The talent on Max’s comedy-drama “Hacks” is nothing short of extraordinary. The show is well-liked by both reviewers and viewers, with veteran of the business Jean Smart leading the charge and rising sensation Hannah Einbinder at her side.
The show has won six Emmys since its 2021 premiere, with Smart winning the prize for best lead actress in a comedy series in both 2021 and 2022.
With the third season coming to an end, everyone’s eyes are focused on the upcoming Season 4, particularly on potential casting choices.
Are you capable of using the hacks to go beyond it? Everything you need to know about the show’s casting process, including acting tips from Smart and Einbinder, is included in this guide.
What does “Hacks” entail?
Stand-up comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) is determined to stay relevant and new despite her advanced age, or risk losing her residency in Las Vegas. Deborah enlists comedy writer Ava Daniels (Einbinder) to rewrite her performance in an attempt to inject some humor.
Ava is also at a crossroads in her career because of her past mistakes and tarnished reputation, which have limited her opportunities. The two women work through their personal problems and welcome a new chapter in their life together as they form a friendship and mentorship.
Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky, and Lucia Aniello created “Hacks.”
Who plays the characters in “Hacks”?
“Hacks” has a variety of humorous icons, such as:
- Deborah Vance, played by Jean Smart
- Ava Daniels played by Hannah Einbinder
- As Marcus, Carl Clemons-Hopkins
- Indelicato Mark as Damien
- Downs, Paul W., as Jimmy
- As Kayla, Megan Stalter
- As Josefina, Rose Abdoo
- Christopher McDonald in the role of Marty
- DJ Vance, played by Kaitlin Olson
- Kiki, played by Poppy Liu
- Wilson, played by Johnny Sibilly
- As Robin, Angela Elayne Gibbs
- Izzo Lorenza as Ruby
- Nina, played by Jane Adams
The greatest in the industry are among the guests on the show:
- Loretta, played by Luenell
- Winnie Landell, played by Helen Hunt
- As Weed, Laurie Metcalf
- Essman Susie as Elaine
- As Janet, Ming-Na Wen
- Jason was played by Devon Sawa.
- As Jules, Madeline Zima
- Kathy played by Linda Purl
- Craig Lloyd in the role of Larry Arbuckle
- Cliff Biff, played by Hal Linden
- Bob Lipka, played by Tony Goldwyn
- Henry Weeks, played by Stephen Tobolowsky
Who is in charge of casting “Hacks”?
The main casting directors behind “Hacks” are Jeanne McCarthy and Nicole Abellera Hallman of McCarthy/Abellera Casting (“The Mindy Project,” “Silicon Valley,” “Mythic Quest”).
McCarthy said to Spotlight that CDs frequently view plays and movies to identify new actors, but they also keep an eye on colleges and even circuses. She still has the same advice for everyone, though, once you get to the audition: “It sounds very cliche, but I would have people be themselves.”
Usually, you won’t find a character who is radically unlike yourself. When I can sense someone, emotionally connect with them, and get a sense of who they are, that’s what draws me to them.
From there, character development will take place, but my preference is to be able to interact with people authentically rather than artificially.
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How is the “Hacks” casting process conducted?
According to Statsky, co-creator of “Hacks,” the concept for the program originated at a monster truck rally, of all places. She said, “We started talking about female stand-up comedians and entertainers and women in the arts in general.”
We discussed how, in contrast to their male colleagues, who are much more readily recognized for their achievements and have more straightforward career paths, they have had to battle against a lot, keep their heads down, pound the pavement, and struggle for their careers.
We came to the realization that we truly wanted to share that woman’s tale. That served as our starting point.
Naturally, Smart sprang to mind right away. “We knew we wanted it to have a lot of humor, but we also wanted it to have some tragic and grounded moments. We were aware that [Deborah] would need to have that tone in her role,” she remarked.
Casting became very difficult as a result. “It’s not a very lengthy list when you start thinking of performers who can be so tragic, so grounded, and so real, in addition to being so humorous. Jean was the first person on that list.
The hardest thing was finding someone opposite Smart who could hold their own. Statsky described the situation as both tremendously thrilling and terrifying since he was wondering, “[Who can you get] to play opposite Jean Smart…crap.” “Should someone less talented have been cast?”
The casting team watched a ton of self-tapes before they found someone who could offer the chemistry because a large portion of the first casting process was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We persisted in our search for an actor who we believed was selling humor and drama equally well. We were quite impressed with Hannah right from her first audition. She delivered a couple of impromptu lines that revealed to us that she was a natural comedian, according to Statsky.
“It’s crazy because they were sitting, I believe, about 15 feet apart with a plastic divider between them, but as we went through the callback and testing process with Jean, their chemistry was evident.”
Naturally, as Einbinder explained to us, going on an audition with Smart involved feeling both grateful and shocked at the same time: “I went in just happy to experience the material, to read it, to add my little spin on it, and to do my little extras with it.”
I honestly had no idea that I would be cast in it the entire time. I was thinking, “Thank God I have something, a good piece of comedy, to interact with at all,” during the pandemic.
When does “Hacks” Season 4 filming begin?
Deadline reports that “Hacks” Season 4 was approved immediately following the show’s May 30 Season 3 conclusion. There isn’t a set start date as of yet, but we’ll update this article when more details on filming become available.
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Where are the auditions and casting calls for “Hacks” held?
For the most recent information on available auditions, visit our main casting page. There aren’t any open casting calls for “Hacks” Season 4 at this time.
Check out these options from current casting streamers in the interim. For extra useful guidance, we also recommend looking over our guide on how to audition for HBO, Max’s sister network, as well as these “hacks” for auditioning.
What are the top audition strategies to get a part on “Hacks”?
Accept your special combination of abilities. “If you discover and cultivate what makes you special, that will eventually pay off. Don’t be constantly worrying about what it is that they want,” Smart advised.
“With a few notable exceptions, major motion picture stars are not usually this, typically that, or gorgeous or handsome. But something about them appeals to me.
They have a certain quality that draws you in to observe them. And I believe that people can tell when you are being who you truly are. It enhances your performance interest.
Take pleasure in the entire creative process. “When you have writer’s block, don’t give up,” Einbinder advised. That just lengthens its duration. When you are sowing the seeds and harvesting the product, embrace every aspect of the creative process.
You are unable to feel irritated or angry about it. You need to give it up and take up a new pastime. Invest your time and effort on something that is completely unrelated to your work.
Go along your own route to success in the future. Carl Clemons-Hopkins wrote for us, saying, “Do not let the limitations and boundaries of the past dictate the blessing that is your future.”
“If you’re not careful, the fantasy that someone else has for you could steal your attention and alter the whole structure of your expression and imagination. Never provide someone that authority.
It’s great if someone looks at your work and wants to give you feedback. Please feel free to explore, play, and embark on adventures if someone has something useful to contribute or suggests a fresh strategy! However, go as far away from them as you can as soon as possible if their opinion of who you are or will be is based on social structures that benefit the few and a hate-based hierarchy.
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