Exclusive: Filming the third season of the HBO Max / Universal TV sitcom Hacks, starring Jan Smart and Hannah Einbender, has been put on hold due to a writers’ strike, Deadline has learned. According to the sources, production will be temporarily halted for the duration of the work stoppage.
Comedies depend much more on the writer than drama, which is why it’s so difficult for sitcoms to shoot without the show’s planners writing on set. This is especially true of Hacks With writing at the core of the show, it centers on aging comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) and up-and-coming writer Ava Daniels (Einbender) who write together. Hacks They were created by Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky, who served as showrunners. According to WGA rules, members cannot provide any writing services, including script reviews during filming, while on strike.
Production in the third season of Hacks which began shortly after Thanksgiving and resumed after the holiday break in January, was paused in February when Smart underwent a successful heart operation. It resumed in mid-March.
Hacks A commercial and award-winning success, it garnered 32 Emmy nominations and 6 awards in its first two seasons, including two statuettes for Smart.
The series also stars Carl Clemons Hopkins and Jane Adams as well as Christopher McDonald, Kaitlyn Olson, Paul W. Downs, Bobby Liu, Rose Abdu, Mark Indelicato, Meg Stalter, Angela E. Gibbs, Lunell, Johnny Cipelli, Joe Mandy, Ali Mackie and Lorenza Izzo.
Hacks Produced by Universal Television. It was produced by Downes & Aniello via their Paulilu banner, Statsky via First Thought Productions, Michael Schur via Fremulon, David Miner for 3 Arts Entertainment and Morgan Sackett.
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