Session 133: Paul W. Downs
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Why is the host recording from Paris and what personal updates does he share?
Back to Therapist. I am in Paris right now. And so that's why this is on an iPhone. This week on Therapist, we have Paul Downes, who created and stars in one of my favorite shows on television, which just ended, Hacks on HBO Max. It's, if you haven't seen it, please watch it. It is genuinely one of the best shows I've ever seen in my life. It's so funny, heartfelt. It's incredible. And he is just the most incredible, wonderful human of all time. And so I'm really excited for you guys to watch it. In terms of life updates for me, I am finally on a European sleep schedule. Not that anyone fucking asked or cared, but I finally woke up at like 10am today and I wasn't tired. So that was, that was really good.
I survived the Paris heat wave. Like, like it was like the sun was like passing me on the sidewalk. Like I legitimately could not leave my room. I've never experienced, like the streets were empty. I've never experienced heat like that in my entire life. And you guys know I fucking hate heat because as I always say, you can always add layers. You can't rip your own skin off. I struggled with the heat a lot. Also, my Shake and Train with Jake Shane series on the Aloe Wellness app is out now. I had so much fun filming it. We filmed it in Saint-Tropez on the Aloe Yacht. It was like genuinely one of the most insane experiences of my entire life. It's four classes, they're 10 minutes each, two strength training, two Pilates.
So you could like If you only have 10 minutes, you can do one of them. If you only have 20 minutes, you can do two of them. And if you have the whole time, you can do all four of them and make it like a full workout. Like it's really, really amazing. Like I've been doing it while I've been away. I tried to make it funny. I tried to make it like you're listening to a podcast, but like also working out, if you know what I mean. But it's great. I'm really proud of it. And I love Louie and Bianca. And you guys know I love Aloe. So check it out now on the Aloe Wellness Club app. But yeah.
Well, we are filming this on a very special day.
It is a special day.
A very sad day.
It is a sad day.
It is the finale of Hacks, the series finale.
Final episode. So weird. That you're a part of, my castmate.
I know. Thank you.
You're welcome.
That was the first time I was ever on television.
I love that. I love it when we break talent, you know?
You do break talent, though. Hannah had never acted before. Meg had never acted before.
Carl had done theater and had done, he had done one film, but it was their first acting job on television. Yeah. Robbie. Robbie, yeah. A lot of people. A lot of people. Honestly, it is one of the great joys of the show is being like, here's people that we find so funny. Hey, world, watch them shine. Like, it is really one of the best parts of the show. I know that sounds choogy or whatever, but it's truly. I don't think that's choogy. Well, it's earnest.
I think that's why Hacks became Hacks. Totally. Like there's no hacks without Meg. There's no hacks without Hannah. No. Like, you know.
Yeah.
No hacks without you. There's no hacks without.
Thank you. Without you, social media girly.
Social media girly. I remember we were on set and Paul was like, do you want a name? And I said.
Which is so funny. I think that's like the, that is the comedy instinct. That's right. Yeah.
I was like, I know it's funnier.
Because we wrote it before we were like, Jake would be amazing. You know? So we had written the part and then we were like, do we change the name? But I'm glad we stuck with social media girly.
I'm glad we stuck with it too. That was some of the best days ever.
you were so good and you know what to start like thrown into the deep end with Gene Smart and for us to be like improvise that is so intimidating I was scared but you didn't seem scared at all you were so natural you were so good I didn't know any of the phrases that you guys were doing you were like in all I didn't know what in all it was Oh my God.
So you guys were like, can you give us an all? And I was like, uh, depends on what you mean.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
Why is the host recording from Paris and what personal updates does he share?
0:13–5:07
2
How did the idea and casting for Hacks originate?
5:07–18:29
3
What challenges and memorable moments occurred while filming the Hacks finale (Louvre, strikes, fountains)?
18:29–27:33
4
How did the hosts describe improvisation, finding Meg, and the show's on-set culture?
27:33–36:52
5
How did improv skills and scrappy beginnings shape the creation of Broad City and Hacks?
36:52–39:07
6
How do the hosts handle criticism and creative ego as showrunners?
39:07–44:08
7
What practical advice do they give during the ‘Tell Me What’s Wrong’ listener segment (relationships, spending, moving)?
44:08–46:45
8
Which Hacks moments, pandemic production stories, and TV recommendations do they reflect on in the finale conversation?
46:45–1:09:56