NEWSAndy Cohen Confronts ‘Hacks’ Creator Paul W. Downs Over Brutal Joke About Him on Live TV
Andy Cohen discussed Paul W. Downs and a memorable ‘Hacks’ joke during ‘Watch What Happens Live.’
Aug. 13 2026, Published 9:44 a.m. ET
Andy Cohen confronted Hacks creator Paul W. Downs about a harsh joke the show made about him in Season 5. The exchange happened when Downs and Meg Stalter appeared on Watch What Happens Live to discuss the HBO Max series’ recent ending.
Cohen put Downs on the spot by reminding him of his behind-the-scenes role.
"Paul, as co-creator and showrunner, you were in charge at Hacks," Cohen told him. "So, I have a question about this particular moment in season 5."
Jean Smart’s 'Hacks' Character Took a Brutal Swipe at Andy Cohen
Andy Cohen addressed a ‘Hacks’ storyline that referenced him during the Bravo talk show.
The host then played the scene for the show in question, which featured Jean Smart's character, Deborah Vance, taking a swipe at reality TV.
"The problem with reality shows is you cannot control the narrative. I mean, that’s why I’ve turned down Andy Cohen more than every twink on Fire Island," Downs said.
After the clip aired and the camera cut back to the Bravo studio, Cohen appeared visibly stunned as his jaw dropped at the reference.
Stalter then defended Downs, explaining, "I told him not to put it in," before Downs added, "I said, 'Use someone else’s name.'"
Paul W. Downs Shifted the Blame to Jean Smart
Paul W. Downs discussed Jean Smart’s improvisational style while explaining the ‘Hacks’ joke involving Andy Cohen.
Cohen’s reaction prompted Downs to explain how the line ended up in the finished episode.
"I have to tell you something: Jean Smart is an improviser," Downs said.
He added, "She’s an improviser. She improvises like crazy. We can never rein her in. I don’t know why she did that."
Downs played Jimmy, Deborah’s manager on Hacks, while also serving as a co-creator and showrunner. Smart portrayed Deborah, the veteran comedian whose career and personal relationships remained central to the series throughout its five-season run.
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Andy Cohen Asked About a Possible 'Hacks' Spinoff
Meg Stalter discussed the possibility of continuing Jimmy and Kayla’s story after ‘Hacks’ ended.
Cohen also turned the conversation toward the possibility of continuing the story of Jimmy and his former assistant Kayla, played by Stalter.
Stalter indicated that there was interest in exploring the characters further but made clear that "we’re not going to" return to television for a spinoff.
Paul W. Downs Addressed the Future of 'Hacks' After Its Record Emmy Run
Paul W. Downs discussed the future of ‘Hacks’ after the series earned a record-breaking 24 Emmy nominations.
After airing its season 5 finale in June, Hacks continued its winning streak, earning a record-breaking 24 Emmy nominations — the most ever for a comedy series in a single year.
Downs offered a more open-ended response, acknowledging the appeal of continuing the story while emphasizing the importance of the series’ ending.
"I can say this... I think we would love to do it, but we also want to leave the show as it is. It was hard to land the plane and now that we have landed the plane, it’s like, let’s leave it at that," Downs said.
