Paul W. Downs discusses Season 4 of “Hacks”

The fourth season of “Hacks” has wrapped up with a bang, featuring an impressive lineup of public figures making guest appearances as themselves. From Jimmy Kimmel to Kristen Bell and Seth Rogen, the star-studded cast of cameos rivals that of Rogen’s own show, “The Studio,” on Apple TV+.

Co-creator Paul W. Downs, who also plays agent Jimmy LuSaque on the show, highlighted the appearance of Carol Burnett this season as particularly “surreal.” In an email interview with CNN, Downs expressed how “Hacks” aims to honor the trailblazing female comedians who paved the way for future generations, with Carol Burnett being a legendary figure in the comedy world.

Inspired by surprise appearances in shows like “I Love Lucy,” Downs shared that the decision to include actors and musicians in “Hacks” was made thoughtfully to serve the story. From Randy Newman as one of Deborah Vance’s musical guests to Rosie O’Donnell offering perspective to the characters, the cameos were strategically woven into the narrative.

Securing these cameo appearances was not without its challenges, as Rogen also attested to on “The Town” podcast. Stars like Zoë Kravitz, Charlize Theron, and Zac Efron needed to understand the humor behind their characters in order to agree to make appearances on “The Studio.”

In a fun twist of fate, the creators and stars of “Hacks” made cameos on “The Studio” this season, creating a meta-crossover moment. Both shows have been renewed for new seasons, with Rogen sharing his dream list of future cameos including Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Daniel Day-Lewis.

You can catch Season 1 of “The Studio” streaming on Apple TV+, while all four seasons of “Hacks” are available on HBO Max. And if you’re a fan of CNN, you’ll be delighted to know that HBO Max is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, just like our favorite news network.

(Source: CNN, Warner Bros. Discovery)