Crafting Compelling Characters: The Writers’ Room of “Hacks”

Updated May 30,2025

The creative⁤ team behind “Hacks” emphasizes drawing ⁢inspiration from real life when developing their characters. According to Jen Statsky, characters frequently enough begin with “a spark of something you ⁤have observed in real life.” She cited Deborah Vance as an‍ example, whose character emerged from discussions about female comedians who didn’t receive the recognition ⁤they⁣ deserved.

Paul W.downs and ⁢Lucia Aniello added that their characters sometimes mirror real people or even aspects of themselves. They⁤ strive to create unique voices for each character, ensuring distinct dialogue that sets them apart. Aniello said that the goal is to make sure that “even‍ on the page, it feels so specific⁤ and different.”

While⁤ the writers⁢ don’t conduct formal research, ⁣they do incorporate real-world observations into their writing. Statsky mentioned that details from her ‍grandmother’s collections have inspired ideas for Deborah’s ⁢character. To ensure authenticity,especially⁤ regarding⁢ Deborah’s viewpoint,the show employs female comedians and writers of a similar age. The⁤ team also consults with Jean Smart’s hair stylists for details about wigs.

the ⁢show also explores gender norms through the contrasting experiences of Deborah and Ava. Aniello noted that Deborah has a ⁢more “old-school perspective” and “internalized misogyny,” while Ava ⁣is more open and free. Statsky added that their‍ different perspectives, shaped ⁢by⁢ their experiences as women in comedy, frequently enough lead to conversations about gender roles.

Regarding secondary characters like Kayla and Jimmy, the writers aim to balance comedy⁢ with reality. Statsky said that it’s important‍ to develop them as real people within ⁢the show’s ⁤tone. aniello said⁣ that they wanted⁣ to portray how “sometimes really good managers are the buttoned-up ones who return emails… and then sometimes there are people who are nuts and weird but like weirdly bizarro geniuses.”

Maintaining the show’s tone involves balancing ‍contrasting elements. Aniello believes that “you ‍can’t overdo a certain tone… It gets a little bit bland.” Statsky said that they strive to ⁢make Deborah and Ava rude, but not mean, ⁢using their banter to create ⁤humor without cruelty. Aniello added that the characters ⁤are “both working on their self-awareness in ‍the show,” which contributes to the show’s comedic edge.

“In terms of crafting characters, I think you sometimes take a spark of something you have observed in real⁣ life,” Statsky said.

“A big thing for us ‍is we feel like ⁤when you read the page, their dialog feels so different,” Aniello ⁤said.

What’s next

As “Hacks” continues, viewers can anticipate⁤ further exploration of these characters and their evolving relationships, all while maintaining the show’s signature blend of comedy and⁢ grounded ⁤reality.