Hacks Podcast

By MaxTV & Film After Shows

Hacks Podcast episodes

May 02, 2024 Ep. 1: “Just For Laughs” with Jean Smart and Pat Regan
In the first episode of The Official Hacks podcast, Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by Jean Smart, who plays Deborah Vance. They talk about stepping back into Deborah’s heels, and her relationship with Ava. Then Hacks writer/actor Pat Regan joins the hosts to recap the episode, talk about why it was a tricky one to write, and Helen Hunt’s guest star turn.

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42 min
April 25, 2024 Coming Soon: The Official Hacks Podcast
“Hacks” is back with season 3, and so is the Official podcast! In each episode, Hacks creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky will unpack the making of the show with a special guest from the cast and crew (Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Pat Regan, Kathleen Felix-Hager, J. Smith-Cameron, and others). Listeners will hear stories from the writers’ room, on set, and the world of comedy that inspired the show. The first podcast episode drops on May 2nd, after Hacks airs on Max. The Official Hacks Podcast is produced by Max and Pineapple Street Studios.

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2 min
June 03, 2022 “The One, The Only” (With Jean Smart)
In this episode of the Hacks Official podcast Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by guest host and Hacks star Jean Smart. They talk about the high stakes for Deborah and Jimmy of shooting the comedy special in the finale. They also discuss the thinking behind Deborah firing Ava at the end of the season. Jean opens up about finding childhood idols in Phyllis Diller and in Jane Goodall. She also shares secret insights into Deborah’s backstory. At the end, Jean pitches a kidnapping for a future episode.
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39 min
June 02, 2022 “On the Market” (With Wanda Sykes)
In this episode of the Hacks Official podcast Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by guest host and Hacks fan Wanda Sykes. They talk with her about life on the road, learn Wanda’s origin story as a comic, and Wanda’s ideas for future episodes. They also bond over the painful Hollywood pitch process and pre-pitch nerves.
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32 min
May 27, 2022 “The Click” (with Rosie O’Donnell)
In this episode of the Hacks Official podcast Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by guest host and Hacks superfan Rosie O’Donnell. They talk about motherhood, aging, and what went into shooting Deborah’s intimate bedroom scene. Rosie recounts her first stand-up set, and why she stepped away from her popular daytime talk show. Plus, she shares the unsolicited advice that she gave Hannah Einbinder via Twitter DM.
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42 min
May 26, 2022 “Retired” (with Margaret Cho)
In this episode of the Hacks Official podcast Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by guest host Margaret Cho (30 Rock, All-American-Girl), who makes a cameo as herself in episode 4 of the show. They discuss competitiveness and sexism in stand-up, what makes talented comedians give it all up and unpack the mother-daughter dynamic between Ava and Deborah. Plus, Margaret shares why Joan Rivers once gave her the silent treatment and some stories from being a road comedian. We’ll also learn about a dark joke that didn’t quite make it into Deborah and Ava’s pool scene.
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45 min
May 20, 2022 "The Captain’s Wife" (with Angela Gibbs and Luenell)
In this episode of the Hacks Official podcast Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by guest hosts Angela Gibbs (On My Block, This is Us) and Luenell (The Rock, A Star is Born) who play Marcus’s Mom and her friend Loretta. Angela and Luenell share their reaction to finding out they were cast together, mishaps on set with Marcus’s new puppy and the real-life challenges of performing on a cruise ship. They also learn how the team plucked Hannah Einbinder as Ava out of a 400-person casting pool and Luenell shares experiences from her own standup career. They also share insights on what Hacks adds to the conversation about gender and sexuality and their appreciation for the show’s strides toward more inclusive casting. Plus, they’ll pitch an idea that involves the two of them getting into mischief with Marcus left to pick up the pieces.
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41 min
May 19, 2022 "Trust the Process" (with Susie Essman)
In this episode of the Hacks Official podcast Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by guest host Susie Essman (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Broad City). They discuss the bravery of going on tour, the inspiration for that souped-up tour bus, and answer, “Who the heck is Pete Wentz?”. They also reveal what Laurie Metcalf brought to the character of Weed and the origin story behind her obsession with fast food. Listeners find out why Jean Smart jumped into the dumpster and how she harbored a secret desire to be standup herself. Plus Susie shares stories from her life as a comic and a fascinating insight into why she thinks women make better standups than men.
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35 min
May 13, 2022 "Quid Pro Quo" (with D’Arcy Carden)
In this episode of the Hacks Official podcast Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined with guest host D’Arcy Carden (The Good Place, Broad City). D’Arcy is a longtime best friend and collaborator of the team and together they share their origin story. The team talks about how they decided when and how to reveal the contents of Ava’s infamous email, rich people’s love for litigation, Jean Smart’s Hacks singing debut and “sad Kayla” among other behind-the-scenes moments that bring the show to life. D’Arcy also pitches the showrunners on a big character arc for a small child.
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43 min
May 12, 2022 “There Will Be Blood” (with Hannah Einbinder)
In the first episode of the Hacks Official podcast, Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky joined by guest host Hannah Einbinder, who plays Ava. They recap the season’s first episode that picks up right where season one left off, with Ava biting her nails over her drunken email that could land her in Deborah’s vengeful grasp. The group discusses collaborating as a three person showrunner team, Jean Smart’s love of Christmas, Hannah’s improvisation on set and what it was like to shoot the episode’s major fight scene. Hannah and the showrunners will explore the choices they made that set Las Vegas’s oddest comedy duo up for a season of hard lessons, strange locations, exciting cameos and a few stand-up sets that don’t exactly go as planned.
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44 min

About Hacks Podcast

From the publisher's feed

This is the official podcast of the HBO Max series Hacks. Hacks creators and showrunners Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky return to unpack every episode of the series’ final season. And they’ll be joined by some very special guests along the way to talk about the making of the show, share behind-the-scenes stories, and look back at the Hacks journey as a whole.