Pickleball, punchlines, and personal growth: ‘Hacks' stars Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs on their bond and what's next

When Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs stepped onto a pickleball court for a recent Gold Derby interview it was a full-circle callback to a fan-favorite scene from Max's critically acclaimed comedy Hacks. In the Season 3 episode, their characters — eccentric talent agents Kayla and Jimmy — hilariously face off against a TV network president played by Helen Hunt in a match that became a standout moment for fans.
'We trained, we had a coach,' Downs said, laughing. Stalter chimed in: 'Yes, I loved our classes.'
More from GoldDerby
'That feeling of having a first crush': How Zach Cherry and Merritt Wever made their 'Severance' marriage feel real
Brandon Scott Jones on CBS' 'Ghosts': 'I enjoy playing characters that are desperate'
Critics hail Celine Song's 'Materialists' as an 'exquisitely made' modern love story - not a 'glossy romantic comedy'
The blend of sharp comedy and heartfelt connection has propelled Hacks through four acclaimed seasons, with a fifth officially confirmed. The series follows Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a legendary comedian, who partners with Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), a young, edgy writer, to revitalize her act. Created by Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky, Hacks has garnered widespread acclaim for its witty writing, emotional depth, and standout performances including 48 Emmy nominations and 9 wins. For Downs, who also serves as co-creator, writer, and director, he says the recognition means a lot to him and the entire cast and crew.
'I think it was really special last season, having the series win, because our show is made by so many people. To share that with everybody was so gratifying, whether it's our cinematographer or a costume designer or a production designer, everybody that makes the show really cares about the show, watches the show and loves the show. For them to feel like they were part of what was recognized by people, it's incredibly gratifying,' he says.
While Hacks delivers sharp humor, it consistently engages with deeper themes. 'We feel like a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,' Downs explained. 'Every season does explore something.' Season 4, for example, delves into the changing landscape of television, focusing on Deborah Vance's pursuit of a late-night talk show. Downs adds that the series also centers around characters who don't always fit in.
'I think for Jimmy and Kayla for example, they're outsiders just as much as Deborah and Ava are in the first season. They don't really fit in at Latitude, at this management company. So they leave and strike out on their own to start up their own thing. And Deborah and Ava are both two people who are kind of ostracized to the desert. So the show's really about people who are on the outside and are striving for dignity and doing that through the connection that they have, which is their work, whether that be writing comedy or representing comedy.'
HBO Max
Still, no matter how big the theme, the emotional center of the series remains with its characters and their relationships.
Stalter, whose breakout turn as the wildly unfiltered Kayla has made her a fan favorite, is especially proud of her character's growth. 'She started off being the assistant who's kind of messing up. I feel like now she's secretly saving the day. She's like a secret genius,' she said. 'Their friendship's grown so much. I think it meant so much to Kayla when Jimmy steps in and chooses her, and that's all she's really wanted.'
Downs echoed the sentiment. 'They both really care about doing a good job, I think, for each other in a lot of ways,' he said. 'And I love that Kayla is such a free character, which is a lot like Meg. Meg is such a fearless actor and so free.'
That admiration carries into their viewing habits, too. 'I'm in a scene, I'm running over to laugh at the scene we just did,' Stalter said. 'I don't have any shame about it. It's so funny. He is so funny. Why wouldn't I want to see it twice?'
As they look ahead to Season 5, the closeness among the cast and crew remains central — a bond strengthened through shared hardships, including COVID, the L.A. fires and Jean Smart's heart attack in 2023. 'We've gone through a lot as a cast and a crew. We've definitely gotten closer,' Downs said.
Though Hacks has no shortage of Emmys, the cast is just as thrilled by fan responses. 'I've seen so many TikTok edits,' Stalter said. 'I'm tearing up at the fan edits of Deborah and Ava. I'm like, the show is so good. I am crying over the TikTok video.'
When it comes to who might win a real-life Hacks cast pickleball tournament, Downs has a few ideas.
'I bet Hannah [Einbinder] would be good. She is very athletic. She was a cheerleader," he said. Stalter chimed in, 'I could see Jean [Smart] being good too. I feel like I'd get intimidated on the court playing against her.'
Still, Downs had one final pick: 'Christopher McDonald — he's a great golfer and he plays tennis, too. I bet he'd be really good.'
Best of GoldDerby
Brandon Scott Jones on CBS' 'Ghosts': 'I enjoy playing characters that are desperate'
'She's got tunnel vision': Wendi McLendon-Covey reveals what she loves most about her character Joyce on 'St. Denis Medical'
Marlon Wayans on laughing through tragedy in 'Good Grief' and why social media has made comedy 'toxic'
Click here to read the full article.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Time​ Magazine

3 hours ago

• Time​ Magazine

Materialists Exposes the Inhumanity of Modern Dating

Matchmaking has been an unpaid cultural practice all over the world for millennia, but over time it has become a booming industry. More and more of my dating clients either inquire about my opinion about matchmaking or share that they have used a matchmaking service in the past. One client even had a matchmaker solicit her on LinkedIn with promises of her 'perfect match.' This increased interest in an explosion of matchmaking is due in part to the popularity of shows like Million Dollar Matchmaker, Jewish Matchmaking, Indian Matchmaking, and Muslim Matchmaker. These shows highlight the culturally specific ways that matchmakers can help daters find long-lasting love and the benefits of trusting someone else with the process. That's why Celine Song's new film, Materialists, has come out at such an interesting moment. As people consider their relationships with matchmakers and dating in general, the movie exposes the underbelly of the matchmaking industry. (Spoilers are ahead!) Materialists deftly uses matchmaking to show us just how much modern dating has become an inhumane and often unfair playground that benefits the rich. Throughout the movie, we witness hopeful clients disclosing their unfiltered ageist, classist, racist, and fatphobic requests for partners, all while their matchmaker Lucy, played by Dakota Johnson, listens intently and empathetically. That is, until her career is upended by the revelation that one of her clients, Sophie, has been sexually assaulted by a man who Lucy matched her with—a man whose credentials all turned out to be lies. While attending the wedding of one of her clients, Lucy explains to a potential love interest and brother of the groom, Harry (Pedro Pascal), that being a matchmaker is like being a mortician or insurance claim adjuster because of the job's focus on stats like height, weight, race, and income. She reduces her matchmaking process down to 'math' and even extends this to her own dating life. Harry, who courts Lucy aggressively, is tall, successful, and incredibly rich. Lucy discloses that she makes $80,000 and that he can do better than her. He responds that he has plenty of material assets and is more interested in her intangible assets. The longing for romantic and financial security is ever present throughout the film, making it a tense watch at times. But, as I was leaving the theatre, I heard a group of women say that the movie was 'so cute,' Taken at face value, the plot is pretty simple romance. Girl meets rich boy, but also reconnects with broke ex-boyfriend, John (Chris Evans), and through a series of events, girl decides that love is more important than money. But so much of the film mirrors the horrors of contemporary dating, from discussions of someone's value in the dating market to explicitly stating what makes certain daters more desirable. For men, that means making over $100,000 (the more the better) and being at least six feet tall. For women, that means being young, thin, and beautiful. It seems that all parties want someone 'fit,' and the clientele represented in the movie skews heavily white and heterosexual. This depiction of outlandish dealbreakers, while often raw and horrifying, does not stray too far from the realities of the current dating cultural climate. Song, a former matchmaker herself, does an excellent job of showing the complexities of dating and being the one responsible for facilitating near impossible matches. Lucy is cold and exacting, debating her clients' viability in mainstream or niche markets. This is the kind of calculation I see my clients doing as they try to determine their odds on various dating apps. It's a process that can feel demoralizing unless you become desensitized to it over time. All of this math, these stats, and the quest for the best value completely obviate the search for real love. In fact, for a movie about love, the term is used sparingly. Instead the viewer is privy to the myriad reasons why people partner instead of love: to make one's sister jealous, to have or bear children, to make one's parents happy. Lucy sells her service by talking about how people should be looking for a nursing home buddy, but that's just the hook. Once her clients are on the hook and paying top dollar, they want a product worth their investment. Materialists doesn't have a traditional happy ending, though it does conclude with a wedding. Just because Lucy has chosen John, and all of the financial uncertainty that comes with that choice, perhaps Song wanted us to feel that she has not fully settled. As the couple awaits their turn at a bustling City Hall Wedding Bureau during the final credits, there's an anxiety about whether they will make it. Lucy's materialism is what drove the two apart before. Throughout the movie, Lucy states that marriage is a business agreement, and it always has been. Are we to believe that she's decided to make a bad business decision? We are also left hanging when it comes to whether or not Lucy will accept a promotion at the matchmaking agency or leave the industry completely. All of this ambivalence—of Lucy's moral stance, her standards, her belief in love—is what viewers must contend with. And it's similar to the position of everyone trying to find what they're looking for in dating in this economy. Even in the best of business deals, the numbers don't make sense.

Newsweek

6 hours ago

• Newsweek

The Emmy Race Is On—Here's Who's Leading

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Emmy nominations won't be announced until July 15, but the campaigns are in full swing. (June in Los Angeles is basically one big "For Your Consideration" event every single day.) The big question is, who will be nominated? From Kathy Bates in Matlock to Adam Brody in Nobody Wants This and literally the entire cast of The White Lotus, Newsweek has had so many potential nominees on the Parting Shot Podcast with H. Alan Scott. So make sure you're subscribed to never miss some of the best chats in entertainment news. Emmy nomination season is here, with Severance, The Bear, and The White Lotus leading the prediction pack. Expect a mix of returning favorites and buzzy newcomers—and a few inevitable snubs. Emmy nomination season is here, with Severance, The Bear, and The White Lotus leading the prediction pack. Expect a mix of returning favorites and buzzy newcomers—and a few inevitable snubs. Getty Images DRAMA CATEGORIES: CAN ANYONE STOP SEVERANCE? Severance is likely to be a big contender, but don't count out new entries like The Pitt and Paradise. In the acting categories, Noah Wyle (The Pitt) and Kathy Bates (Matlock) are likely winners. Everyone has been talking about them all season, and both of their shows are brand new and very buzz worthy. But don't count out Sterling K. Brown (Paradise) or even Gary Oldman (Slow Horses). Other names that would be nice to see in the mix are Jon Hamm for Your Friends & Neighbors and Melanie Lynskey for Yellowjackets. Also, Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale) and Penn Badgley (You) should get some recognition for the finales of their respective shows. But the one series you can expect to be all over the drama categories: The White Lotus. Expect most of the cast, including Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Aimee Lou Wood and Parker Posey, to get nominated. Will they win? Unlikely, considering the less than thrilled reaction to the season, but they will certainly be recognized. COMEDY CATEGORIES: WILL GHOSTS FINALLY GET RECOGNIZED? Ghosts has consistently been a hit in the CBS' lineup, and yet it has never received much love from the Emmys. (Which is crazy considering that CBS announced earlier this year a two-season renewal for the hit comedy, a rarity these days for any show, let alone a network sitcom.) Asher Grodman, who plays Trevor on the series and is one of the potential nominees from the show, talked about this on a recent episode of the Parting Shot Podcast. It's seriously about time this incredible ensemble cast gets some Emmys love. Besides Ghosts, expect lots of mentions of new entries like The Studio and Nobody Wants This to be among the Emmy nominees. In addition to these new entries, past winners like Hacks, The Bear and Abbott Elementary will likely pick up multiple nominations. While it's no surprise that Jean Smart from Hacks will be nominated (and likely win), this could be Hannah Einbinder's year to finally win in the Supporting category. She had a stand-out season this year, and her name is the one that keeps coming up in many of these FYC conversations happening in Hollywood. Another show that deserves more attention is Mid-Century Modern. The entire cast is worthy of nominations, but Nathan Lane and Matt Bomer are the most likely to pick up nominations. Also, don't count out the love people have for Linda Lavin, who died while the show was still in production. Other worthy contenders in the comedy categories include Sharon Horgan's Bad Sisters and Wendi McLendon-Covey's incredible performance on St. Denis Medical. (It's one of the funniest shows from last year and she's yet to ever get any Emmys love. It's her time.) It would also be incredible to see Somebody Somewhere finally get some love. Bridget Everett's small town comedy ended this year, but it had so much heart and humor that hopefully its small but loud fanbase are screaming loud enough to help it finally pick up a nod. TV MOVIE AND LIMITED SERIES CATEGORIES: HAS ADOLESCENCE KILLED THE MONSTERS? Going into awards season, for a long time it seemed like Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story was going to dominate all categories. Then Adolescence debuted and everyone couldn't stop talking about it. At this point, it doesn't look like anything is going to stop Adolescence's momentum. That said, you can expect Monsters to pick up nominations for literally everyone involved, including Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Cooper Koch, Javier Bardem, Chloë Sevigny and Ryan Murphy. But there's one person from Monsters who really deserves some recognition: Leslie Grossman. She's been consistent in so many of Murphy's projects and always delivers, but she especially delivered in Monsters. Another one to watch out for is Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. Renée Zellweger's return as Bridget Jones was a hit for Peacock and well, when it comes to awards, nobody ignores Zellweger. (We couldn't either, we made her our cover story when the film premiered.) Expect the two-time Oscar winner to be a first-time Emmy winner. Another is Jesse Armstrong's Mountainhead. This all-star cast will almost certainly pick up nominations, but there's one member of the cast who truly deserves a nomination: Cory Michael Smith. His performance is literally haunting and we chatted with him about it on the Parting Shot Podcast. The Emmy nominations will be announced on July 15, and the 77th annual Emmy Awards will air on CBS on September 14. Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast with H. Alan Scott and the For the Culture newsletter for all the latest in pop culture and entertainment news.

New York Post

18 hours ago

• New York Post

‘Everybody Loves Raymond' creator reveals John Lennon was best man at Peter Boyle's wedding

All you need is love. 'Everybody Loves Raymond' creator Phil Rosenthal recently revealed that John Lennon served as the best man at actor Peter Boyle's 1977 wedding. Rosenthal, 65, shared the surprising news while celebrating 30 years of 'Everybody Loves Raymond' at the Paley Center in New York City on Monday. 11 John Lennon served as the best man at 'Everybody Loves Raymond' star Peter Boyle's 1977 wedding. CBS via Getty Images 11 Creator Phil Rosenthal shared the surprising news on Monday during an 'Everybody Loves Raymond' 30-year reunion in NYC. Getty Images Ray Romano (Ray Barone), Patricia Heaton (Debra Barone) and Maggie Wheeler (Linda Gruenfelder) were also in attendance. Boyle, who portrayed Romano's on-screen father, Frank Barone, in all nine seasons of the CBS sitcom from 1996 to 2005, died from multiple myeloma in 2006 at the age of 71. 'Two interesting things about Peter Boyle,' Rosenthal said while remembering the late actor. 'He studied to be a monk when he was younger. I asked him, 'Why'd you give it up?' And he says, 'There weren't enough girls there.'' 11 'Two interesting things about Peter Boyle,' Rosenthal began during a discussion about the late actor. Getty Images 11 'You know who the best man at his wedding was? John Lennon,' Rosenthal revealed. 'He was cool, Peter Boyle.' Bettmann Archive 'And the other thing is, I wonder if you know this. You know who the best man at his wedding was? John Lennon,' Rosenthal added. 'He was cool, Peter Boyle.' Boyle met his wife, Loraine Alterman, in 1974 on the set of Mel Brooks' 'Young Frankenstein.' Alterman was working as a reporter for Rolling Stone magazine at the time, and Boyle, who was starring in the film as Frankenstein's monster, allegedly asked her out while still wearing his costume and makeup. 11 Boyle married his wife, former Rolling Stone reporter Loraine Alterman, in 1977. FilmMagic 11 Alterman was good friends with Lennon's wife, Yoko Ono, which was how Boyle and the Beatles star connected. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images 'He actually was out of makeup when we met, but let him have it his way,' Alterman clarified during an interview with The New York Times in 2001. The pair began dating, and they married in 1977. Alterman, who also worked as a music critic for Rolling Stone, was friends with Lennon's wife, Yoko Ono. It was through Ono that Boyle became close to the Beatles star. 11 'At the last minute, I asked John to stand in as my best man. And he said yes,' Boyle said in 2005. 'The rest is history.' WireImage 11 'He is John Lennon,' Boyler added one year before his death. 'And everything he does is memorable.' Redferns 'My wife and I had a very low-key wedding,' Boyle told Philadelphia magazine just one year before his death. 'At the last minute, I asked John to stand in as my best man. And he said yes. The rest is history.' 'He is John Lennon,' the actor added, noting that Lennon did not perform at the wedding. 'And everything he does is memorable.' Three years after Boyle and Alterman's wedding, Lennon was tragically shot and killed by Mark David Chapman outside his residence at The Dakota in NYC on Dec. 8, 1980. The 'Imagine' singer was 40 years old. 11 Lennon was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman outside his residence at The Dakota in NYC on Dec. 8, 1980. Getty Images Meanwhile, Rosenthal revealed that he would never reboot 'Everybody Loves Raymond' during the show's 30-year reunion in NYC on Monday. He explained that it would be 'impossible' without Boyle and Doris Roberts. Roberts portrayed Marie Barone on the show and passed away from natural causes in 2016 at the age of 90. 'I'll be honest with you, I'm a student of TV, and I've seen the shows that try to come back and do reboots. They're never as good,' Rosenthal told People shortly before the reunion event kicked off. 'So I'm happy with the memory.' 11 Boyle passed away in 2006 at the age of 71. His 'Everybody Loves Raymond' wife, Doris Roberts, passed away in 2016 at the age of 90. CBS via Getty Images 11 Rosenthal revealed that he would never reboot 'Everybody Loves Raymond' because it would be 'impossible' with Boyle and Roberts. Getty Images 'It's not the show that I miss doing,' he added. 'We did it. We did 210 episodes. That's a lot of anything. We decided to stop when we felt like it was enough. We weren't canceled. We stopped for a reason. What I miss are my friends. That's what I miss. All the people who made the show with us.' Brad Garrett, who played Romano's older brother, Robert Barone, on the beloved sitcom, said something similar when asked about an 'Everybody Loves Raymond' reboot earlier this month. 'There won't be,' Garrett said at the premiere of Disney Pixar's 'Elio' in Los Angeles on June 10. 'And I'm just saying that because that's something that Ray and Phil [Rosenthal] have always said.' 'There is no show without the parents. They were the catalyst, and to do anything that would resemble that wouldn't be right to the audiences or the loyal fan base,' he added. 'And it was about those two families, and you can't get around that.'