Jean Smart dishes on her dark comedy ‘Hacks’

Meredith Woerner Deputy Editor, Variety.comSo much of what makes “Hacks” work is the chemistry between its two central characters, played by Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder. The HBO Max comedy hinges on the connection between these two seemingly disparate women So how did this pair find that connection? By lobbing insults at each other in the dark.The very first interaction between comedians Deborah Vance (Smart) and Ava (Einbinder) in the pilot swiftly unravels into a sparring match.

Filmmaker Craig Gillespie is probably hoping he has a pretty big summer this year.

The highly-anticipated Netflix TV series, “Sandman,” is currently in production. And thus, we are finally learning more about the cast that will help bring Neil Gaiman’s critically-acclaimed comic book series to life on the streaming platform.

The dynamics of life and death surround Showtime’s new series “The End.” Set in Australia, this dark comedy explores how a mother and daughter relate to ever-changing circumstances. Creator and writer Samantha Strauss offers a balanced look at the realities of personal growth, while also delving into what it means to be a part of the modern familial unit.

Phoebe Dynevor is getting candid about her time on Bridgerton as she begins to start filming for season 2 of the hit Netflix show. Over the last few weeks, Regé-Jean Page aka Simon's exit from the show has left fans devastated but Phoebe who plays the role of Daphne Bridgerton revealed she knew he was leaving.

Clayton Davis Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Emmys ceremonies from film awards editor Clayton Davis. Following history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Emmy predictions are updated regularly with the current year's list of contenders in all categories.

John Boyega first made waves when he led the Joe Cornish-directed mature science-fiction comedy film “Attack The Block,” an alien invasion comedy similar to Edgar Wright‘s zombie flick “Shaun of The Dead.” The comparison isn’t shocking since Wright was a producer on the film and a longtime friend of Cornish; the pair had co-written Marvel’s “Ant-Man” before exiting the project over creative differences.

EXCLUSIVE: The Bleav Podcast Network is launching the new dark comedy podcast The Bystanders starring Jane Lynch and Emmy and Tony Winner Kristin Chenoweth. It will also mark the first scripted podcast from Black Label Media. Heather Morris will also co-star and produce the show with Jaclyn Hales and Ash Lendzion writing, directing and producing the show.

Jason Schwartzman, Eric Roberts and Eric Andre are set for recurring roles on Season 2 of HBO’s comedy series The Righteous Gemstones. Production is currently underway on the nine-episode second season.

Meredith Woerner Deputy Editor, Variety.comWhat makes HBO Max’s “Hacks” stand out from a slew of new TV offerings (and other shows about the same topic of stand-up comedy), isn’t just its stellar cast, it’s also the premise that two women share a connection, despite being worlds apart, through the desire of making others laugh.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJackée Harry and George Wallace have joined the cast of the Freeform comedy pilot “Everything’s Trash” in recurring roles, Variety has learned exclusively.The iconic pair join previously announced series star Phoebe Robinson in the half-hour pilot. It follows Phoebe, a 30-something podcast star navigating her messy life.

Jean Smart is back to her comedic roots with.

If pop culture insists on telling stories about tortured comics with deep-rooted personal issues veiled by their stage personae, at least do viewers the courtesy of democratizing that outline and producing good examples with something to say, like “Hacks.” Created and showrun by Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky, “Hacks” has something to say.

John Carpenter and Tatiana Maslany are among the top creators setting up podcasts for audio firm Realm.

Daniel D'Addario Chief TV CriticOn her new show “Hacks,” Jean Smart plays a woman who has a difficult time adapting to a new era in the entertainment industry. It may be the first TV role this unbound and thrilling performer has taken that feels like a stretch.After all, Smart — one of CBS’ “Designing Women” in the 1980s and now a prestige-TV favorite on “Fargo” and “Watchmen” — seems endlessly inquisitive about where her talent can take her.

John Mulaney is returning to what he does best! The 38-year-old comedian is set to return to stand-up comedy following his stint in rehab this past December. The former writer is scheduled to perform his new set,  at the City Winery in New York City from May 10 to May 14.

Antonio Ferme editorAfter spending two months in rehab, John Mulaney is back on the stand-up scene — and his first five comedy shows are already sold out.The comedian, who checked out of rehab in February, is doing a residency at Manhattan’s City Winery called “John Mulaney: From Scratch” from May 10-14.

Amy Adams’ Bond Group Entertainment and Jake Gyllenhaal’s Nine Stories have won the rights in competitive bidding to develop and produce Suzanne Simard’s just-published memoir, Finding the Mother Tree. Adams will star as Simard, a world renowned scientist and ecologist who first discovered how trees communicate underground through an immense web of fungi.