The recently concluded fourth season of HBO Max’s comedy “Hacks” stood out for its impressive array of celebrities playing themselves, from Jimmy Kimmel to Kristen Bell and Seth Rogen.
According to “Hacks” co-creator Paul W. Downs, the only other current comedy that rivals this level of star power is Rogen’s own Apple TV+ satirical show, “The Studio,” which features Hollywood heavyweights like Martin Scorsese and Ron Howard.
Downs, who also plays agent Jimmy LuSaque on “Hacks,” described Carol Burnett’s appearance this season as “surreal.”
He explained that when they conceived “Hacks,” which follows fictional comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) as she vies to host a late-night show, they aimed to tell the story of trailblazing female comedians.
Burnett, he noted, embodies this for the show’s creators, making their filming at Television City, near where “The Carol Burnett Show” was taped, a “full circle moment.”
Downs, drawing inspiration from classic surprise cameos, stated that while actors and musicians were integral to Deborah Vance’s late-night journey, they were selective, using them only when the story demanded it.
For instance, Carol Burnett offered wisdom when Deborah experienced stage fright, and Rosie O’Donnell provided perspective on life after the show. Securing these appearances, like Randy Newman’s musical guest spot, required effort.
Seth Rogen, co-creator and star of “The Studio,” echoed the challenges of getting major stars to play themselves. He admitted it involved a mix of “favours” and astonishing commitments from people he’d never met.
On “The Town” podcast (whose host, Matt Belloni, also made a cameo), Rogen explained that a key hurdle was helping stars like Zoë Kravitz, Charlize Theron, and Zac Efron understand their “joke” within the show’s meta-narrative. If they found it funny, they’d agree.
In a meta-twist, the creators and stars of “Hacks” even made cameos on “The Studio” this season. Both highly regarded shows have been renewed for new seasons.
Rogen has expressed a wish list of future cameos for “The Studio,” including Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Daniel Day-Lewis.
“The Studio” Season 1 is streaming on Apple TV+, while “Hacks” Seasons 1-4 are available on HBO Max.
