Hannah Einbinder and Megan Stalter
“To get a queer character is one thing, but to have them honoured is totally different,” Hannah Einbinder tells fellow bicon Megan Stalter over a one-hour Zoom conversation. “I couldn’t believe it existed because I had never seen it before. I’d seen it in various films, not on TV and not as a lead character.”
The stand-up comic is speaking with her Hacks co-star about her - let’s put this in bold! - Emmy Award-nominated character Ava on HBO Max’s brilliant new series, which follows a legendary Las Vegas comedy diva [Jean Smart] as she reluctantly teams up with a witty Gen-Z writer [Einbinder] to revive her career. Stalter, who received viral fame thanks to her instantly iconic “Hi gay!” Pride Month video, co-stars as Kayla; the nepotistic yet endearingly incompetent assistant to Ava’s manager who steals every goddamn scene she’s in.
While the comedy-drama, created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky, has received widespread critical acclaim for its leading performances and hilariously fresh script, it’s also won rave reviews from LGBTQ+ critics and viewers for normalising the queer experience - particularly with Einbinder’s leading character.
Here, two of comedy’s most exciting queer entertainers try on a few luscious wigs, discuss their unique and signature styles of comedy, Hacks - as well as their hopes for season two - and, of course, “Hi gay!” Why? Because we love gay, and it’s awesome.
Megan: Every time I’m on Zoom I blush really bad. Like, look how red I am. Have you ever seen me this red?
Hannah: Never.
Megan: I start blushing as soon as I log on. Then when I log off, I’m fine, white as a ghost.
Hannah: Snap a screenshot, because this is gorgeous and natural…
You love it? Every meeting I’m
