Paul W. Downs

Shows

Episodes

  1. Paul W. Downs

    05/26/2025

    Paul W. Downs

    Actor, writer, and director Paul W. Downs feels thrilled about being Conan O’Brien’s friend.   Paul sits down with Conan to discuss co-creating the hit series Hacks, the inside world of writing for a fake late night show, intertwining personal and professional lives with his partner and fellow creator Lucia Aniello, and a fateful missed encounter at a French hotel. Later, an unexpected secret about Sona’s past is revealed.   For Conan videos, tour dates and more visit TeamCoco.com. Got a question for Conan? Call our voicemail: (669) 587-2847. Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/conan. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 4m
  2. 'Hacks' Returns! With Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs

    04/11/2025

    'Hacks' Returns! With Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs

    The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning comedy series returns for a fourth season this week. It's about two women — a successful comic/TV personality in her 70s, and her 20-something comedy writer — and the generational clashes that ensue. We're revisiting interviews with stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, and Paul W. Downs who co-created the series and plays their manager. Also, film critic Justin Chang reviews Warfare, a movie about U.S. Navy SEALs. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    47 min
  3. “The Click” (with Rosie O’Donnell)

    05/27/2022

    “The Click” (with Rosie O’Donnell)

    In this episode of the Hacks Official podcast Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by guest host and Hacks superfan Rosie O’Donnell. They talk about motherhood, aging, and what went into shooting Deborah’s intimate bedroom scene. Rosie recounts her first stand-up set, and why she stepped away from her popular daytime talk show. Plus, she shares the unsolicited advice that she gave Hannah Einbinder via Twitter DM. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    41 min
  4. “On the Market” (With Wanda Sykes)

    06/02/2022

    “On the Market” (With Wanda Sykes)

    In this episode of the Hacks Official podcast Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by guest host and Hacks fan Wanda Sykes. They talk with her about life on the road, learn Wanda’s origin story as a comic, and Wanda’s ideas for future episodes. They also bond over the painful Hollywood pitch process and pre-pitch nerves.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    32 min
  5. "Quid Pro Quo" (with D’Arcy Carden)

    05/13/2022

    "Quid Pro Quo" (with D’Arcy Carden)

    In this episode of the Hacks Official podcast Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined with guest host D’Arcy Carden (The Good Place, Broad City). D’Arcy is a longtime best friend and collaborator of the team and together they share their origin story. The team talks about how they decided when and how to reveal the contents of Ava’s infamous email, rich people’s love for litigation, Jean Smart’s Hacks singing debut and “sad Kayla” among other behind-the-scenes moments that bring the show to life. D’Arcy also pitches the showrunners on a big character arc for a small child.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    42 min
  6. "The Captain’s Wife" (with Angela Gibbs and Luenell)

    05/20/2022

    "The Captain’s Wife" (with Angela Gibbs and Luenell)

    In this episode of the Hacks Official podcast Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by guest hosts Angela Gibbs (On My Block, This is Us) and Luenell (The Rock, A Star is Born) who play Marcus’s Mom and her friend Loretta. Angela and Luenell share their reaction to finding out they were cast together, mishaps on set with Marcus’s new puppy and the real-life challenges of performing on a cruise ship. They also learn how the team plucked Hannah Einbinder as Ava out of a 400-person casting pool and Luenell shares experiences from her own standup career. They also share insights on what Hacks adds to the conversation about gender and sexuality and their appreciation for the show’s strides toward more inclusive casting. Plus, they’ll pitch an idea that involves the two of them getting into mischief with Marcus left to pick up the pieces.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    41 min
  7. A Love Letter to Comedy with Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello (‘Hacks’)

    05/19/2024

    A Love Letter to Comedy with Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello (‘Hacks’)

    Hacks co-creators Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello, who are also husband and wife, have been performing and writing together for over a decade. Today, we discuss the road to season three of their hit HBO series. At the top, they unpack the makings of their creative partnership (8:20), how they chronicled the evolving state of comedy in Hacks (14:38), and Jerry Seinfeld’s recent comments about the medium (20:05). Then, we walk through Paul and Lucia’s origin stories (33:45), their meeting in an improv class at UCB (38:00), and the New York comedy pipeline they fell into with Broad City (46:59). On the back-half, we talk about the making of their feature film debut Rough Night (49:35), the road trip where they first imagined the premise for Hacks (53:25), their guiding principle while creating the show (59:10), and their journey into parenthood (1:05:48). To close, a piece of advice on art-making today (1:11:30). For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com. This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios. Clips courtesy of HBO. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 16m
  8. “The One, The Only” (With Jean Smart)

    06/03/2022

    “The One, The Only” (With Jean Smart)

    In this episode of the Hacks Official podcast Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by guest host and Hacks star Jean Smart. They talk about the high stakes for Deborah and Jimmy of shooting the comedy special in the finale. They also discuss the thinking behind Deborah firing Ava at the end of the season. Jean opens up about finding childhood idols in Phyllis Diller and in Jane Goodall. She also shares secret insights into Deborah’s backstory. At the end, Jean pitches a kidnapping for a future episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    39 min
  9. “There Will Be Blood” (with Hannah Einbinder)

    05/12/2022

    “There Will Be Blood” (with Hannah Einbinder)

    In the first episode of the Hacks Official podcast, Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky joined by guest host Hannah Einbinder, who plays Ava. They recap the season’s first episode that picks up right where season one left off, with Ava biting her nails over her drunken email that could land her in Deborah’s vengeful grasp. The group discusses collaborating as a three person showrunner team, Jean Smart’s love of Christmas, Hannah’s improvisation on set and what it was like to shoot the episode’s major fight scene. Hannah and the showrunners will explore the choices they made that set Las Vegas’s oddest comedy duo up for a season of hard lessons, strange locations, exciting cameos and a few stand-up sets that don’t exactly go as planned.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    44 min
  10. "Trust the Process" (with Susie Essman)

    05/19/2022

    "Trust the Process" (with Susie Essman)

    In this episode of the Hacks Official podcast Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by guest host Susie Essman (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Broad City). They discuss the bravery of going on tour, the inspiration for that souped-up tour bus, and answer, “Who the heck is Pete Wentz?”. They also reveal what Laurie Metcalf brought to the character of Weed and the origin story behind her obsession with fast food. Listeners find out why Jean Smart jumped into the dumpster and how she harbored a secret desire to be standup herself. Plus Susie shares stories from her life as a comic and a fascinating insight into why she thinks women make better standups than men.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    35 min
  11. Ep. 1: “Just For Laughs” with Jean Smart and Pat Regan

    05/02/2024

    Ep. 1: “Just For Laughs” with Jean Smart and Pat Regan

    In the first episode of The Official Hacks podcast, Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by Jean Smart, who plays Deborah Vance. They talk about stepping back into Deborah’s heels, and her relationship with Ava. Then Hacks writer/actor Pat Regan joins the hosts to recap the episode, talk about why it was a tricky one to write, and Helen Hunt’s guest star turn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    42 min
  12. “Retired” (with Margaret Cho)

    05/26/2022

    “Retired” (with Margaret Cho)

    In this episode of the Hacks Official podcast Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by guest host Margaret Cho (30 Rock, All-American-Girl), who makes a cameo as herself in episode 4 of the show. They discuss competitiveness and sexism in stand-up, what makes talented comedians give it all up and unpack the mother-daughter dynamic between Ava and Deborah. Plus, Margaret shares why Joan Rivers once gave her the silent treatment and some stories from being a road comedian. We’ll also learn about a dark joke that didn’t quite make it into Deborah and Ava’s pool scene.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    44 min
  13. Ep. 8 “Yes And?” with Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Johnny Sibilly

    05/24/2024

    Ep. 8 “Yes And?” with Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Johnny Sibilly

    In this episode Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Johnny Sibilly, who play Marcus and Wilson. They recap the episode, unpack their characters’ progressive friendship, Marcus’s backstory, and the nature of fandom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    37 min
  14. Ep. 4: “Join the Club” with Jean Smart

    05/10/2024

    Ep. 4: “Join the Club” with Jean Smart

    In this episode Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by returning guest Jean Smart, who plays the one, the only, Deborah Vance. They talk about meeting your heroes, pickleball, and why you should ask for what you want.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    28 min
  15. Ep. 2: “Better Late” with Mark Indelicato

    05/03/2024

    Ep. 2: “Better Late” with Mark Indelicato

    In this episode Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by guest Mark Indelicato, who plays Deborah’s long-suffering assistant Damien. They talk about filming at Television City, that Carrot Top cameo, and the world of late night TV.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    37 min
  16. Ep. 5: “One Day” with Adam Bricker

    05/16/2024

    Ep. 5: “One Day” with Adam Bricker

    In this episode Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by the Hacks Director of Photography, Adam Bricker. They talk about shooting outdoors, generational views on climate change, and what you should yell when you need help.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    36 min
  17. Ep. 6 “Par for the Course” with Kathleen Felix-Hager

    05/17/2024

    Ep. 6 “Par for the Course” with Kathleen Felix-Hager

    In this episode Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by Kathleen Felix-Hager, the show’s Emmy-award winning costume designer. In unpacking the episode they discuss Kathleen’s real-life inspiration for Deborah, Ava’s class hang-ups, and Christina Hendricks as a kinky Republican. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    37 min
  18. Ep. 7: “The Deborah Vance Christmas Spectacular” with Rose Abdoo and J. Smith-Cameron

    05/23/2024

    Ep. 7: “The Deborah Vance Christmas Spectacular” with Rose Abdoo and J. Smith-Cameron

    In this episode Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by fan favorite Rose Abdoo, who plays house manager Josefina. They recap the episode and discuss Rose’s history in comedy coming with Second City. Then, actor J. Smith-Cameron (Succession) joins the pod to talk about her guest turn as Deborah’s estranged younger sister Kathy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    38 min
  19. Ep. 3: “The Roast of Deborah Vance” with Joe Mande

    05/09/2024

    Ep. 3: “The Roast of Deborah Vance” with Joe Mande

    In this episode Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by Hacks writer/actor Joe Mande. They talk about Ava establishing boundaries, the rules of roast comedy, and Kaitlin Olson’s tour de force performance as DJ Vance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    28 min
  20. Ep. 9: “Bulletproof” with Hannah Einbinder

    05/30/2024

    Ep. 9: “Bulletproof” with Hannah Einbinder

    In this final episode, Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky are joined by Ava Daniels herself, Hannah Einbinder. In unpacking the season finale they discuss Ava’s personal ambitions, the pressures of late night, and that final scene. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    34 min
Paul W. Downs on Apple