[Laughs]That’s the answer I was looking for!
And I think all female comedians are asked that.
It’s like, yes, we are outnumbered, but it’s also an exciting time.
Hannah Einbinder in her comedy special, ‘Everything Must Go’.Eddy Chen/Max
A lot of comedians are coming out of this wave of a comedy boom.
The internet has popularized standup in a new way, and people are seeing an accessible route as comedians.
It is sort of a fraternity at the moment.
Hannah Einbinder in her comedy special, ‘Everything Must Go’.Eddy Chen/Max
You’re, of course, part of the HBO and Max family being onHacks.
Did they come to you about doing a special?
How did it happen?
Hannah Einbinder in her comedy special, ‘Everything Must Go’.Eddy Chen/Max
HBO and Max was always my number-one hope.
That history of HBO and comedy specials is kind of unmatched.
And I think they are more quality-over-quantity-oriented over there.
Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart in the ‘Hacks’ season 3 finale.Max
I feel like HBO is a place that values comedians.
I hope and believe that my comedic abilities onscreen will translate to a solo performance.
I genuinely feel so lucky to have been given the opportunity to be onHacksfor so many reasons.
Hannah Einbinder in her comedy special, ‘Everything Must Go’.Eddy Chen/Max
One of them is because it single-handedly made it possible for me to be a touring headlining comedian.
BeforeHacks, I was still a feature act opening for other comedians, and that was perfectly wonderful.
But it’s just a totally different game.
I trust them and they trust me.
This season more so, actually, I’ve felt it a little more.
So it isn’t just globally available to everyone.
I think I definitely am…yeah…I think I am cool with that.
Part of the job, I guess.
I hope I’ve done it.
When you’re watching at home, it’s easy to be distracted by your phone or other things.
So yes, I think you’ve done it.
And to clarify, are you saying those vignettes have always been part of the fabric of your show?
Yeah, I would say so.
I appreciate that you said that you felt like you had to be there, and I tried.
That’s what I do in my shows.
I play 200-seaters, 250-seaters I want to see the whites of people’s eyes.
I want to be intimate and I want to connect.
You’re really good at voices!
That witch was so good.
I would love to be in that world.
I think it’s so cool.
True or false: When you attended Chapman University, you once opened for Nicole Byer?
She was touring, came through campus, you opened for her!
What do you remember most about that?
I remember how cool Nicole was.
She this is pretty unheard of she offered for students to open for her.
Mostly, comedians have their opening act or they find someone local wherever they are.
It changed my life.
It literally, single-handedly was like, there was a moment before this and a moment after this.
I did that set, and I was like, this is what I’m going to do.
It was really wonderful.
It was, like, 10 minutes, eight or 10 minutes.
Which is more than most people get.
Usually, it’s five and the red light goes on.
Do you still remember the material?
Actually, one of my jokes that I wrote in that set is in my special.
It’s the two 1920s dames.
That was one of the first jokes I ever wrote.
I have to commend you on the success of season 3 ofHacks.
What has taking in the reaction of this season, and especiallythe finale, been like for you?
It has warmed my heart so deeply, genuinely.
I love the people who watch and love this show.
It does feel like a community.
Yeah, I’m happy that people really like the finale.
I’m proud of myself.
I feel really pleased no matter what.
To Kaitlin Olson, who says it onHacks?
Or it was just the best and right thing for that joke?
I was like, “Oh my God.
I literally say, ‘What a c–t’ in my special.
So I’m going to go ahead and claim that as a littleHacksshoutout.
[We cut] a camera shot.
It’s not a joke.
It’s so funny!
And it’s such a wink to the audience at home, but we cut it.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
