‘There’s a crisis in comedy right now’: Paul W. Downs explains how ‘Hacks’ is fighting back

In this week’s episode of The Envelope video podcast, Tyler James Williams reveals that the team behind “Abbott Elementary” actually loves frustrating viewers, and “Hacks” star Paul W. Downs weighs in on the debate over which shows in the Emmy race deserve to be described as a comedy. People think like, “Oh, you’re getting ready for this film.” You’re like, “I have been studying this person’s isms — “ Williams: Over and over and over and over again. We shot the last scene of Season 3, and it was the scene right before Gregory goes back to Janine’s apartment and Jacob is, like, “What are you doing?” Finnie: Jacob was all of us. So every once in a while we’ll hear a really fun story and we’re, like, “There might be something to draw on.” Villarreal: Do you think Jimmy would represent Paul W. Downs? I don’t know if that makes sense.” It’s also when you see the fun and the chemistry people have, I think a lot of times people are like, “Well, that’s love.