What do you think people will enjoy about Hux’s show?
Paul and Lucia and Jen talked about how these so many extremely talented female comedians didn’t get quite the same as their male counterparts. And in terms of building the Jean Smart character, Deborah Vance, I think it was really great for them to portray this woman who’s been doing it forever. A dope comedian and a decidedly pioneering entertainer. She is pushed aside because she is an older woman that the entertainment industry has never smiled so kindly at.
So it was very cool to meet Jean..I’m not going to talk outside of school, but Jean Smart is a national treasure, so to give her that platform…and exercise everything.. Hilarious muscles she can, and she’s so sad and tortured and so angry and resentful, but it all comes from a place of self-loathing. And I think Hannah Einbinder, who does a great job as her millennial counterpart Ava, is a fun representation of that kind of buddy comedy. While I can’t think of another show that perfectly did what Hux did that way.
When you think about Hacks and PEN15, what have you learned from your work over the last few years? Whether it’s your actual role or just working with castmates, what do you remember?
Maya, Anna, and I went to college together, so we’ve been friends since we were 19. And Anna started dating my best friend who’s also a really great writer, so we’re all on the same page. It’s the ability to work together like that. And I think they were celebrated to the point where they were nominated for an Emmy and have truly created the best comedy on television. It’s a lot of fun to see you.
On the same level…they were great when they were 19 and nothing has changed. So, not only do we see it succeed in the world, but in being nominated we also see that upper echelon truly recognized by their peers and the industry. It was so wonderful. I don’t know them to some degree, but I’m very close with Paul, Lucia, and Jen, and I see everything that happens in Hacks. I mean, I’ve been rooting for both shows because the people involved love them. I think they are incredibly talented, incredibly funny, really intelligent storytellers. So it was thrilling to see both of these shows take over the comedy landscape last year. But it’s also because I love them, and most of all, because they deserve it.
This savvy and experienced actor has all the right attributes to make him a bigger star than he is now. , can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.
