Jean Smart tells the truth when it comes to ‘Hacks’

Jean Smart’s character of Deborah Vance in the Max series “Hacks” is a veteran comedian who had to find a way to re-invent herself as she became more veteran. The transformation was made all that more difficult because Vance’s return came when the world had become far more politically correct.

Her honesty continues to be a factor when the next season debuts May 2 with two episodes on the streaming service. Two new episodes will be available each week until the season finale on May 30.

Smart knows saying she is sorry does not come easy to Vance but the series star embraces honesty in her own life even if the subject of an apology is raised.

Smart says, “I don’t find it difficult to apologize when I know I’m in the wrong. It’s like the same way when if I’m not sure I’m right about something. I don’t go forward with it unless I’m convinced I’m absolutely right,” Smart says. “And I don’t probably apologize unless I know absolutely I was wrong.

“My late darling husband might disagree with that.”

There is no question Smart was right in taking on the role in “Hacks.”  The series received Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Directing plus two for  Smart as Outstanding Lead Actress. The series picked up a Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy.

Smart is certain the way Vance has to watch her words is something that is relatable to the viewers.

“I think a lot of people feel – not just comedians – that people are starting to say, I have to be so careful of every single thing I say or do,” Smart says. “It’s interesting because we used to try to say you should treat people, everybody, the same and you should not judge people by anything other than their character and things like that.”

The job had fallen to Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) to help Vance get and stay in line. But, the two have been apart for a year. During that time, Vance found success with her standup special while Daniels went after new opportunities in Los Angeles.

“Hacks” is the latest in a long string of successful comedy roles for Smart that also include “Designing Women,” “Frasier,” “The Oblongs” and “Samantha Who?” All that success has not kept Smart from hearing all the talk about how women can’t be as funny as men.

“I do think there’s still that feeling a little bit. And I think women can be funny about different things and men are funny about different things. Because we’re different,” Smart says. “But why was it funny when Milton Berle put on a dress and it wasn’t funny when Judy Garland did her little baggy pants hobo routine? You know what I mean?

“I don’t know, can’t explain it. It just is. But it doesn’t mean that women aren’t as funny, God knows.”

“Hacks” has the good fortune of having very funny females in the main roles. Einbinder has enjoyed the push and pull her character has had with Smart’s. It may be an example of a veteran helping a newcomer whether in a good or bad way.

“There are a lot of lessons about hard work and cutting your teeth that Deborah has imparted upon Ava. And I think she went into the series kind of in a place of like why is this happening? Why me? I’m getting cancelled. I can’t work,” Einbinder says. “She’s coming from a place of not having a lot of strong relationships.

“I think through their relationship, Ava is learning about hard work and just like determination and perseverance through failure, something she didn’t really deal with much. As it was established obviously in the first season, Ava kind of got plucked off the internet and was like a writer pretty quickly, very successful, very young. So I think she’s had to kind of deal with a wakeup call in that sense.”

Einbinder sees Daniels has settled into the role of being a little bit of a contrarian to Vance. As for how much she personally connects with her character, Einbinder does notice moments when she’s correcting someone for not saying the right thing that she feels Daniels is coming through.

Smart has also had some of those moments.

“I do find myself every once in a while when I’m joking around and I get particularly loud, I go ‘Okay, reign it in a little bit Deb because I don’t want to go there,” Smart says. The cast of “Hacks” also includes Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald, Mark Indelicato, Rose Abdoo and Lorenza Izzo. Previously announced guest stars are J. Smith-Cameron, Helen Hunt, Christina Hendricks, Christopher Lloyd, Dan Bucatinsky, George Wallace and Tony Goldwyn.

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