LOS ANGELES, May 15 (UPI) -- Hacks guest stars Michaela Watkins and Lauren Weedman are sharing their approach to the show's take on sexism in the entertainment industry. In Thursday's new episodes, HR representative Stacey (Watkins) leaves to go to therapy, while Las Vegas Mayor Jo (Weedman) addresses a scandal.
In recent Zoom interviews with UPI, the actors discussed their take on the industry's views on women. In Season 4, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) hosts Mayor Jo on her late-night talk show to address a sex scandal in which Jo was caught sleeping with two men on a Zamboni.
"Of course, it's a total double standard," Weedman, 56, said of society ridiculing her fictional mayor. "That's what's exciting about this show, is it's still dealing with the issues [like] sexism that [are] still there. I'm so happy that I get to be a part of a show that addresses that."
Meanwhile, Stacey was assigned to Deborah and her head writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder) at the beginning of the season to create a safer work space for the rest of the staff. Stacey quickly found herself out of her depth with the extreme ways Ava and Deborah fought in the office.
Many of Watkins' scenes had Stacey sit in the background chaperoning Deborah and Ava. She would be doing something funny like choking on water or fiddling with her glasses.
