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Sunday, April 13, 2025

My Big 'Hacks' Moment


Variety's Michael Schneider and Kate Aurthur were both asked to play themselves-ish on the Season 4 premiere of "Hacks," which premiered April 10 on Max. These are their stories.

MIKE: Mid-way through the Season 4 opener of the Emmy-winning comedy “Hacks,” Deborah Vance — played by national treasure Jean Smart, of course — is ready to hold a press conference to tout her new late-night show. She comes out awkwardly raising the roof to Bizarre Inc.’s 1992 dance pop gem “I’m Gonna Get You,” and then calls on her first reporter.

And it’s… me. I’m that reporter. (Not an actor!) It says so in the script: Instead of “Reporter 1,” the character asking the very first question is “Michael Schneider,” as spelled out on the blue shooting draft. This fictionalized version of “Michael Schneider,” played by the real Michael Schneider, even has a line. He/I kick off the press conference by asking a legit, albeit softball of a question: “So, Deborah, any pressure to live up to the legacy of hosts before you?” (Yes, I added that "so" to the line. Improv!)

Jeremy Strong would be proud: I was so method that I showed up to set driving my banged-up Honda CR-V and even wearing a cheap H&M suit jacket straight out of the real-life Michael Schneider’s closet. If I was going to play myself, I was going to play the most believable version.

Variety's Michael Schneider and Kate Aurthur are about to ask Deborah Vance a question.

But I’m not the only real-life reporter hack with face time in “Hacks” Episode 401. Sitting in front of me at Deborah’s press confab, ready to ask the follow-up question, was my Variety colleague Kate Aurthur! And Kate, what do you remember most from that October day when we filmed this pivotal, groundbreaking scene (For Your Consideration!) at the Skirball Center?

KATE: Mike, as you know, and as I kept announcing to anyone within earshot that day — including to “Hacks” creators Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky and Lucia Aniello (who was also directing) — I’m not an actor! I was incredibly nervous in the lead up to the shoot, but also amused and delighted (and impressed, given how tiny our parts were) by the emails from the hair, makeup and costume departments asking me for photos and what “REPORTER KATE” might wear, as well as what my general “reporter looks” were. These questions flummoxed me. So I ended up sending a video interview I’d done with Lucia, Jen and Paul last spring, and they, to my relief, said, "great, wear that!"

At the Skirball, it was very fun hanging out with you, as well as fellow reporters Stacey Wilson Hunt (my honey wagon trailer neighbor), Pete Hammond and Denny Directo. When we ate lunch, there were tons of background actors in the room, but I didn’t think a thing about how very many of them there were — that is, until we walked into the room of the scene itself, and … there they all were. Fuck, it was a huge press conference for Deborah! I’m certainly not an actor, but “performing” in front of a large crowd? Dear God, no. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Signage around the Skirball Center made this feel like a real press conference; inside as the "Hacks" crew sets up the scene.

I’m getting nervous just reliving it, but another source of anxiety was that my line had evolved from the pithy “How does it feel to be the first woman to get 11:30?” to — for the sake of accuracy — “How does it feel to be the first woman on at 11:30 on one of the Big Three?” A mouthful! I went into a fugue state. Mike, how did you feel during the actual taping? You did great, every single time.

MIKE: Aw, thanks, and you may not be an actor, but you play a convincing “Kate.” For me, I felt a little underprepared, not knowing what they expected from our line reads. Maybe we were just that good that we didn’t need any notes? Maybe I should have given them different takes. Maybe I should have improvised beyond the "so"! But probably not.

Our credits at the end of the "Hacks" season premiere. Myles Hendrik is a photographer who also makes an appearance on the episode, presumably as himself. (Wait, among us journos, how did Pete Hammond get top billing after that? Call my agent!)

I did find it amusing that besides you, me, Stacey, Pete and Denny, that an actual actor (Fred Cross) was embedded as a reporter among us. Early in the day, it was apparent that Fred’s wardrobe was a bit too stylish to fit in with us actual journos — something that even Jean Smart noticed. After that, the wardrobe team downgraded his look, and he blended in with the rest of us.

Also, I was impressed by how soon we wrapped. I’ve never been a fan of TV show set visits, because the whole “hurry up and wait” vibe makes me anxious (I have work to do!) — and the repetition of watching the same scene being filmed a dozen times gets monotonous. For our “Hacks” scene, we shot it numerous times as the cameras caught the action from several angles. But it didn’t feel like overkill. Maybe I just wanted to soak it all in — and also make sure they had enough decent takes that we weren’t left on the cutting room floor!

Variety's Michael Schneider with "Hacks" executive producers Lucia Aniello (who also directed the episode), Jen Statsky and Paul W. Downs (who also plays Jimmy).

I was particularly tickled that in several takes (including the one that made it on the episode), Jean kicked off the press conference by calling on me by name (“Michael!”) That wasn’t in the script, Jean Smart just remembers my name! I shouldn't have been surprised, I suppose, since I wrote the Variety cover story on Jean in 2021. I’ve been writing about TV for 30 years and probably should be more jaded, but that’s still one of those “pinch me” moments.

Now, Kate, you’ve gotta be excited that people are going to watch “Hacks” this week and go,”Holy shit, Kate’s on my TV!”

KATE: Excited is one word, question mark? Obviously, people we work with knew this was happening at the time — we filmed in mid-October — so they haven’t been surprised. (And our friend and colleague Marc Malkin was in the premiere of “Hacks” Season 3, playing himself on a red carpet, so there’s a precedence for this at Variety!) But yes, it’s been funny as people who get screeners have started watching them, and getting in touch — one recent morning, I woke up to Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone’s TV critic, having texted me “HACKS PREMIERE” out of the blue. I’m just trying to put my self-hatred aside to enjoy this weird, fun ride. I just don’t want to turn into a meme, Mike!

And yes, as a journalist who covers television, and has done set visits (and mostly found them to be pretty useless from a reporting standpoint), “Hacks” seems to have it down. In the scene, Deborah is facing the crowd, and answering questions that start to become increasingly pointed. (Wait, an aside! I was so thankful to have one of the softball questions, and not have to ask Deborah Vance about how young people don’t watch late-night talk shows, or whether she has the stamina to do five nights a week — Mike, I would have wilted under Jean Smart’s withering gaze!)

Jean Smart as Deborah Vance and Helen Hunt as network head Winnie Landell, "Hacks."

But back to their efficiency. The scene is about Deborah flaming out in front of the press, so we did a ton of setups with the cameras facing her. Lucia Aniello would sometimes give Jean Smart alts, shouting different responses to the reporters’ questions from the back of the room, so it took a while. But always at the end, Helen Hunt’s character, Winnie, who plays the head of the network, would drag Deborah off the stage after the answer that will come back to haunt her later, in which she professes, “I’m not a woman, I’m a comedian. GOT IT?” Then, they announced that they needed to turn the scene around — I’m sure there’s a term for this, ha — so the cameras were on us, and filmed the gaggle of press. It was then that I thought my dinner with friends in my neighborhood — all the way in Silver Lake — was doomed, but no, they were so quick that I made it!

Now that is some acting, Michael Schneider and Kate Aurthur!

But this is how dumb I am, Mike. We’d already shot the scene so many times, so I didn’t somehow clock that the few takes we did with the cameras on the podium facing us would of course be the ones they used of us! I thought … who knows what I thought, in retrospect? I guess I thought that maybe you wouldn’t really see us asking, that it would be all Deborah. But of course, there we are, asking away — at least I went Method too, and have my phone in my hand, as if I’d written my question on it. Oh well, next time, I’ll know! [Narrator voice: There won’t be a next time.] What was surprising to you about this whole process?

MIKE: Can I be honest and say the… luxury of it all? I’m sure most actors would scoff at the closet-sized dressing rooms we got in the honey wagon – but we still got a little space, with our names on them, and that was amazing! (Granted, it was with dry-erase marker and the sign would have been reused the next day with some other guest star’s name … had I not taken it as a keepsake.) The catering was top-notch, and it can’t be cheap to feed the entire crew and army of extras. I’m always wowed at how much goes into shooting one scene in one location — the miles of cables, well-populated video village, rows of trailers — and the fact that someone is there early enough to build this little production town overnight, and others are there into the wee hours packing it up, long after we’ve headed home. And then they would immediately do it again, the next day, in an entirely different location.

What do journalists love more than free food? Nothing, absolutely nothing. The catering impressed Variety's Michael Schneider, as did his time in the makeup chair.

Like I said, I’ve been doing this for 30 years, so I’m not new to the process. But somehow, being in the middle of the action gave me an entirely new appreciation for the amount of work that goes into production, and the artisans who do it. The makeup artist working her magic so that I looked better than I ever have at a press conference. The sound person making sure I was properly mic’ed, and that it always looked natural. The producers sending us to a comfortable holding area rather than making us dawdle in our chairs as they switch the cameras. Lucia, effortlessly and deftly directing icons like Jean Smart and Helen Hunt.

Variety's Michael Schneider and Kate Aurthur get mic'ed up for their big moment on camera.

And then, we come to the most luxurious, and kind of ridiculous, element of the entire day. Kate, you and I, and all of our colleagues, had actual, physical stand-ins. That’s right. Even though we each had one line and our scene is over in an instant, it was long enough that a handful of extras had to play us — sitting in our seats, wearing nametags with our names! — while the cameras were swapped. That’s kind of amazing, but I also felt a bit embarrassed. Like, are we too good to be sitting there, bored out of our minds as the stage is reset, but they’re not? Yeah, a lot was going through my head.

But nothing more than the fact that the actor who was hired as my stand-in, who I’m sure is lovely, was a few years older than me. I think? I assume they find people who look approximately like us, so maybe that’s how you all see me? I guess what I’m asking is, did “Hacks” smack me with the cold, hard truth that I am now an aged (maybe let’s say “seasoned”) reporter? 

But again, he also seemed happy to be there, as did most of the background actors. I mean, why not -- you get an insider's look at TV's comedy Emmy champ, while getting a master class in acting from the show's stars and you're fed too! (Again, I know, with the food.) Speaking of that, has this experience given you any more food for thought?

KATE: Yes, seeing one’s stand-in is not for the weak. I think mine was alarmed as well.

My nervousness aside, as well as my concerns about being memed — am I increasing the likelihood of being memed by expressing this fear publicly?! — being on “Hacks” was a total blast. And yes, it was also a learning experience for our jobs, for all the reasons you detail. So much collective effort goes into every single day of production; the scale is astonishing. And Jean Smart has now won three Emmys for playing Deborah Vance, and watching her deliver the same lines again and again, while also trying new things for each take, was just so instructive, not to mention enjoyable. It’s a tiny scene within the premiere, so viewers may not even notice it’s there (possibly my preference, ha)! But it meant something to us, and I’ll always remember this experience. I do think I’ll pass on the inevitable “Hacks” spinoff focusing on the reporters who cover television, but Mike, I think you have a real shot!

It will never get more glamorous than this for Variety's Michael Schneider and Kate Aurthur. And yes, Mike just admitted that he stole his sign.

"Hacks" Season 4 will continue dropping new episodes Thursdays on Max.

Monday, December 30, 2024

Choice Cuts Volume 23: Some of Our Favorite Tracks From 2024

In no particular order, I've selected the favorite tracks from 2024's playlists for my 23nd annual Choice Cuts end-of-year mix. And once again I am doing my Casey Kasem impression and turned it into a radio show as well. Here ya go: 

Also, check out the Choice Cuts 2024 YouTube playlist here, or stream the full playlist on Spotify playlist here.

Or you can listen and watch each one below!

1. "Cinderella" — Remi Wolf

Last year's Choice Cuts comp featured Remi Wolf on a duet with Benny Sings, but this year we have her solo. The Palo Alto native released her second album, "Big Ideas," in 2024 , featuring her biggest hit to date, "Cinderella."  Let's go hang with her and the boys in the hotel lobby!

2. "Love Me Not (feat. Rex Orange County)" — Ravyn Lenae

The original version of Ravyn Lenae's track "Love Me Not" appears on her album "Birds Eye," which was released in August. She later released a remix of the song featuring new vocals from Rex Orange County. It's perhaps an unexpected collab, but their voices truly mesh.

3. "Cheerleader" — Porter Robinson

Born in Atlanta and raised in Chapel Hill, electronic music producer Porter Robinson crafted a fast paced, catchy tune for his first release in two years. A song about parasocial relationships, "Cheerleader" meshes emo with synthpop. It's pretty irresistable.

4. "Every Night Every Morning" — Maoli

Originally released by the country duo Maddie & Tae in 2022, the song "Every Night Every Morning" got a Hawaiian reggae makeover by the group Maoli, led by Glenn Awong. You couldn't escape this song in Hawai'i this summer, and for good reason. 

5. "DANCE NOW" — JOEY VALENCE & BRAE

No, it's not an old Beastie Boys track. Hailing from Pennsylvania, Joey Valence and Brae bring plenty of bravado and humor to a dope beat. We DIY, yeah we're Etsy.

6. "Take A Bite" — beabadoobee

We featured Beabadoobee's song "Talk" in our 2022 Choice Cuts mix. This time out we've got the lead single from her third album "This Is How Tomorrow Moves." Beabadoobee once again takes us back to the 90s with an another infectious tune, "Take A Bite," in which she embraces her chaotic side. Go ahead, take a bite.

7. "Starburster" — Fontaines D.C.

Formed in 2014 and based in Ireland, rock band Fontaines D.C. released their fourth album "Romance" in 2024 and hit it big with "Starburster," which was named song of the year by Spin and landed a Grammy nom for best alternative music performance. 

8. "Hell of A Ride" — Nourished By Time

Marcus Brown, a.k.a. Nourished By Time's 2024 EP "Catching Chickens" features the track "Hell of a Ride" which now feels a bit prescient... is it really about proclaiming the end of late-stage capitalism and the fall of America as we know it? Well, it has been a hell of a ride. Sigh.

9. "Love To Walk Away" — The Vaccines

Formed in West London n 2010, The Vaccines have already released six albums, including most recently 2024's "Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations." That title was inspired by Don McLean's "American Pie" as frontman Justin Young decided to make an album about the "loss of dreams." "Love to Walk Away" set that tone.

10. "Don't Forget Me" — Maggie Rogers

Maggie Rogers kicked off 2024 by releasing her third album "Don't Forget Me," and even sneak previewing the title track on New Year's Day. Turns out we didn't forget her this year.

11. "You Need Me Now? (feat. Sabrina Carpenter)" — girl in red

During Taylor Swift's lengthy Eras tour, both Girl in Red and Sabrina Carpenter served as opening acts. So it probably was inevitable that they would collab on their own track together. It was a big year for Sabrina Carpenter, and she's featured here backing up Girl in Red on "You Need Me Now."

12. "BODYGUARD" — BeyoncĂ©

In yet another groundbreaking year for Beyonce, she played with various genres, especially of course country, on her eighth album "Cowboy Carter" and then ended the year breaking records as the halftime extravaganza during the Christmas Day NFL games. This was my favorite song off Cowboy Carter, the 70s-ish "Bodyguard."

13. "blindspot" — Charlotte Sands

Off her LP "Can We Start Over," Charlotte Sands channels the 1990s -- hey it seems to be a common theme here -- in "Blindspot." In the song, Charlotte opines over falling in love with a friend. Sands says she was inspired by artists like Michelle Branch and Jewel in "Blindspot." Take a listen.

14. "Just My Luck" — Obongjayar

Obongjayar is a Nigerian singer based in London, real name Steven Umoh. His music mixes soul, electronic music, hip hop influences, Afrobeat and more. And then there's that falsetto voice he uses in the catchy tune "Just My Luck." You won't be able to get him shouting "Lucky! Lucky" out of your head. But don't worry, it's just your luck.

15. "Lego Ring (feat. Lil Yachty)" — Faye Webster

Faye Webster and Lil Yachty were middle school pals in Atlanta, and then took different creative paths. And yet, Faye's indie folk rock and Yachty's trap and rap background both come from experimental places. So of course, it completely works to bring them together on "Lego Ring." Stay in touch with your childhood friends!

16. "Sexy to Someone" — Clairo

Clairo, the performing name for Claire Cottrill, received a Grammy nomination for her third album "Charm," featuring tracks like Sexy to Someone, a plea for love that is nevertheless bright and groovy.  

17. "Otherside (feat. Holly Walker) — Maribou State

Maribou State is an electronic music duo out of the UK featuring Chris Davids and Liam Ivory. But they regularly work with singer Holly Walker, who shows up here in the track "Otherside," off their upcoming album "Hallucinating Love."

18. "Right Back to It (feat. MJ Lenderman)" — Waxahatchee

Waxahatchee, the band project from Katie Crutchfield, wowed critics this year with "Tigers Blood," her sixth album. Nominated for a Grammy as best Americana album, "Tigers Blood" features the power collab between Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman. Inspired by classic country duets, "Right Back to It" was named one of the best singles of the year by the New York Times. Let's get right back to it.

19. "squabble up" — Kendrick Lamar

You'd think winning his battle with Drake via the instant classic "Not Like Us" would make enough of a victorious year for Kendrick Lamar. But in November he dropped the surprise album "GNX." That album immediately cemented Kendrick's MVP status in 2024; the track "Squabble Up" I particularly love, of course, thanks to the "When I Hear Music" Debbie Deb sample.

20. "Pretending" — FLETCHER

Fletcher, real name Cari Elise Fletcher, released her second full-length album this year, "In Search of the Antidote," featuring the track "Pretending." Fletcher says the song is about having that person at that back of your mind who makes you keep wondering, " Is it going to be us that end up together one day?" For now, we'll both keep on pretending.

21. "Good Luck, Babe!" — Chappell Roan

When Chappell Roan announced the release of her single "Good Luck Babe," she described it as the "first song of the next chapter" and she was most certainly right. It was a big year for the singer, although that did come with plenty of controversy over her struggles with fame. I try not to include too many mega hits on this list, but NPR named it the best pop song of the year and "Good Luck Babe" continues to be a grand, anthemic listen.

22. "Nothing Would Change" — The Linda Lindas

They've come a long way from the LA Public Library. You heard the Linda Lindas' hit "Growing Up" this summer in "Inside Out 2," and more recently the Linda Lindas released their second album, "No Obligation." As they prepare to embark on a North American tour in 2025, the Linda Lindas are truly growing up. And this track, "Nothing Would Change," takes another melancholic look at how growing up means that, well, everything changes.

23. "Crown" — Billie Marten

UK singer songwriter Billie Marten has been playing the song "Crown" in concert for some time, but finally released a recording of the song, which Billie describes as "a song of longing, of accepting who you are, a truthful interlude." Try on this "Crown."

24. "Girl, so confusing (featuring lorde)" — Charli XCX

This may be one of my favorite music moments of the whole year. The original "Girl, So Confusing" appears on Charli XCX's album "Brat," which took the world by storm. In it, she talks about her rivalry with another musician. In this remix, we find out who it is: Lorde, who adds a verse as the two air out their issues -- and promise to break the Internet in the process.

25. "God Gave Me Feet For Dancing (feat. Yazmin Lacey)" — Yazmin Lacey & Ezra Collective

For their third album, "Dance, No One's Watching," Ezra Collective partnered with London singer Yazmin Lacey to give us the smooth, jazz-infused groove "God Gave Me Feet For Dancing." Bandleader Femo Koleoso says the song is meant to look at dancing in a more spirtual capacity. "It's our God-given ability to share away the badness of life and dance instead." Something to remember as we head into 2025.


Sunday, November 24, 2024

The Great Los Angeles Walk 2024 Recap: Plenty of Unexpected Delights As Hundreds Hike From USC to UCLA


It was our biggest walk yet. Thanks to the recent Los Angeles Times feature on the Great Los Angeles Walk, hundreds of Angelenos joined us on Saturday morning, Nov. 23, at Exposition Park (and at the oldest palm tree in Los Angeles) to kick off the 19th annual Great Los Angeles Walk. This year, we were inspired by the day's USC vs. UCLA game (as well as my son at UCLA and nephew at USC) to walk from USC to UCLA — about 13 and a half miles. 

And it was a beautiful day for a walk. The temperature was mild (not too cold, not too hot) and the rain stayed away (other then a bit of a mist, particularly by the end of the walk -- but it was a welcome, refreshing mist!). There was plenty of serendipity along the way too, as walkers were treated to all sorts of extra experiences along the way. That started with free copies of the L.A. Times' walking issue, as well as free hats and water bottles from the folks at Noom.

After a few words, I introduced L.A. Times' Wellness editor Alyssa Bereznak to say a few words about the issue. I shouted out Cat and Steve Whalen, the now-married couple who first met a few years ago on the walk, and gave everyone the rundown on the day. And then we were off! 

First thing, we checked out check out the Natural History Museum's new NHM Commons wing, featuring Gnatalie the dinosaur and Barbara Carrasco's recently installed landmark mural “LA History: A Mexican Perspective. 

After the NHM Commons, we started heading north on Vermont and then moved west on 24th street, checking out some of the historic homes as we made our way to Normandie — where we headed back north.

At Washington, we ducked into the Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, where the old, turn-of-the-century gravestones are fascinating to see. Also as we kicked off on Washington, there was a special treat: The "Meeting of Styles" event, featuring street/graffiti artists from all over the world, creating new designs in alleys and in various places. Different hubs also featured music, vendors and other cool things.

That included the new art for the Hungarian Cultural Center. And there was event some tribute to Ray Charles, whose memorial library, Ray Charles Square, recording studio and even post office were in the area.

This may have been the most art-intensive street; besides the "Meeting of Styles" street art, there were murals throughout Washington Blvd. There's also arts institutions like the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center and many, many art galleries. 

Later, a lucky handful of us hit the 7th Ave. Garden just as creator/founder David Horvitz was there to open the gate and allow us explore. See, serendipity!

Mid way through, walkers found plenty of places to eat. The Pacific French Bakery offered walkers a deal (their famous french roll, free with purchase of a treat), while plenty of folks discovered Re/creation cafe. And Roscoe's Chicken n Waffles (where a bunch of us had lunch) is always a hit.

Making our way to Culver City, we visited the Helms Bakery complex, the Culver Steps, the Culver Hotel, City Hall, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Veterans Memorial Park. We then headed north on Overland (got to see the "Crapi Apartments") and then turned west on Pico, in time for the Apple Pan.

Heading north on Westwood, there were plenty more sights to see, including the UCLA Nimoy Theatre and later, the free Hammer museum. We ended our day at the Broxton Brewery & Public House, right next to the Broxton Plaza Holiday Market — were the tree was lit and Santa was in full force.

What a day! Thanks to everyone who made all of the trek, some of it, or even just helped give rides to their friends. Check out The Great Los Angeles Walk's Instagram feed for more pics, and the hashtags #glaw and #greatlawalk for more as well. 


But here are just a few highlights from the day:








At the Natural History Museum's new NHM Commons entrance: Barbara Carrasco's recently installed 
landmark mural “LA History: A Mexican Perspective"


Walkers checking out the brand-new NHM Commons wing


Also in the new NHM Commons wing: Gnatalie the dinosaur!


Looks to be a pretty harmless prank on game day: Someone spelling "UCLA" out in from of the USC campus in... baby powder?




At the Bird's Nest Cafe, one of the businesses we may have overwhelmed today


I mean, when you're playing the Lotto, this can't hurt, right?


Walkers check out the West Adams homes on 24th street.



Street art under way as part of "Meeting of Styles"



With Steve and Cat Whalen, our Great LA Walk marriage success story! Let us know if there are any more!


SCOOP: We found where those delivery robots live!


Fantastic new Ray Charles mural


The Hungarian Cultural Center gets a glow-up







7th Avenue Garden creator David Horvitz happened to be at the gate, about to show some people who want to hold an event there, when we showed up. It was total luck of the draw that we got to see it.





Inside the Nate Holden community center


Roscoe's Chicken 'n Waffles!


Amazing.


We have arrived in Culver City!


"Going Everywhere Fast" mural


All roads lead to Culver City!


"Helms Coach Gone a Rye"


The Culver Steps

 




Quotation Courtyard at the Culver City Hall


Crapi Apartments!


An LA institution, the Apple Pan


Forget 24 Hour Fitness. Now I know where to get married at 3 a.m.!


And here they are, the USC and UCLA students who inspired this year's walk!


Inside the Hammer Museum. 





Just some of the folks who finished the walk and celebrated at the Broxton Brewery & Public House



Tree lighting at Broxton Plaza, a lovely way to end a lovely day.