Her initial thought went beyond concern for the characters.
“She thought she was being fired.”
The event moved Aniello to tears.
‘Hacks’ stars Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart perform a live script read of the season 2 finale.Courtesy of HBO Max and Universal Television / Photographed by David Jon
I love this season and what we made, and, yeah, it just got to me."
Smart and Einbinder felt the energy experiencing the show this way for the first time.
“I kind of forgot how much emotional stuff was in the finale,” Smart says.
The cast and creators of ‘Hacks’ were joined by some special guests for a live script read of the season 2 finale.Courtesy of HBO Max and Universal Television / Photographed by David Jon
It was great."
Adds Einbinder: “Hearing the work with a crowd is such a rewarding experience.
And it’s really nice to all be in the same place.
Paul W. Downs, Hannah Einbinder, Jean Smart, and Christopher McDonald at a live script read of the ‘Hacks’ season 2 finale.Courtesy of HBO Max and Universal Television / Photographed by David Jon
When we shoot these episodes, four of us, maximum, are together at a time.
So a lot of our cast being here was certainly the highlight.”
For final Emmy voting, actors submit one episode.
Paul W. Downs and Hannah Einbinder perform a script read of the ‘Hacks’ season 2 finale.Courtesy of HBO Max and Universal Television / Photographed by David Jon
What is she doing?'
And it works," Smart explains.
“She leans into it and it’s fun.
The cast and creators of ‘Hacks,’ along with some specials guests, at a script read for the season 2 finale.Courtesy of HBO Max and Universal Television / Photographed by David Jon
You see her just kind of joyously realize that this is a whole new feeling.”
Einbinder, however, did submit the cruise episode, for one very simple reason.
“The first three episodes, Ava’s fully submerged in the depths of the doghouse.
‘Hacks’ co-creator Lucia Aniello, stars Hanna Einbinder and Jean Smart, co-creator and star Paul W. Downs, and star Christopher McDonald.Courtesy of HBO Max and Universal Television / Photographed by David Jon
Their dynamic goes back to what it was.
It’s also filled with so much comedy.
It just was my favorite episode overall.”
‘Hacks’ creators Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello, and Paul W. Downs at a live script read of the season 2 finale.Courtesy of HBO Max and Universal Television / Photographed by David Jon
By all accounts, they did.
“We feel like we learned a lot from season 1.
And so the pressure was from usonus.”
‘Hacks’ stars Jean Smart and Christopher McDonald at a live script read of the season 2 finale.Courtesy of HBO Max and Universal Television / Photographed by David Jon
Which they’re taking into season 3.
“And in what context,” adds Downs.
“I’ve never felt so well taken care of [by show creators],” Smart says.
If you ask us a question about this story, we’ve got it right now.'"
While Einbinder leaves the ideas to the writers, she does admit to having one playful request.
My pitch is: Ava has a gorgeous girlfriend."
Watch clips from the script read above and below, and keep scrolling for more photos from the event.
