Overview of 937. - Paul W. Downs
Chris Black and Jason Stewart catch up with actor-writer-producer Paul W. Downs in a wide-ranging conversation that moves from Hacks and Las Vegas to auctions, fashion, food obsessions, and childhood swimming. Downs is relaxed, funny, and self-deprecating throughout, offering a glimpse into his family background, creative process, and why he and the Hacks team chose to end the show while it still felt fresh.
What the Episode Covers
A spirited intro before the guest joins
The hosts open with their usual loose banter, touching on:
- Trump’s apparent love of ballroom culture and elegant events
- Scientology-related internet chatter
- Furries, with joking speculation about an “age of consent” and how rich people are often the only ones who can afford to be that weird
Paul W. Downs joins from auction day
Downs comes on fresh from an online auction and reveals:
- He’s buying art and collectibles, especially ceramics
- The item he was bidding on was a Picasso plate
- He comes from a family of auction and estate-sale enthusiasts
- His parents are especially into primitive colonial American furniture
Paul W. Downs: Background and Personal Taste
From rural New Jersey to Duke
Downs talks about growing up in a very rural part of New Jersey, where:
- His school situation was tiny and unusual
- His mother was a public school teacher
- He later attended Duke University
- He was a competitive swimmer in high school, specializing in the 100-meter butterfly
Old-school food preferences
A big part of the conversation is devoted to food nostalgia and “old guy” tastes:
- He loves classic desserts like old-fashioned donuts and plum pudding
- He once drank Cinnabon’s extremely sugary “Mochalatta Chill” as a child
- He’s now into “glow nuts,” a healthier donut alternative
- The hosts debate whether gravy could become the next trendy sauce
Taste, style, and suits
Downs also talks about:
- Owning a Tom Ford-era Gucci leather blazer and other archival pieces
- Enjoying suits and tuxedos more than many men do
- Working closely with his stylist, Rose Ford
- The tension between classic tailoring and more experimental red-carpet menswear
Hacks, Ending the Show, and What Comes Next
Why the series is wrapping up
The conversation gets serious about the final season of Hacks:
- Downs says they designed the show with a complete arc from early on
- They wanted it to end before it became repetitive or overstayed its welcome
- He sees the ending as a conscious creative choice rather than a network cancellation move
The next project
He confirms:
- HBO remains involved in their development deal
- They’re working on something new, though it’s still early
- He and the team are leaning toward a limited series next rather than another long-running show
Las Vegas, Awards, and the Hacks World
Vegas as a second home
A large section focuses on shooting Hacks in Las Vegas:
- Downs describes long stays at the Fountainbleau and related properties
- He’s been granted access to the Poodle Room, a members club at the Fontainebleau
- He jokes about Vegas being punishingly dry and hot, but also full of great food and hospitality
- The show’s Vegas setting has naturally influenced how they think about the city’s culture and future
AMAs with Meg Stalter
Downs mentions that he and Meg Stalter will present at the American Music Awards in Vegas, and that:
- They’ve been working on the look
- Their orange Chrome Hearts outfit from a prior event was a big hit
- Stalter tends to steal the spotlight, which he says is part of the fun
Creative Process and Writing Room Dynamics
Working with his wife and writers
Downs discusses the collaborative setup behind Hacks:
- He works closely with his wife and a full writing staff
- They often develop ideas as a group over Zoom
- He credits the room for much of the show’s sharpest material
- He and the hosts also talk about how hard it is to switch off work completely
Online habits
He says:
- He’s less online than some of his writers
- He still checks Twitter/X and scrolls between takes
- Writer Joe Mandy is especially meme-happy and extremely online in a productive way
Notable Moments and Running Jokes
Anti-magic stance
One recurring Hacks joke comes up:
- The show has taken a comedic stance against magicians
- Downs says he doesn’t actually have a hard personal line on magic, though he’s suspicious of it
- They joke about whether the magician community might retaliate
Celebrity run-ins
Downs shares a few fun stories:
- Mariah Carey arriving at a private home party with security moving furniture to create her own VIP area
- A photo with Carol Burnett
- Jason’s famous photo with Bill Clinton at ABCV
- A Mark Cuban photo at a party
Key Takeaways
- Paul W. Downs is a collector at heart, with strong opinions on auctions, ceramics, and old-school taste.
- His personal style leans classic, and he’s more comfortable in suits than trend-driven fashion.
- Hacks was always designed with an ending in mind, which is why the team is comfortable closing it now.
- Vegas remains a major creative setting for the show, and Downs clearly loves its absurdity and hospitality.
- The episode is equal parts industry talk, personal history, and offbeat comedy, with plenty of jokes about food, wealth, and eccentric behavior.
Notable Quote-Like Moments
- “We pitched the last episode in every pitch.”
- “I’m more of a classic tailoring kind of guy.”
- “The ceramics are climbing.”
- “Las Vegas is a playground for adults.”
- “It’s the last season, bro. You better chill out.”