The return of Hacks season 3 has been a treat for fans of the subversive comedy-drama series, but, with just 9 episodes in its third season, Hacks is coming to an end on May 30. As viewers await news of Hacks season 4’s fate, they can check out a brand-new cringe comedy film starring one of the show’s breakout actors. Created by Emmy-winning Broad City alum Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, Hacks centers on legendary Las Vegas stand-up comedian Deborah Vance, who’s played by five-time Emmy Award winner Jean Smart.
In season 1 of the hit series, Deborah feels the need to reinvent herself in order to maintain her lucrative Las Vegas residency. As fate would have it, her talent manager, Jimmy LuSaque (Downs), also represents down-on-her-luck millennial comedy writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), who was “canceled” over a problematic tweet. An unlikely duo, Deborah and Ava end up forming a remarkably successful — though at times toxic — creative partnership. Meanwhile, Jimmy is assisted by a standout member of Hacks cast of characters: the careless-yet-hilarious Kayla (Megan Stalter).
Long before Hacks season 3, Statler cut her teeth in Chicago’s improv scene before moving on to New York’s alt-comedy scene, where she impressed audiences with her unique character comedy and sketch stylings. During the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020, Statler performed nightly character sketches on Instagram Live. Soon enough, the comedian went viral and became hugely popular on TikTok. Statler went from hosting a web series and podcast to landing a recurring role in Hacks as the clueless Hollywood assistant Kayla — a character that encapsulates Statler’s deft ability to create self-assured yet completely oblivious personalities.
Even before Hacks season 3, the Max comedy series became a massive sleeper hit, which further raised Statler’s profile. In 2023, she nabbed her first leading role in a feature film: Cora Bora. The comedy-drama movie sees Statler playing a struggling musician who very suddenly moves to Los Angeles to hit it big, leaving her girlfriend and life in Portland behind. Realizing that her relationship needs salvaging, Cora makes a surprise trip home to win back Justine (Jojo T. Gibbs). With cameos from Chelsea Peretti and Margaret Cho, Cora Bora is a chaotic screwball comedy that’s sure to make audiences laugh and cringe.
Aside from her winning performance in the upcoming Cora Bora, which hits theaters on June 14, Statler has landed several other memorable roles in both movies and TV series. On the big screen, Statler has appeared in Sometimes I Think About Dying, Problemista, First Time Female Director, and Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain. Additionally, she has lent her talents to Crank Yankers, The Great North, and Queer as Folk. As a main cast member of the cameo-filled Hacks season 3, Statler is splitting much of her time between filming the hit series and performing live comedy.