PaleyFest LA 25: Hacks

As part of The Paley Center's 42nd William S. Paley Television Festival, this festival program celebrates Hacks, the Emmy-winning comedy-drama series about the unlikely partnership between legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance and struggling young writer Ava Daniels. Held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, this PaleyFest 2025 event features a panel with executive producers/creators Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky, and Paul W. Downs, along with cast members Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Mark Indelicato, Megan Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, and Rose Abdoo. Moderated by Variety’s Michael Schneider. The conversation covers the team’s reactions to their early Emmy wins, how Smart and Einbinder’s off-screen friendship contrasts with their characters’ on-screen tension, and how fan response to season 3’s finale helped shape season 4. Panelists discuss Stalter’s quirky take on Kayla’s mindset, Clemons-Hopkins’ satisfaction with Marcus’s evolving story, and Smart’s real-life talk show insights influencing Deborah’s arc. Additional topics include Abdoo’s detailed backstory for Josefina, the spotlight on LA as a setting, Downs’ perspective on the need for inclusive storytelling, Indelicato’s ideas for a Damien spinoff, season 4’s jaw-dropping conclusion, surprise guest stars, and whether season 5 could mark the show’s final chapter.