TMC
04-04-2025, 08:24 PM
...Because They Were Female
https://people.com/jean-smart-always-insulted-when-asked-if-designing-women-cast-got-along-11707212
The 'Hacks' star is pushing back on preconceived notions about women getting along in the workplace.
By Stacy Lambe and Scott Huver Published on April 3, 2025 02:53PM EDT
Jean Smart is pushing back on preconceived notions about women getting along in the workplace.
While speaking to reporters, including PEOPLE, during a press conference to promote season 4 of Hacks, the Emmy-winning star, 73, revealed how much she disliked the idea that female coworkers don't get along while discussing the growing conflict between comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) and writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) at the center of the new episodes.
"I've always found it a little bit insulting that people have this idea that women can't get along, and that men do. I found that strange," Smart told reporters.
"I remember a million years ago when I was doing Designing Women, people used to ask us that constantly, 'Wow, what's it like on the set with four women? Oh boy, that must be – whew,' " the longtime actress recalled of her days on the CBS sitcom, which ran seven seasons between 1986 to 1993 and costarred Dixie Carter, Annie Potts and Delta Burke.
"And we'd sort of think — I said, 'Do you guys ask the Barney Miller cast that question?' " she continued, referring to the ABC sitcom led by Hal Linden. "I mean, I thought that was really bizarre."
"Because the Barney Miller cast, they feuded, they were pulling each other's hair out," Hacks co-creator and star Paul W. Downs interjected, finishing Smart's thought.
Echoing that sentiment was Burke, 68, who opened up last year about her time on the beloved sitcom, saying that at the time, "I [was] so happy to be there."
She also noted that she “loved” how her character, Suzanne Sugarbaker, “evolved” on the show over the course of five seasons, and that remaining on the sitcom gave her "an amazing character to get to play, grow older and fatter with,” which is something that she said she treasures despite the difficulties.
On season 4 of Hacks, meanwhile, tensions rise between Deborah and Ava after the former lands a coveted hosting gig of a late-night talk show while the latter becomes her head writer. However, despite breaking the glass ceiling together, the two are at odds over the show itself as personal conflicts between them spill over into the workplace.
Co-creator Lucia Aniello told reporters, "The relationship they have already coming into the season grows and changes as a result of being official coworkers." Despite working together during the first three seasons, which saw Deborah find renewed success after going on tour, things "weirdly feel different because HR is involved."
Aniello added that that new dynamic was the perfect way for them to ask, "What is it like for Deobrah and Ava to then have employees of their own and how do they approach those relationships as well as with each other?"
Hacks season 4 debuts Thursday, April 10, at 9 p.m. ET on Max.
https://people.com/jean-smart-always-insulted-when-asked-if-designing-women-cast-got-along-11707212
The 'Hacks' star is pushing back on preconceived notions about women getting along in the workplace.
By Stacy Lambe and Scott Huver Published on April 3, 2025 02:53PM EDT
Jean Smart is pushing back on preconceived notions about women getting along in the workplace.
While speaking to reporters, including PEOPLE, during a press conference to promote season 4 of Hacks, the Emmy-winning star, 73, revealed how much she disliked the idea that female coworkers don't get along while discussing the growing conflict between comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) and writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) at the center of the new episodes.
"I've always found it a little bit insulting that people have this idea that women can't get along, and that men do. I found that strange," Smart told reporters.
"I remember a million years ago when I was doing Designing Women, people used to ask us that constantly, 'Wow, what's it like on the set with four women? Oh boy, that must be – whew,' " the longtime actress recalled of her days on the CBS sitcom, which ran seven seasons between 1986 to 1993 and costarred Dixie Carter, Annie Potts and Delta Burke.
"And we'd sort of think — I said, 'Do you guys ask the Barney Miller cast that question?' " she continued, referring to the ABC sitcom led by Hal Linden. "I mean, I thought that was really bizarre."
"Because the Barney Miller cast, they feuded, they were pulling each other's hair out," Hacks co-creator and star Paul W. Downs interjected, finishing Smart's thought.
Echoing that sentiment was Burke, 68, who opened up last year about her time on the beloved sitcom, saying that at the time, "I [was] so happy to be there."
She also noted that she “loved” how her character, Suzanne Sugarbaker, “evolved” on the show over the course of five seasons, and that remaining on the sitcom gave her "an amazing character to get to play, grow older and fatter with,” which is something that she said she treasures despite the difficulties.
On season 4 of Hacks, meanwhile, tensions rise between Deborah and Ava after the former lands a coveted hosting gig of a late-night talk show while the latter becomes her head writer. However, despite breaking the glass ceiling together, the two are at odds over the show itself as personal conflicts between them spill over into the workplace.
Co-creator Lucia Aniello told reporters, "The relationship they have already coming into the season grows and changes as a result of being official coworkers." Despite working together during the first three seasons, which saw Deborah find renewed success after going on tour, things "weirdly feel different because HR is involved."
Aniello added that that new dynamic was the perfect way for them to ask, "What is it like for Deobrah and Ava to then have employees of their own and how do they approach those relationships as well as with each other?"
Hacks season 4 debuts Thursday, April 10, at 9 p.m. ET on Max.