Latest news with #ILoveLA
Forbes
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
'Hacks' Actor Mark Indelicato Says Jean Smart 'Wants Everyone To Win'
Jean Smart and Mark Indelicato in "Hacks" A lot went down on Thursday's new episode of Hacks, but one of the most memorable moments was when Deborah Vance (played by Jean Smart) had an unexpected night out with her dutiful and high-strung assistant, Damien (played by Mark Indelicato). What began as an impromptu dinner quickly escalated into a playful heart-to-heart, followed by Damien and Deborah deciding to stop at a gay club, where dancing and a minor accident ultimately ensued. Reflecting on the episode titled 'I Love LA,' Indelicato, 30, opened up about his character Damien finally getting to 'let his hair down' and have some fun on the hit Max comedy series. Mark Indelicato in "Hacks" Indelicato said, 'One of the greatest joys of even filming that club scene was when they said to Jean Smart - Okay, we're going to have to put you in the cage. You know, just hearing that being said to the actress Jean Smart is kind of hilarious. We're going to do 'the poppers thing,' Jean. You're going to pass out from poppers right now. I really have always dreamed about having a slow-motion dance moment. I was very jealous of Jean and Hannah [Einbinder] Jean Smart in "Hacks" Having now worked alongside Smart for multiple seasons, what is it about the 3-time Emmy winner for Hacks that makes her such a quality scene partner? 'I don't necessarily think that her being an amazing scene partner is necessarily derived from her having such a huge legacy in Hollywood,' Indelicato said. 'I think that there are seasoned actors that are not very good scene partners. I think that like fame and celebrity and notoriety could yield maybe not being as good of a scene partner, but she shows up. I think that one of the things that - and this extends beyond Jean - but I think that Jean being the actress that she is - number one on the call sheet vibes - is like she wants everyone to win. Everyone wants everyone to get a laugh. Everyone wants everyone to feel good about the work that we're making. I think that Jean leading the charge in that is extremely palpable. I find her to just be a great scene partner because she wants to win, and that's implicitly understood.' Prior to joining Hacks, Indelicato was no stranger to television productions. For four seasons, he played America Ferrera's nephew Justin on Ugly Betty (2006-2010), though I wondered what it is for him that makes this Hacks production, with the show's creators Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, as well as his cast and crew, a truly different group within entertainment television today. (Left to right) Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Rose Abdoo, Mark Indelicato, Jen Statsky, Hannah Einbinder, ... More Jean Smart, Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter attend the screening of "Hacks" during PaleyFest LA 2025 at Dolby Theatre on March 28, 2025 in Hollywood, California. Indelicato said, 'Hacks is the closest that I've ever come to like an Ugly Betty situation, where we are all still genuinely friends - where we were in a situation where everyone was encouraged to win and wanted everyone else to win in the process. When you're crafting comedy, I think that setting each other up for the laugh or for the moment, you see that on-screen. Especially with television shows that are so beloved, I think that people can tell if you like each other, you know? I've been on shows where people don't like each other. I think that is part of the demise of any kind of program, especially in making comedy. I think that Paul, Lucia and Jen are just extremely incredible collaborators between the three of them, of course, but also in encouraging our own ideas are also heard. Perhaps not accepted, but heard - and that's okay, because by the way, they're always right.' With 48 Emmy nominations and 9 wins so far, the evolving Hacks storyline continues to turn heads and grab the attention of audiences from all walks of life. So, how does Indelicato feel that the show keeps raising the bar, while bringing something new and fresh to keep viewers engaged? Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder and Michaela Watkins in "Hacks" 'Gosh, I'm just such a fan of the show,' Indelicato said, 'So sometimes, it's almost a moment where I'm like - Oh my God, I would be watching this show, especially if I wasn't on it. It's hard for me to watch myself act, but I think that women, just the generational gap between Deborah and Ava, and the ways in which they fight and they argue - but yet, they need each other. There's something about this kind of weird female friendship is something that I think that we are, as a culture, like really interested in and powerful women taking control of their lives. I'm just really stoked to be a part of it, to be honest. Literally, every time that we watch the episodes, I'm like - You guys are doing an amazing job. Wow, I can't believe that I'm in this show.' Being a show that is largely centered around the funny, touching and sometimes rocky friendship between Deborah, a veteran comedian, and Ava, a rising star writer, I had to bring up with Indelicato the consistent chatter across social media from many loyal Hacks fan, whom often question (and some vocally hoping for) more to this female bond than meets the eye. Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart in "Hacks" Indelicato said, 'Listen - I think that it was [Stephen] Colbert that asked Hannah Einbinder this recently. Do I want them to kiss again? Yes, I do - and not in a dream. Of course, I do. That would be hot - but do I think that it actually pushes the story forward? Absolutely not. I think that platonic love is something that's also really interesting to watch, and the tumultuous nature of their platonic love. Yeah, no - I don't see that being a thing, but if it was, I'm locked in!' At the very end of this latest Hacks 'I Love LA' episode, the show took a moment to honor the victims and first responders of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Being a television production that films a majority of its scenes across the Southern California region, I was curious what it means to Indelicato to support his entertainment community and film in an area that needs to see more production jobs returning. 'I grew up most of my life in Los Angeles and I think that everyone, every single Los Angelino, whether or not your house burnt down or anything of the like, we were all affected by the fires. We all know people, even if we still have our home, we know people that lost their home - and watching our city burn, literally, was probably the most harrowing experience of my life. In terms of rebuilding Los Angeles, we need productions to be here. We need to support the main industry of Los Angeles, which is Hollywood - which is production. I love shooting in Los Angeles - not to say that other places are not perfectly lovely, in terms of production, but I love being home - and I think a lot of people love just being home. I guess that's such a simple sentiment, like I love LA. It's like enough - I love Los Angeles.' Concluding the conversation with Indelicato, I left the Hacks actor with one final question - What would you say to your character, Damien, if only you could? What does he need to hear, that you are seeing from the outside in? Mark Indelicato in "Hacks" Indelicato said, 'You know, it's funny because I feel like he kind of gets it in this episode of just like - Loosen up, dude. Jesus! Calm down - just hang out. I think that's what I would say to him. Cool off, dude. You're doing a lot right now.'
CNN
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
‘Hacks' stars and creators feel they're a family ‘forged in fire' after Covid, Hollywood strikes and LA fires
Themes like job loss, death, aging, family dysfunction and generational divide may not sound like comedy material, but the Emmy-winning series 'Hacks' manages to find the laughs around life's roadblocks. Ahead of the Season 4 premiere next week, star Jean Smart – who plays feisty comedienne-turned-late night host Deborah Vance on the series – talked about how that dichotomy is drawn from real life at a recent press conference. 'We've all had that in our own lives. You know, tragedy and comedy. I mean, that's just what life is,' she shared, emphasizing the value of being able 'to do that and to still have the tone of the show be essentially kind of fun and joyous.' 'But then the reality of, there's always the flip side of the coin,' she added. The cast and crew of 'Hacks' were in production on Season 1 during the Covid pandemic, they navigated the dual strikes that hobbled Hollywood in 2023, and faced the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles earlier this year. 'I think we have been through a lot together,' the show's co-creator and costar Paul W. Downs said, pointing out that 'Hacks' is 'a show that was made pre-vaccine.' 'We started out wearing two masks and a shield, and being six feet away from each other. And I think it's kind of like we're forged in fire,' he continued. 'And I feel like what we've experienced as a family, as 'Hacks' family, has just made us closer. It's just made the work better.' 'I think every film and television show, they say is a miracle, and it's true,' Downs added. 'It takes a huge community of people. But I think, weirdly, when you're on a show or you're on a set where you do have all of these hurdles, and you can see them tangibly, it just bonds you and brings you closer together.' Downs plays Deborah and Ava's overwhelmed agent Jimmy in 'Hacks.' Offscreen, he is married to series co-creator Lucia Aniello. (Jen Statsky is the third co-creator and writer on the series). 'Comedy and tragedy exists sometimes simultaneously in life,' Downs said. 'It weirdly has reflected, I think, the tone of the show, the things we've gone through because we're making a comedy, but we've been through, you know, pandemics and fires and deaths and all kinds of things.' Wildfires are referenced in Season 4, which sees Deborah and company relocate from Las Vegas to Los Angeles in order for her to start hosting her late-night show. After an episode titled 'I Love LA,' a title card appears in tribute to the filming location used for Deborah's LA abode, a pink mansion built around 1930, according to Smart, that was destroyed in this year's fires. 'It's been sitting there and hasn't been touched by fire in 100 years almost. And it burned. And it was really sad,' Smart shared. 'We had just, just finished shooting there, I think the week before or something? And to envision those beautiful rooms and that beautiful fountain and the back, the yard and the couple that lived there and their dog – I mean, they're safe, thank God – but yeah, that was shocking.' Einbinder highlighted how these experiences have brought the show team closer, some of whom she said have known each other since high school. 'We have a crew that is such a cohesive group. And every department is so close and there's so much love,' she said. 'We have, as a collective – beyond just us on the stage – we have as a collective come together and really gotten close in a way that I am told is not really the industry standard, frankly.' 'Like we all really go through it side by side. It's really, really special to be a part of it,' she later added. 'Tragedy, in the good times, throughout everything. Like we really have something special.' Smart echoed the sentiment. 'I think that the crew is as proud of the show as we are, even though they don't get the accolades and the attention and the acknowledgment,' she observed. 'The fact that they virtually – almost to a man – come back every season because they like being on our show is really heartwarming, flattering.' Season 4 of 'Hacks' premieres on Max on April 10 at 6:00 p.m. PT/9:00 p.m. ET. Max, like CNN, is a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery.
CNN
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
‘Hacks' stars and creators feel they're a family ‘forged in fire' after Covid, Hollywood strikes and LA fires
Themes like job loss, death, aging, family dysfunction and generational divide may not sound like comedy material, but the Emmy-winning series 'Hacks' manages to find the laughs around life's roadblocks. Ahead of the Season 4 premiere next week, star Jean Smart – who plays feisty comedienne-turned-late night host Deborah Vance on the series – talked about how that dichotomy is drawn from real life at a recent press conference. 'We've all had that in our own lives. You know, tragedy and comedy. I mean, that's just what life is,' she shared, emphasizing the value of being able 'to do that and to still have the tone of the show be essentially kind of fun and joyous.' 'But then the reality of, there's always the flip side of the coin,' she added. The cast and crew of 'Hacks' were in production on Season 1 during the Covid pandemic, they navigated the dual strikes that hobbled Hollywood in 2023, and faced the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles earlier this year. 'I think we have been through a lot together,' the show's co-creator and costar Paul W. Downs said, pointing out that 'Hacks' is 'a show that was made pre-vaccine.' 'We started out wearing two masks and a shield, and being six feet away from each other. And I think it's kind of like we're forged in fire,' he continued. 'And I feel like what we've experienced as a family, as 'Hacks' family, has just made us closer. It's just made the work better.' 'I think every film and television show, they say is a miracle, and it's true,' Downs added. 'It takes a huge community of people. But I think, weirdly, when you're on a show or you're on a set where you do have all of these hurdles, and you can see them tangibly, it just bonds you and brings you closer together.' Downs plays Deborah and Ava's overwhelmed agent Jimmy in 'Hacks.' Offscreen, he is married to series co-creator Lucia Aniello. (Jen Statsky is the third co-creator and writer on the series). 'Comedy and tragedy exists sometimes simultaneously in life,' Downs said. 'It weirdly has reflected, I think, the tone of the show, the things we've gone through because we're making a comedy, but we've been through, you know, pandemics and fires and deaths and all kinds of things.' Wildfires are referenced in Season 4, which sees Deborah and company relocate from Las Vegas to Los Angeles in order for her to start hosting her late-night show. After an episode titled 'I Love LA,' a title card appears in tribute to the filming location used for Deborah's LA abode, a pink mansion built around 1930, according to Smart, that was destroyed in this year's fires. 'It's been sitting there and hasn't been touched by fire in 100 years almost. And it burned. And it was really sad,' Smart shared. 'We had just, just finished shooting there, I think the week before or something? And to envision those beautiful rooms and that beautiful fountain and the back, the yard and the couple that lived there and their dog – I mean, they're safe, thank God – but yeah, that was shocking.' Einbinder highlighted how these experiences have brought the show team closer, some of whom she said have known each other since high school. 'We have a crew that is such a cohesive group. And every department is so close and there's so much love,' she said. 'We have, as a collective – beyond just us on the stage – we have as a collective come together and really gotten close in a way that I am told is not really the industry standard, frankly.' 'Like we all really go through it side by side. It's really, really special to be a part of it,' she later added. 'Tragedy, in the good times, throughout everything. Like we really have something special.' Smart echoed the sentiment. 'I think that the crew is as proud of the show as we are, even though they don't get the accolades and the attention and the acknowledgment,' she observed. 'The fact that they virtually – almost to a man – come back every season because they like being on our show is really heartwarming, flattering.' Season 4 of 'Hacks' premieres on Max on April 10 at 6:00 p.m. PT/9:00 p.m. ET. Max, like CNN, is a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Critical Role to Host One-Shot D&D Livestream to Benefit L.A. Wildfire Relief: ‘Let's Do Some Chaotic Good'
Critical Role announced a special live one-shot D&D adventure aimed at continued fundraising for wildfire recovery efforts in L.A. Critical Role will host a 'chaotic and interactive' one-shot charity livestream titled 'Freaky Thursday,' featuring Bells Hells, the characters from its third D&D campaign played by Ashley Johnson, Marisha Ray, Taliesin Jaffe, Travis Willingham, Sam Riegel, Laura Bailey and Liam O'Brien, with game master Matthew Mercer. Critical Role — whose fans are affectionately called 'Critters' — is behind the hit Amazon Studios animated series 'The Legend of Vox Machina.' More from Variety LeVar Burton, Alison Brie, Scott Derrickson Among Supporters of Petition Urging Increased Production Incentives Amid L.A. Fires 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' Post-L.A. Fires Episodes Led Last Week in Late Night With Key 18-49 Demo Bright Eyes, Andrew Bird and More to Perform for 'I Love LA' Eaton Fire Relief Concert The Freaky Thursday adventure will be livestreamed on Critical Role's membership service Beacon, as well as its Twitch and YouTube channels, starting Thursday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. PT. Through Critical Role's Tiltify page (at this link), fans can donate or purchase rewards that directly shape the story — and story elements with the most donations will take center stage in the adventure. The group has set a goal of raising $180,000. Each fundraising milestone reached will unlock unique surprises, including 'new allies, unexpected adversaries or even character sheet swaps, ensuring an unpredictable and exciting adventure shaped entirely by the community's contributions,' Critical Role said. 'Let's do some Chaotic Good. <3,' O'Brien posted Monday on X about the charity one-shot. The charity livestream will go toward organizations providing on-the-ground aid throughout Los Angeles: California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund, Latino Community Foundation and the L.A. Fire Department Foundation, In addition 10% of each donation will be 'stashed into our overall emergency fund, which allows CRF to send help quickly in the event of a future unforeseen natural emergency,' the company said. Through its Critical Role Foundation nonprofit arm, the company has already contributed $30,000 from its emergency fund to the California Community Foundation's Wildfire Recovery Fund. Fans can continue to support Critical Role's wildfire relief efforts through Feb. 28 by donating directly to the Critical Role Foundation as well as purchasing CRF-branded merchandise through Critical Role's online shop. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in February 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in January 2025
