1 month ago
Kaitlin Olson asked Phil Keoghan to beryllium connected “The Amazing Race” erstwhile they filmed nan “Hacks” crossover section that aired Thursday night.
“Kaitlin, who plays [Jean Smart’s] daughter, she had expressed immoderate liking successful going,” Keoghan told Page Six successful an exclusive interview. “And I started talking done it each pinch her.”
But Keoghan, 58, said nan “It’s Always Sunny successful Philadelphia” character backtracked erstwhile she heard “what’s really involved” successful appearing connected nan CBS reality show.
And Olson wasn’t nan only personification connected nan “Hacks” group who inquired astir going connected “Amazing Race.”
“Lots of group expressed an interest, moreover for illustration unit and everything,” Keoghan told us. “And that is ever a bully sign.”
He continued, “I do get celebrities attack maine and opportunity that they want to beryllium connected ‘Amazing Race.’ And past I commencement to spell done nan logistics of what that is. Then erstwhile they perceive a small spot much astir what’s involved, they go, ‘Oh, really?’ You sprout 12 shows successful 21 days?'”
“I’m for illustration like, ‘Yeah, there’s nary there’s nary trailer. It’s not a batch of pampering,'” Keoghan added.
The caller section of “Hacks” features Deborah (Smart) and DJ (Olson) competing connected a personage type of “The Amazing Race” against “Property Brothers” Drew and Jonathan Scott and influencer Trisha Paytas and her partner.
Keoghan makes a cameo — first to footwear disconnected nan title astatine nan starting line, and past to destruct Deborah and DJ aft they travel successful past spot connected nan first leg.
The Emmy Award-winning big told america nan thought for nan crossover arena came from “Hacks” creators Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, who are each superfans of “The Amazing Race.”
“The producers of ‘Amazing Race’ and ‘Hacks’ were astatine nan aforesaid event, and that’s wherever nan chat was first had,” Keoghan explained. “The thought was floated retired there, and past conversations started to happen. Paul was very, very keen connected making it happen.”
Keoghan said erstwhile producers sent him nan script, he gave them notes to make judge nan “Hacks” section was religious to “The Amazing Race.'”
“I realized location were immoderate things that I wouldn’t say. So I was a spot hesitant successful nan opening to beryllium like, ‘Do you mind if I alteration this?’ But they opened it up to being a collaboration. So I tentatively, pinch respect, [told them] ‘Could we alteration that?’ And they were like, ‘Oh, please!'”
But nan “best part” for Keoghan was getting to interact pinch Smart, 74, erstwhile nan cameras stopped rolling.
“Once we sewage a return done of immoderate of nan scenes that I was in, Jean would conscionable commencement to riff,” he told us. “And I utilized to do improv theater. So I abruptly recovered myself conscionable going backmost and distant pinch her.”
Keoghan added, “And it was a existent thrill to conscionable beryllium successful this surreal infinitesimal of having fun.”
The 5th and last play of “Hacks” airs caller episodes connected Thursdays astatine 9 p.m. ET connected HBO Max.
