In less than two years, two seasons of “Hacks” have completely changed Hannah Einbinder’s life. The star of the now Peabody Award-winning dramedy was making her way as a stand-up comedian before she was cast as the struggling television writer Ava Daniels. Now, thanks to her newfound notoriety, she’s selling out comedy shows around the country.
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Over the course of “Hacks” second season, Ava finds herself growing closer to her boss, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) as they work on a comeback comedy set for the legendary comedienne. Of course, Deborah is also suing Ava for breaking her NDA, so things could certainly be better for her. During our interview, Einbinder discusses how the show has changed her life, what she hopes for season three and much more.
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The Playlist: How has your life changed since “Hacks” came out into the world?
Hannah Einbinder: It’s changed a lot. I have a job. That’s nice. That’s a new thing. It’s nice to have a job, a good steady job with awesome co-workers, and cool people. My life has been enriched by all of the people I get to work with, my new friends who I love. It’s been the greatest gift of all, honestly, our ensemble cast and Jean and our creators, and even some of our writers that I’ve been able to get to know, even though they don’t because of COVID, not everybody can come to set all the time. It’s just been such a treat. I’m a stand-up comedian and it’s made so much possible for me as a comic because I can sell out venues on the road now, which could have otherwise taken me years and years and years to do if I was just kind of going the straight stand-up route. So, this has just changed my life totally and completely.
Have you felt that you had to change your stand-up show or routine at all because you feel like maybe so many people are coming, having seen you on “Hacks”?
No, I don’t change anything because I’m very particular and rigid about my rules and standards and practices around my stand-up and always have been. I feel like I’m lucky that the people who would like “Hacks,” I also think would vibe with my comedy because they’re smart, sweet people typically.
In season two specifically, how do you feel your experience as a stand-up has helped to inform your character, especially with Jean, with Deborah’s character being on this arc of trying to come up with a new show and routine?
Well, I’m familiar with the process of trying to write and develop comedy on the road. And that’s a setting for this season. So it’s helped me exponentially. I have no problem tapping into the misery of getting no sleep and being in shitty bars and rest stops and things like that. It’s all too familiar and I’m about to go back on the road so…
I’m assuming when you go on the road, you don’t have the beautiful van with the gigantic room in the back that Deborah has.
Think more Holiday Inn Express, think in more that area, that’s me.
Well, are there at least free cookies in the lobby when you come down in the morning?
Yeah, not by the time I get down there. Gone.
Before the season started, did you have any heads up on Ava’s arc for the season?
I got sort of two or three scripts at a time. They do stretch it out. I think, because they know that if they give me the whole thing, I will just sit there and obsess over them and they want me to stay present in the moments we’re capturing them. So, they just give me like two or three at a time.
I know you’re publicly out as bisexual but what does it mean to you that Ava’s character is so outwardly out and sort of exploring herself in the series?
It’s great. It’s so necessary. I just hope that this paves the way for more and a wider range of characters who are queer, especially like bisexual characters who have famously almost never been done right or with grace or with justice. So, it’s a real honor to be included in that.
That’s awesome. Can I ask you, what do you like working with Jean? What is the joy of working with her every day?
It’s just being in her presence and really just getting to hear about her life and her feelings and what she’s finding funny and talking, everything and anything out with her. And we work really hard and our crew works really hard on set and we have long hours and it really can bring out the best and the worst in people. And it certainly brings out the best in Jean. And I feel really lucky to learn from that.
Obviously, you’re staying busy on the road doing stand-up but do you want to act more? Are you hoping to do more roles in film and television?
Yeah, I would love to. To me, I feel so lucky that “Hacks” has really set the bar so high. I feel really privileged to be on this show so that it gives me the chance to be selective about the work that I do from here on out. And just to go towards the things that feel artistically and creatively fulfilling and true to what kind of work I want to do. And I just hope I get the opportunity to keep doing that.
Well, without spoiling anything, is there any scene or moment in season two that stays with you the most?
I would say the cruise, just in general, I have an image of Jean and she’s in her little cruise outfit and it’s very full of pastels. It’s like, I don’t know if you know this old designer, Pucci, whatever, but it’s such a chic cute Deborah Vance outfit that Jean herself would wear. And I just think about her walking around on the deck and just being so cute.
I have to ask as a comedian, you’re in a show, you’re playing a character, but when you see Deborah bomb, does it affect you at all? Does it make you cringe because you’ve been through that yourself?
When I’m watching the final cut, yes. But when we’re shooting it, in between the takes, when Jean is bombing, she’s riffing with the audience who loves her. So, it takes me out because she’s so charismatic and everyone loves her. So, she never really bombs.
What do you hope for Ava? Where do you hope she’s at next season or sort of down the road?
I just hope that she ends up with Deborah. I hope they’re able to just like continue on and grow together because I’m co-dependent. So, obviously, I want them to stay together and I just hope that we get to see all of these ensemble characters integrate deeper and deeper into the show and just watch them take on the world.
“Hacks” is available on HBO Max.
