Paul W. Downs Reacts to Being Confronted By Andy Cohen Over Hacks Joke

Andy Cohen Reveals Boyfriend Kevin Sobieski Doesn't Watch BravoPaul W. Downs is still reeling from his recent Clubhouse showdown. After Andy Cohen called out the Hacks co-creator on live TV over a joke made at the Watch What Happens Live host's expense, Downs isn't pleading the fifth when it comes to their heated—and hilarious—exchange. "I can't believe he went there," Downs deadpanned during an exclusive interview with E! News at the 28th Television Academy Hall of Fame ceremony Aug. 13. "And all I have to say is my lawyers don't want me speaking about it because we are taking action." The joke in question—written by Downs and fellow Hacks writers Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky—was delivered by series star Jean Smart during a past episode of the Emmy-winning HBO Max comedy. "The problem with reality shows is you cannot control the narrative," Smart's character Deborah Vance quipped. "I mean, that’s why I’ve turned down Andy Cohen more than every twink on Fire Island." So, when Downs and costar Meg Stalter were guests on Cohen's Bravo talk show Aug. 11, the 57-year-old put Downs in the hot seat over the name-check."He was so fun," Downs reflected to E!, "and obviously a really good sport about it. The only reason we name-check anybody is because we know they have a sense of humor and we're fond of them. They're in the Hacks family in that way." And while roasting Cohen was in the script, the cast often takes jabs in the spur of the moment.Charles Sykes/Bravo"We always do it scripted first, we always do the lines as written," Downs explained. "But then we always do a fun run and don't really plan. We try and serve and respond in kind and it just works." Downs and Stalter even shocked their crew members with their off-the-cuff ad-libbing. As Statsky chimed in during the red carpet chat, "One of the best things about Meg and Paul is they're so alive and in the moment and that's why they are incredibly gifted improvisors. So, a lot of the funniest stuff, some of it was scripted, but so much came from them playing with each other and playing off of each other."Andy Cohen has an EXPLOSIVE confrontation with Hacks co-creator Paul W. Downs. #WWHL pic.twitter.com/MqxkO414OD— Watch What Happens Live! (@BravoWWHL) August 12, 2026 And their method clearly works, given Hacks' impressive list of past Emmy wins (a dozen in total). And when the 2026 award ceremony rolls around this September, Smart could make TV history by winning her fifth consecutive Lead Actress in a Comedy award, making her the only female performer to ever win for every season of a series.Charles Sykes/BravoAnd Smart is more than deserving of the accolade. As Aniello told E!, "She's obviously such an incredibly funny performer and she's so able to go into such incredible dramatic work too. But the truth is she just radiates goodness because she is a really good person. I think when you watch her, you can feel it. And that's what's part of makes her so compelling." While fans wait to see if Smart makes history, keep reading to see more 2026 Emmy-nominated actors react to their nods.Photo by: Rosalind O'Connor/NBC via Getty ImagesConnor Storrie, Saturday Night Live"SNL was such a 'pinch me' moment in my career," the Heated Rivalry star admitted of his first-ever nomination for Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. "It was a formative part of my life growing up, so to be recognized by the Academy for hosting feels incredibly surreal. I'm so grateful to everyone who made that night possible."Erin Simkin/HBOLisa Kudrow, The Comeback“This is a very big, very meaningful honor to be nominated for Valerie and for the writing Michael Patrick King and I did," the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy nominee said. "Huge."Apple TVMatthew Rhys, Widow's Bay & The Beast in MeAfter being nominated for both Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, Rhys shared, "Thank you to the TV Academy for nominations for both WIDOW’S BAY and THE BEAST IN ME. I spent the year as a psychopath and a politician, and the Television Academy has generously chosen not to hold either against me… I am so happy that both series were so warmly received this year, and I’m especially thrilled to be nominated alongside so many extraordinary members of our WIDOW’S BAY team, including our showrunner, creator and warped minded Katie Dippold, our savant director, Hiro Murai, so many of my fellow actors, and our incredible department heads, who all did incredible work. I am also joyous to be nominated for THE BEAST IN ME along with the amazing Claire Danes and all the other wonderfully creative minds that made this show happen. Thank you so much to Apple and Netflix."Apple TVMichelle Pfeiffer, Margo's Got Money TroublesAfter being nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, the actress shared, “I am so thrilled to be a part of this amazing show and it is an honor to be recognized along with my wonderful Margo family. Congratulations to all of the nominees today!”HBO MaxJean Smart, HacksThe seven-time Emmy winner is back for another trophy. “I think we saved the best for last this season," Smart, once again up for Lead Actress in a Comedy, said. "What an incredible ride it has been with the most incredible humans. A gift”NetflixAllison Janney, The DiplomatThe Oscar winner is once again up for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama series. “I’m absolutely delighted and grateful to the Television Academy," she shared "Playing Grace Penn continues to be one of the great privileges of my career.”Apple TVBrett Goldstein, Shrinking"Ahhhhhhhhhh get the fxxx outta here!" the funny man joked of his Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy recognition. "This is so cool. What an absolute list of stone-cold legends to be a part of. So proud of my Shrinking family they are all so fxxxing good and it’s so lovely to see so many of them recognised by the academy. Proud to be a part of this thank you thank you thank you.”Karolina Wojtasik/HBOCarrie Coon, The Gilded Age"I am honored to be recognized in a very tough category," the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama nominee reacted, "but more importantly, I am so proud of our remarkable company and the best crew in New York for their hard work, both lavish and subtle, which yielded eight nominations for The Gilded Age today—our most ever!”Amy Sussman/Getty ImagesTaylor Dearden, The Pitt“I am so lucky to be employed in the first place. But to be on a show as awesome as The Pitt?! To be a part of something that has had a profound impact on the lives of so many across both the healthcare and my own neurodivergent communities has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience," she said of her Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nod. "Every single member of the crew and cast gives their all every day and I am so proud to count myself among them. AND TO SHOOT IN LA?! I am so honored to be nominated—this is all a cherry on top of a cherry on top of a cherry…..honestly it’s more a pile of cherries than sundae at this point.” Disney/Steve WilkieChase Infiniti, The TestamentsHow'd the rising star about nabbing her first-ever Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama? “I truly cannot believe this but am so honored and grateful for this nomination," Infiniti said in a statement. "Thank you so much to the Television Academy for this moment. Thank you to Bruce, Warren, Elisabeth, the incredible team at Hulu, my cast and crew and everyone who touched this project. Playing Agnes has been a dream and to be nominated alongside Carrie, Rhea, Zendaya, and Keri is an honor. I’m still trying to find the words but thank but from the bottom of my heart.”NetflixKeri Russell, The Diplomat“What an exciting day for our household!!!" the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama nominee, who is married to fellow 2026 nominee Matthew Rhys, shared. "And beyond thrilled for Rufus, Debora, Janney and Bradley.”Disney/Sami Drasin)Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary"I’m so grateful to the Television Academy for this nomination," Williams shared following his nom for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. "Playing Gregory has meant so much to me and getting to do it alongside this incredible cast and crew is something I’ll never take for granted. Thank you for this honor. I’m lucky to be a part of a show that continues to resonate with so many people."Photo by The Hapa Blonde/GC ImagesCarl Radke, Summer House"It's a big testament to what we've been building and the team and everybody that comes together—it's a family," he exclusively told E! News of the show's Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program nod. "I'm really excited for everybody because it's not just us on the cast. It's everybody included that makes the show happen."HBO MaxHannah Einbinder, HacksThe actress was over the moon after receiving her fifth nomination. "Being recognized by my peers in this way is the cherry on top of the most creatively fulfilling experience of my life," the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nominee said. "I'm unbelievably honored to be nominated alongside such talented women who I so deeply admire. And of course, I’m especially grateful to Paul W Downs, Jen Statsky, and Lucia Aniello for changing my life 6 years ago. Hacks forever!!!”Peter Kramer/HBOMark Ruffalo, Task“We’re thrilled beyond words," the actor shared amid his nod for Lead Actor in a Drama Series. "Tom Pelphrey’s nomination for Supporting Actor is so richly deserved. His performance is so much of the heart of the show and to see it stand alongside nominations for cinematography, directing, editing, and our incredible writing team led by Brad Ingelsby is a testament to the level of craft everyone brought to Task.”Adir AbergelMariska Hargitay, My Mom JayneAfter the Law & Order: SVU star's documentary nabbed three noms, Hargitay was "thrilled and deeply moved" by the reaction to her family passion project. "It’s an emotional moment, because what feels most natural to say is, 'On behalf of my mom and myself, thank you.' I’m profoundly grateful to have this moment with her," the Emmy winner shared in a July 8 statement. "My gratitude also extends to my producer, the truly formidable Trish Adlesic, our nominated cinematographer Tony Hardmon, and the rest of my extraordinary team who shepherded this film into reality."Warrick Page/HBO MaxSepideh Moafi, The Pitt"I still cannot wrap my head around the magnitude of this moment," the first-time nominee said. "Thank you to the Television Academy for this recognition, and congratulations to my entire Pitt family." Moafi, who is up for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama, added, "Thank you HBO, John Wells Productions, and Warner Brothers for believing in me to bring Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi to life. It’s an honor beyond words to be the first Iranian actress and first actress from the SWANA/Middle East to be nominated in this category—it’s a tribute to all the powerhouse women who came before me, and for the women and girls to follow, your seat is warm."CBSJeff Probst, Survivor"After 25 years and 50 seasons, recognition like this means as much as ever," Probst, who is once again up for Outstanding Host and Outstanding Reality Competition Show, said. "We're thankful to the Television Academy for this honor and to our fans, whose enthusiasm has allowed us to keep going on this amazing adventure. We're excited for what's still ahead!"HBO MaxMegan Stalter, HacksThe "Prettiest Girl in America" can now add Emmy nominee to her resumé. "I can't believe how lucky I am to receive this nomination and also be in the most special show with the most special people!" Stalter reacted after being recognized in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy category. "I couldn't do any of this without my team, my incredible partner and God! I'm in shock, but also really deserve this because I'm so pretty!"DisneyYahya Abdul-Mateen, Wonder Man“Wow! What a gift it is to be tapped by Marvel to portray a superhero who, like many of us, isn’t afraid to wear his passion for our business on his sleeve," the first-time Lead Actor in a Comedy Series nominee shared. "In that regard, it’s only right that this nomination also stands as an acknowledgment of the passion of everyone who helped put this show together."Apple TVJason Segel, ShrinkingAfter receiving a nom for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy, Segel shared, "I’m really proud to be a part of this amazing team. Every single person pours their heart into making this show, and it is really special to know it is connecting with people.”Disney/Ser BaffoNikki Glaser, Nikki Glaser: Good GirlThe comedian's nod for Outstanding Variety Special was no joke. "So I guess I was a Good Girl?" Glaser quipped in a statement. "I put everything I had into this special and so did Hulu and my entire team made up of dear friends, my partner, and the best crew and production team maybe ever assembled for a comedy special. Thank you to the Television Academy for this nomination. It already feels like a win for all of us, even though we would still like to win please."NetflixCharles Melton, BeefMelton nabbed his first-ever Emmy nom in the Limited or Anthology Series category. "Wow. In shock," he shared. "I feel so deeply grateful to the Television Academy for this nomination, as well as their recognition of so many in our BEEF family. Lee Sung Jin created a space in BEEF for me as an actor to explore identity, ambition, and belonging. I owe him an enormous debt of gratitude and share this nomination with him, our brilliant writers, directors, cast, and crew, and our partners at A24 and Netflix. Filming in Korea felt like coming home to the films that first inspired me. I want to give a special shoutout to Baker, the teamster who drove me to and from work every day. I can’t believe I’m being recognized alongside artists whose work I’ve long admired. It’s a great day."Apple TVNick Offerman, Margo's Got Money Troubles“I am so powerfully grateful for these two pats on the back, for the many-splendored Margo’s Got Money Troubles," the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nominee said, "thanks to the writing prowess of David Kelley, Eva Anderson and their team, but especially to shine some light on Death By Lightning, a resplendent production all sprung from the pen of Mike Makowsky. It’s the writing first.”Tommaso Boddi/Getty ImagesTal Anderson, The Pitt“I was so honored just about the possibility of a nomination, and now I’m just shocked," she said of the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series nomination. "I’m most excited now about being at the event with my Pitt family and celebrating everybody’s accomplishments. I think about that little girl who wanted to be seen, and I can’t believe this, really. I’m so grateful to the Television Academy and everyone who voted to elevate my voice this way.”Todd Williamson/PeacockDakota Fanning, All Her Fault and Margo's Got Money Problems"What an unbelievable morning for my family," Fanning, nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthony Series or Movie for All Her Fault as well as Outstanding Comedy Series as an executive producer on Margo's Got Money Problems, said in a statement. "The pride I feel at watching my sister shine is hard to put into words, and I also could not be prouder to be partners with her in Lewellen Pictures. David [E. Kelley], Elle, Michelle, Nick, Nicole [Kidman] and the entire team behind Margo’s Got Money Troubles so deserves this recognition." She continued, "I’m equally as overjoyed for the team behind All Her Fault and the indomitable Sarah Snook. And lastly, my deepest gratitude for recognizing me amongst these fierce women who I admire so much. I hoped for my character, Jenny, to be one who women could see themselves in and make them feel less alone. I am so happy that audiences connected with her so deeply. I’m bursting with happiness. Thank you!!!!!"Apple TVMichael Urie, ShrinkingUrie, who previously won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, reacted with, “To be nominated for an Emmy is a massive honor, but to be recognized for a second consecutive year alongside such an incredible group of actors - especially my brilliant castmate, Dr. Harrison Ford - is truly humbling. In some ways I feel like I didn’t even learn how to act in front of the camera until I met Harrison. He’s taught me so many things - mostly how cool it is to love acting." The Ugly Betty alum added, "I share this nomination with our incredible cast, crew, directors, producers, and especially our writers; their dedication and brilliant scripts are the foundation of everything we do. Playing Brian continues to be the gift that keeps on giving, and I'm so grateful to continue to grow with and alongside him.”Apple TV+Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus"Holy Cow!" the Breaking Bad alum reacted. "I was so excited to hear of my nomination, my first for a lead, this morning! & I’m absolutely over the moon for my castmates’ & colleagues’ noms! And for the show’s nomination—which belongs to 100’s and 100’s of people that put their blood sweat and tears into Pluribus. Thank you to all of the Television Academy voters!"Anne Binckebanck/HBORichard Gadd, Half ManThe Emmy winner admitted he was "incredibly honoured and delighted" to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series and gave kudos to his costar Jamie Bell. "Without his fearless, visceral and deeply nuanced work, I could not have given the performance that I did," Gadd said. "Acting alongside him was an honour and a privilege, and it will remain one of the greatest highlights of my career."Peter Kramer/HBOTom Pelphrey, Task“I’m honored to be nominated," the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama nominee shared. "Very grateful to everyone who worked on Task, to HBO, and to the TV Academy. Congrats to all my fellow nominees.”For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App