, which was [creator] Quinta Brunson's intention. But there are things that the kids won't get and that adults get. Melissa Schemmenti gets bleeped out regularly because she curses. She's South Philly! As a comic, I only am interested in edge, that's where I want to live … It's easier to make a point and get ears when you're making people laugh. And we do that on the show quite frequently. They'll do a storyline about the school-to-prison pipeline, but it's not ham-fisted, it's not preachy. It's edgy and it's all within jokes. Anytime you're making people laugh, I think you can say whatever you want. What's the strangest or most difficult skill you've had to learn for a role? Hudson: In 'Almost Famous,' [director] Cameron [Crowe] wanted me to learn how to roll cigarettes fast with one hand. And so I was learning how to roll, and I got really good at it really fast. And then when we were doing camera tests, I was doing it and I was smoking. And he was like, 'No.' And I was like, 'What? I just spent months trying to learn how to do that!' Then I started rolling my own cigarettes and got into a really bad habit and then spent years trying to quit. Downs: On 'Broad City,' I had to learn and do parkour. It's high skill level and high risk. You know, when you jump off buildings and roll around ... [leap] off chairs and over fire hydrants. I did it, but not a lot of it ended up onscreen. Just the most comedic moments. I jumped between buildings and they didn't even put it in! Lane: When I did 'Only Murders in the Building,' they said, 'So you have a deaf son and you're going to have scenes with him in ASL [American Sign Language].' It was challenging. I had a coach and I would work with him. And the wonderful young actor, James Caverly, who is Deaf ... he was very supportive. If I had to become fluent, it would've taken six months to a year to do it well. But I had an advantage; they said, 'Oh, your character is embarrassed by having a deaf son, so he didn't learn it until later in life. So he's not that good at it.' But it was a great thing to learn. I loved it. Grier: I did an episode of a sitcom in which it was assumed, unbeknownst to me, that I was very proficient playing an upright bass. This is not true. I played cello as a child. I had to play this upright bass and as a jazz musician. It was horrible. Your fingers swell and blister and bleed. Of course, I went along with it because that's what we're all supposed to do. But by Day 4, my fingers were in great pain. I never mastered it. But I did want to ask them, 'Who told you I could play?' Everett: I did a little trapeze work, but since the knee thing, I can't anymore … [Laughs] Lane: This was the independent film about the Wallendas, right? Everett: The truth is I've never had to do anything. Really. I had to rollerblade once in a Moby video, but that doesn't seem like it's going to stack up against all this, so maybe we should just move on to the next person. I would do trapeze, though. I'll do anything. Well, not anything. Can we just edit this part out in post? Hudson: I'm in love with you. Walter: In a movie I did where I started out as the nosy neighbor, I found out that I was going to be a cougar assassin and I had to stunt drive a Mustang and shoot a Glock. It was a surprise. Literally. When I got to set, I saw my wardrobe and went, 'I think I'm playing a different character than what I auditioned for.' ... They put the car on a chain and I got T-boned. I was terrified, but then I was like, 'Let's go again!' That was the most dangerous thing until I had to do a South Philly accent as Melissa, and do it good enough so that South Philly wouldn't kill me. That was probably more dangerous. Let's talk about typecasting. What are the types of roles that frequently come to you, where you're like 'Oh, my God, not again!' Lane: Oh, not another mysterious drifter. Hudson: Rom-coms. If I can't get a job doing anything else, I can get a job doing a romantic comedy. When you have major success in something, you realize the business is just so excited [that] they want you in them all the time. It really has nothing to do with anything other than that. It's something that I'm very grateful for, but you're constantly having to fight to do different things. I'd be bored if I was constantly doing the same thing over and over again. But it's just how the business works. Once you're in that machine, they just want to keep going until they go to somebody else. Walter: I can't tell you how bored I am with being the gorgeous object of men's desire. I named my first production company Fat Funny Friend … But as a mother of four in Los Angeles, I didn't really have the luxury of saying, 'I want to branch out.' But I did say, 'Can I play someone smart?' My father was a NASA physicist. My mother was brilliant. I was over doing things I could do in my sleep, always getting the part of the woman who sticks her head out of the trailer door and goes, 'I didn't kill him, but I ain't sorry he's dead!' ... It's like, 'Can I play someone who has a college education?' And I did, finally, but it took Quinta to do it. Grier: I've found that the older I've gotten, the roles I'm offered have broadened. And I've played a variety of really challenging great roles because I'm old now. That's been a real joy because I didn't really expect that. I just thought I'd be retired. I did. So it's been awesome. Lane: There was an article written about me, it was sort of a career-assessment article. It was a very nice piece, but it referred to me as the greatest stage entertainer of the last decade. And as flattering as it was, I can find a dark cloud in any silver lining. I felt, 'Oh, that's how they see me?' As an 'entertainer' because of musicals and things [I did] like 'The Birdcage' or 'The Lion King.' I'd been an actor for 35 years and I thought, 'I have more to offer.' So I wound up doing 'The Iceman Cometh' in Chicago ... and that would change everything. It was the beginning of a process where I lucked out and got some serious roles in television, and that led to other things. But it was a concerted effort over a period of 10, 15 years, and difficult because everybody wants to put you in a box. Is it difficult in the industry to make the move between drama and comedy? Walter: It's a lifelong consternation to me that there is an idea that if you are known comedically, that's what you do. We are quite capable of playing all of the things. Grier: I remember seeing Jackie Gleason in 'The Hustler.' I loved it. He was so great. Robin Williams also did serious. I think it's actually harder when you see serious actors try to be comedians. Downs: One of the things about making 'Hacks' is we wanted to do something that was mixed tone, that it was funny and comedic but also let actors like myself, like Jean, all of these people, have moments. Because to us, the most funny things are right next to the most tragic things. Hudson: And usually the most classic. When you think about the movies that people know generation after generation, they're usually the ones that walk the line. And they're the ones that you just want to go back and watch over and over and over again. Everett: I haven't had a lot of experience with being typecast because I've been in the clubs for a long time doing cabaret. But on my show, Tim Bagley, who plays Brad … he's been doing the same characters for I don't know for how long. So we wrote this part for him, and one of the most rewarding things for me on this show was sitting behind the monitor and watching him get to have the moment he deserved ... It's one of the greatest gifts to me as a creator to have been part of that. It's a whole thing in my show. We're all getting this break together. We've all struggled to pay our rent well into our 40s. I waited tables into my 40s, but you don't give up because you love doing it. I'm sure many of you are recognized in public, but what about being mistaken for somebody else who's famous? Grier: I went to a performance of a David Mamet show on Broadway. I went backstage, and this particular day, it was when Broadway was raising money to benefit AIDS. There was a Midwestern couple there with their young son and they saw me, and the house manager said, 'This couple, they're going to give us an extra $1,000 if you take a picture with them. Would you mind?' I'm like, 'Yeah, cool.' So I'm posing and the dad goes, 'It is our honor to take a picture with you, Mr. LeVar Burton.' Now in that moment, I thought if I say no, people will die. So I looked at them and I went, 'You liked me in 'Roots?'' He said, 'We loved you.' Click, we took the picture. I'm not going to be like, 'How dare you?!' Walter: Peg Bundy I got a couple of times. But as soon as I open my mouth, they know who I am. I can hide my hair, but as soon as I talk, I'm made. Hudson: I've had a lot of Drew Barrymore. And then every other Kate. Kate Winslet, Katie Holmes ... I've gotten all of them. Walter: Do you correct them? Hudson: Never. I just say yes and sign it 'Cate Blanchett.' I'd love to know who everybody's comedic inspiration was growing up. Walter: My dad used to let me stay up and watch 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour' and 'Laugh-In.' I got to see Ruth Buzzi, rest in peace, and Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin. Jo Anne Worley. All these funny women. That's what made me think, 'You can get a job doing this, the thing that I get in trouble for at school?!' Grier: My comedy hero was Richard Pryor. I was this Black little boy in Detroit, and George Jessel would come on 'The Mike Douglas Show' and he might as well have been speaking Russian. I'm like, 'How can this be comedy?' Then I saw Richard Pryor, and he was the first comic who I just went, 'Well, this guy's hilarious.' Downs: I remember one of the first comedies that my dad showed me was 'Young Frankenstein.' I remember Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman and Madeline Kahn. All of these women. I was always like, 'They're the funniest ones.' Hudson: My era growing up was Steve Martin, Martin Short, Albert Brooks, Mel Brooks. But women were, for me, the classics. Lucille Ball. Walter: There was a time when I was growing up where women really dominated comedy. They were your mom [nods at Hudson, Hawn's daughter], Whoopi [Goldberg], Bette Midler. The biggest stars of the biggest comedies were women, and then that all went away for a really long time. I think it found its way back with Judd Apatow and then he made 'Bridesmaids.' Hudson: I tried really hard to make edgy comedy and studios wouldn't do it. They wouldn't. It took Judd to convince the studio system that women are ready. That we can handle rated-R. In the '70s and '80s, there was a ton of rated-R comedy with women. But for some reason, it just all of a sudden became like, 'Oh, there's only 1½ demographics for women in comedy.' I always felt like it was an uphill battle trying to get them made. Then I remember when Jenji [Kohan] came in with 'Orange Is the New Black.' That was really awesome. Lane: Above all, it was always Jackie Gleason for me. He was such an influence. He was hilarious, and of course, very broadly funny, but then there was something so sad. It was such pathos with him. ... He was this wonderful, serious actor, as well as being Ralph Kramden. Everett: There's nobody that taught me more about how to be funny than my mom. She just had this way of being that I have used in my live shows. It's led to where I am now. She used to wet her pants [laughing] so she had to put towels down on all the chairs in the house. She just didn't care. That shows you to not care, to go out there. I live in fear, but not when I feel like she's with me. Grier: That's the edge. You're either going to weep or you're going to [laugh] until you urinate.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
US comedy series Hacks filmed Season 4 finale in Singapore
Hacks filmed internationally for the first time in Singapore for its Season 4 finale. PHOTO: MAX SINGAPORE – Local viewers of American comedy Hacks will find some very familiar sights in the Season 4 finale which premiered on May 30 morning on Max. The episode features local hot spots like The Fullerton Hotel, Gardens by the Bay, Resorts World Sentosa, The Clifford Pier and Victoria Theatre. The Emmy-winning series stars Jean Smart as Deborah Vance, a legendary stand-up comedienne. In the finale, Deborah has to travel abroad to continue performing. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) partnered with Max and Universal Studio Group for the first time that Hacks has filmed internationally. The episode was supported by the Singapore On-Screen Fund, a joint initiative by IMDA and STB. The fund supports global film and TV productions that spotlight Singapore as a tourism and film-making destination. IMDA's assistant chief executive of media industry group Yvonne Tang said in a press statement: 'The Singapore On-Screen Fund puts our local media industry and artists on the global map by giving them the opportunity to work alongside top international players to create engaging content. It shows the strength of our creative and production capabilities, and the calibre of talent we're growing here.' Hacks creators and showrunners Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky added: 'The city's robust production capabilities were so impressive, with the Singapore production crew demonstrating exceptional thoroughness and professionalism, showing how Singapore is a world-class destination all around.' All episodes of Hacks are available on Max, the streaming platform from Warner Bros. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Will There Be a Hacks Season 5?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Season four of Hacks wraps up tonight as Deborah prepares to deal with a difficult contract negotiation in the tenth and final episode of the critically acclaimed season that earned a Certified Fresh score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it has now been revealed that the story will not end here as Max confirms the Emmy Award-winning series will return for a fifth season. Head of Max Original Programming, Sarah Aubrey, says, "Yes! More! We congratulate Hacks' singularly talented cast and crew and our great partners at Universal Television." Universal Television President Erin Underhill says, "Like Deborah Vance herself, Hacks only gets bolder, sharper, and more iconic with time. We're beyond thrilled to keep the laughter rolling with Jen, Paul, Lucia, our extraordinary cast and crew, and our partners at Max." Eric Balfour and Jean Smart in Hacks Season 4, Episode 9. Eric Balfour and Jean Smart in Hacks Season 4, Episode 9. Jake Giles Netter/Max READ: Hacks Season 4 Episode 10 – Release Date, Schedule, How To Watch Since its debut in 2021, Hacks has earned over 48 Emmy nominations, including a win for Outstanding Comedy Series for season three. Led by Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, the series follows the mentorship between their respective characters and studies the dark twists and turns of the entertainment industry. Season four wraps up tonight at 6 pm (PT)/9 pm (ET) on Max, so be sure to tune in. Will There Be a Season 5 of Hacks? Yes. It has been confirmed that Hacks will return for a fifth season. Max shares that Hacks has been a top five series in the US on the platform since season four debuted in April and a top ten series globally. Hacks Season 5 Release Date There is not yet an official release date for Hacks season five. Hacks Season 4 Finale – How To Watch You can watch the Hacks season four finale on May 29 on Max from 6 pm (PT) on May 29, 2025/9 pm Eastern Time (ET). You will need a Max subscription to watch the Hacks season four finale. Subscriptions for Max start at $9.99 per month with ads or $99.99 for the year, while a standard no-ads subscription starts at $16.99 per month or $169.99 annually. What Is Hacks About? The official synopsis for Hacks, as per IMDb, reads: Explores a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedian, and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old. The show stars Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Mark Indelicato, and Rose Abdoo.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Hacks' Renewed for Season 5 at HBO Max
There's always more Deborah Vance to go around: IndieWire can announce that beloved HBO Max series 'Hacks' has been renewed for Season 5. The Season 4 finale is set to debuts May 29 on streamer HBO Max, with Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) looking to conquer late night TV. The Emmy, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice Award-winning series is created and showrun by Emmy winners Paul W. Downs (who also stars), Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky. 'Hacks' is executive produced by Downs and Aniello via their Paulilu banner, and Statsky via First Thought Productions, as well as Emmy winners Michael Schur via Fremulon, David Miner for 3 Arts Entertainment, Morgan Sackett, and Joe Mande. The studio is Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group. More from IndieWire 'Hacks,' 'Umbrella Academy,' 'Four Seasons,' and More Filmmakers Invite Viewers Into Their Storytelling Process 'The Penguin' Director Jennifer Getzinger: Learn How to Keep Quiet | 'What No One Tells You' In addition to Smart, Einbinder, and Downs, the series stars Megan Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Mark Indelicato, and Rose Abdoo, plus Dan Bucatinsky, Helen Hunt, Tony Goldwyn, Kaitlin Olson, Jane Adams, Lauren Weedman, Christopher McDonald, Poppy Liu, Lorenza Izzo, Johnny Sibilly, Paul Felder, Polly Draper, Luenell, and Aristotle Athari. Season 4 marked the series debuts for Julianne Nicholson, Michaela Watkins, Bresha Webb, Robby Hoffman, Eric Balfour, Danny Jolles, Gavin Matts, Grover Whitmore III, Holmes, Jasmine Ashanti, Katy Sullivan, Matt Oberg, and Sandy Honig. 'We congratulate 'Hacks' singularly talented cast and crew and our great partners at Universal Television,' Sarah Aubrey, Head of Max Original Programming, said in a press statement. Erin Underhill, President of Universal Television, added, 'Like Deborah Vance herself, 'Hacks' only gets bolder, sharper, and more iconic with time. We're beyond thrilled to keep the laughter rolling with Jen, Paul, Lucia, our extraordinary cast and crew, and our partners at Max.' In total, 'Hacks' has garnered 48 Emmy nominations, including a Season 3 win for Outstanding Comedy Series. The show has been a top five series on HBO Max since its Season 4 debut in the U.S., and a top 10 series globally. According to HBO, Season 4 has been pacing as the series' best season yet and has achieved both domestic and global week-over-week growth every week so far this season. The IndieWire review for Season 4 praised the comedy series for spotlighting its stellar ensemble cast, with critic Ben Travers writing, ''Hacks' has long made room for all the voices in its ace ensemble, but no one has been able to overshadow its leads, Smart (who has three Emmys for the role) and Hannah Einbinder as Ava (who should have at least two). In part, that's because both actors are delivering impeccable work, balancing their caustic comic chemistry with course, unbridled vulnerability.' Travers teased that the Season 4 finale has its own conclusion while still making room for possible new directions, including perhaps even 'giving Poppy Liu's Kiki the DJ treatment in Season 5.' For next season, 'the floor will also always be incredibly high, given the talent involved,' Travers wrote. 'I just hope there are more rewarding fights ahead, for Deborah, for Ava, and for 'Hacks.'' Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Hacks' Renewed for Season 5 at Max
'Hacks' has been renewed for a fifth season at Max. The news comes just ahead of the Season 4 finale on Thursday, and was announced by creators and showrunners Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky at a screening in Los Angeles on Tuesday. According to Warner Bros. Discovery, Season 4 has been the series' most-watched so far, with each episode's viewership improving upon the last. More from Variety Warner Bros. Discovery, U-Next Strike Global Distribution Deal for Japanese Dramas (EXCLUSIVE) 'Iyanu' Renewed for Season 2 at Cartoon Network and HBO Max, Alongside Two New Feature Spin-Offs (EXCLUSIVE) John Oliver Compares HBO Max/Max Branding Fiasco to Trump's Renaming the Gulf of Mexico 'Hacks' follows the ups and downs in the relationship between Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a legendary comedian in her 70s, and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), an up-and-coming comedy writer who works for her. Season 4, which debuted on April 10, begins with the two at odds after Deborah becomes the host of a venerated late night talk show and Ava blackmails Deborah into giving her the head writing job she initially promised her and then took away. Along with Smart and Einbinder, the cast includes Downs, Megan Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Mark Indelicato and Rose Abdoo. Executive producers of 'Hacks' include Downs and Aniello via their Paulilu banner, Statsky via First Thought Productions, Michael Schur via Fremulon, David Miner for 3 Arts Entertainment and Morgan Sackett. Universal Television is the studio. 'Yes! More! We congratulate 'Hacks's' singularly talented cast and crew and our great partners at Universal Television,' Max's original programming head Sarah Aubrey said in a statement. 'Like Deborah Vance herself, 'Hacks' only gets bolder, sharper and more iconic with time,' said Erin Underhill, president of Universal Television. 'We're beyond thrilled to keep the laughter rolling with Jen, Paul, Lucia, our extraordinary cast and crew and our partners at Max.' Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz
