Hannah Einbinder Channeled “All the Great Mob Bosses” in ‘Hacks’ Season 4: “I Was Trying to Go Ava Corleone”

Jean Smart, from Hacks, nonchalantly stated that she wasn’t taken aback by their surprise victory in the best comedy series category at the Emmys last year, since they felt they had earned it. This was expressed during a gathering of the show’s cast and creators at PaleyFest LA on Friday.

The main cast members Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Mark Indelicato, Megan Stalter, and Rose Abdoo, along with co-creators Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky, gathered at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood to reveal details about the upcoming fourth season of their successful show. They also took a moment to reminisce about their Emmy win during season three.

The story continues right away from where it ended, as Deborah Vance (Smart) finally secures her coveted late-night show position, only to find herself in a power struggle with Ava (Einbinder), who has recently extorted the head writer job from Vance after she initially offered it and then took it back.

Statsky commented that ending season three at such an intense point made it seem like important details were being left out if we moved forward without resolving it. Downs echoed this sentiment, stating they wanted to explore and fully develop the strong emotional reaction that moment elicited from viewers.

It implies that Deborah’s bond with Ava has significantly shifted due to the recurring theme of betrayal in Deborah’s character, as Smart pointed out. This feeling of betrayal seems to intensify for Deborah as she ponders on the situation more, and she feels profoundly betrayed indeed. Moreover, she is contemplating that if Ava is going to jeopardize something they’ve worked together on for 30 years, then any actions she might take in response are justified.

Actress Einbinder expressed her excitement for the new season, saying, “I was really eager to embody various iconic mob boss figures, channeling Ava Corleone specifically.” During intense confrontations, she mentioned, “We take pleasure in those scenes because we share such strong camaraderie, so when it comes to ‘fighting,’ it’s more like a playful exchange for us.” Einbinder further explained, “This season, Deborah portrays many aspects of Ava. However, I believe that beneath the surface, Ava remains unchanged. She is merely adapting to circumstances and playing a certain role.

The season delves into the backstage world of late-night television, a realm Smart described as more challenging than it appears for the host. Statsky, who worked as a writer on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon for two years, observed, “As we were penning this season, we truly aimed to create a tribute to late-night shows – not just because they are crucial American institutions, but also because they require so much effort.

This season, even Los Angeles will receive attention, since it’s worth noting that a significant portion of the show was filmed in Altadena – an area that suffered greatly from the wildfires in January as acknowledged by Aniello.

You know that spot in L.A., Deborah’s old house was there, but it wasn’t just the location that drew us in. It had a vibe, an energy, something special about it – a cool, funky, one-of-a-kind part of Los Angeles that we couldn’t resist. Whenever we were scouting for locations, we found ourselves always pulled towards this area.

And here’s something exciting – there’s an entire episode dedicated to LA in this season! We absolutely adore making our show here, and we’re proud to have our crew based here.

Despite earlier discussions about a five-season plan for the series, Downs stated that with season four now completed, “We outlined the final scene of the show when we first pitched it, so we know where we’re headed. The duration of each storytelling phase might change occasionally. I’m not sure.” Aniello also commented, “We understand the number of twists a relationship can take before it feels repetitive. We still believe there’s much more to uncover in the Deborah and Ava relationship.

Both Smart and Einbinder have stated they’re unsure about the show’s final outcome. However, Einbinder added, “When I receive the finale script, I’m always astounded; I’ve never been able to guess it.” They assured that this season, episode 10 will take viewers by surprise, as you won’t be prepared for it at all.

Hacks season four starts streaming April 10 on Max.

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2025-03-29 16:24