Hacks Stars Clash Over Concert Preferences in Chaotic Interview
During a promotional interview for the fifth and final season of HBO Max's acclaimed comedy Hacks, co-stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder engaged in a hilarious and chaotic debate over live music preferences. The discussion, which quickly descended into playful chaos, centered on Smart's surprising declaration that Harry Styles outperforms The Beatles in concert.
Smart's Controversial Pick Stuns Einbinder
In an interview with CNN's Elex Michaelson, the conversation took an unexpected turn when Michaelson posed rapid-fire questions to the Emmy-winning actors. When asked about their favorite concerts ever attended, Smart, 74, responded almost immediately with a deadpan expression: "Harry Styles."
Einbinder, 30, who had been pausing to consider her own answer, burst out laughing in shock at her co-star's selection. "Really?" she exclaimed, clearly taken aback by the unexpected choice from her veteran colleague.
The Beatles Comparison Sparks Chaos
Smart defended her choice by emphasizing Styles' energetic stage presence. "He puts on an amazing show," she stated firmly. When Einbinder began to question how Smart could make such a claim "in your entire life," the older actress revealed she had actually seen The Beatles perform live.
This confession sent both Michaelson and Einbinder into a frenzy of incredulous questioning, with the two interrupting each other in their excitement. Smart calmly explained her perspective: "First of all, I was 12. I was in the nosebleeds section. I could not see or hear anything."
Why Styles Trumps The Fab Four
According to Smart, The Beatles' performance paled in comparison to Styles' dynamic shows. She criticized the iconic band for standing relatively still while playing their songs and merely shaking their hair. "It's not like they were running the breadth of the stage and doing all sorts of cool stuff," she remarked, contrasting this with Styles' known energetic performances.
Einbinder responded with dropped jaw and laughter as Michaelson summarized the situation by exclaiming in unison with Einbinder: "Jean Smart says Harry Styles is better than the Beatles!"
Interview Descends into Playful Chaos
As Smart protested that she had only claimed Styles puts on a better show, not that he was objectively better, Einbinder seized the moment. She screamed, "She said it!" while pointing dramatically to CNN crew members behind the camera, repeating "You saw it! You saw it! You saw it!" as if documenting a historic confession.
Smart yelled back in response, "I said he puts on a better show!" The quick-witted back-and-forth between the two actors mirrored their iconic dynamic on Hacks, where Smart plays a veteran comedian paired with Einbinder's jaded joke-writer to revive her career.
Promoting Hacks' Final Season
The entertaining clash occurred as the actors promoted the fifth and final season of their award-winning series. After five successful years on television and 12 Emmy Awards—including four Best Lead Actress in a Comedy wins for Smart and one Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy for Einbinder—the show's concluding chapter premieres Thursday.
The interview demonstrated not only the genuine chemistry between the two performers but also how their off-screen rapport continues to captivate audiences, even in promotional settings. Their ability to turn a simple question about concert preferences into a memorable comedic moment speaks to the talent that has made Hacks such a critical success throughout its run.
