Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder Reveal Their Top Road-Trip Movies as HACKS Hits The Highway in Season 2

By BILL HARRIS Special to The Lede So how did it get to the point that Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder of HBO Max’s HACKS were happily calling themselves Dumb and Dumber, and debating which one was which? The conversation took place during a virtual roundtable interview as Smart and Einbinder were promoting Season 2 of HACKS, which debuts with two new episodes on Thursday, May 12, only on Crave. A big chunk of the new season finds the main characters on the road, as veteran stand-up comedian Deborah Vance (EMMY® winner Smart) is trying out new material in smaller venues, with her young joke-writer Ava Daniels (EMMY® nominee Einbinder) on board to fine-tune on the fly. Smart and Einbinder were asked why they think the classic road trip is one of comedy’s most reliable and hilarious set-ups, and if they have any personal favourites. Here are their fun and fascinating back-and-forth responses: SMART: “Well, as an audience member, I know there’s a movie that I love with Robert De Niro and, oh shoot, Robert De Niro and … and … ” Q: Charles Grodin? Midnight Run? SMART: “Yes, yes, thank you. I was going to say Midnight Express, but I knew that wasn’t right. I think that movie’s hilarious, and them in the car together is just priceless. It’s similar in a way because they’re from two very different worlds, kind of like Deborah and Ava. But I love the fact that we almost see a slightly different side of Deborah, when she gets to that rest stop with all the junk food and all the tacky souvenirs and stuff. She becomes like a kid, almost. It reminds her of the old days, and it seems to be energizing to her, kind of getting back to her roots.” EINBINDER: “I want to say, and I don’t think this is ever thought of as a road-trip movie, but it kind of is: Dumb and Dumber. It’s very much a road-trip movie, with all of their little mishaps on the way to Aspen to go and meet that girl. It just immediately came to mind as something with such iconic little stops on their journey. And the best comedy, of course. I love Jim Carrey so much.” SMART: “So which one are you, and which one am I? Are you Dumb or Dumber?” EINBINDER: “I gotta say, I’m Dumber. Let’s be honest, Jean. I mean, your last name is literally Smart.” (Big laughter from both) SMART: “That’s my name, don’t wear it out.” EINBINDER: “But which one of them is Dumber (in the movie)? Is it Lloyd (Carrey’s character)? Or is it, uh … I don’t know if we ever … ” SMART: “I think Jeff (Daniels, who plays Harry) is Dumber, but I’m not sure.” EINBINDER: “Yeah, I’m Jeff. But I also have to say that ‘standup-comedy road’ and ‘road-trip road’ are so different, because ‘standup comedy road’ is so much more … sad (laughs). So I think this is a great sort of homage to the emotional rollercoaster of being on the road as a comic. Along with the fun elements of new places, like Jean was saying, the gift shops, the rest stops, the scenic Grand Canyon, those things are really, really fun.” SMART: “I think road trips bring out the best and the worst in people, because there’s a sense of adventure and excitement, and you’re looking forward to things, and there’s a sense of freedom, because you’re not at home. But at the same time, you start to get on people’s nerves, on each other’s nerves, because you’re just spending too much time together.” For loyal fans of HACKS, it would be impossible to spend too much time with Deborah and Ava. Season 2 rolls out weekly, with two new episodes on Thursdays, while Season 1 is available in its entirety on Crave now. And conveniently, Dumb and Dumber is on Crave, too! billharristv@gmail.com @billharris_tv