Bringing a new person into a popular TV show can be tricky. For the fourth season of Hacks, the team found a surprising but perfect fit in internet personality Jake Shane. The show’s casting director has explained how Shane, originally auditioning for a different part, ended up playing the memorable character “Social Media Girlie” and why his real-life online fame made him the right choice.
How Jake Shane Joined the Hacks Team
Jake Shane, best known as Octopusslover8 on TikTok, was introduced to the Hacks producers ahead of the show’s fourth season. His journey to the screen was not straightforward. Initially, he auditioned for a role as one of the late-night writers on the fictional show within Hacks. While his performance was well-received, that specific part did not work out.
However, the producers were impressed. Soon after, they brought him back for a different character. This role was originally written as a female part, but the team decided to cast Shane and kept the original character name “Social Media Girlie” because they found it fitting.
Casting director Linda Lowy, who works on the Emmy-winning HBO series, shared the thought process behind this decision.
“The producers knew him, appreciated his performance and soon after brought him on as Social Media Girlie. The role had originally been written for a woman, but we cast Jake and kept the name. It was too funny not to,” says Linda Lowy.
This role is a significant step for Shane, marking one of his first major acting jobs and possibly his television debut.
Why Shane Was the Right Fit for Social Media Girlie
The key to casting Shane was the natural overlap between his professional life and the character. In real life, he is a prominent social media personality with millions of followers. This authenticity was vital for a show like Hacks, which satirizes the world of modern entertainment and comedy.
Lowy emphasized that his real-world experience combined with his natural acting ability created an ideal match.
“His online presence, paired with his natural talent for acting, made him a perfect fit for the role of Social Media Girlie,” she explains.
The producers were careful to ensure the casting felt organic to the story and not like a promotional stunt. For any recurring character, the goal is seamless integration into the show’s established tone and style.
“If it’s a recurring character, one needs to ensure they can be integrated seamlessly into the show both in tone and in performance,” Lowy says.
Jake Shane’s Rise from TikTok to TV
To understand why this casting makes sense, it helps to know who Jake Shane is. He gained massive popularity on TikTok in 2023 for his unique comedy sketches, particularly parodies of famous historical moments. His follower count jumped from 10,000 to 1 million in a single month.
He started his TikTok account reviewing octopus dishes, using a scale from 0 to 8 tentacles, which is the origin of his username @octopusslover8. He later pivoted to the historical skits that made him famous, such as portraying “Bill Clinton denying his relationship with Monica Lewinsky” or “paying the bill at The Last Supper”.
Beyond short videos, Shane has expanded into long-form content. He hosts a popular podcast called Therapuss, where he interviews celebrities in a therapy-style format. The podcast has been successful, debuting high on comedy charts and winning a Webby Award. He also performs live shows for his fans, whom he affectionately calls his “pussies”.
Shane has been open about his personal life, including identifying as gay and his long-term struggles with OCD and anxiety. He has said that interacting with his supportive online community helps him feel less alone.
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The Hacks Universe Welcomes a New Face
Hacks stars Jean Smart as legendary comedian Deborah Vance. The show follows her career and her dynamic with a young writer, Ava Daniels, played by Hannah Einbinder. The fourth season continues to explore Deborah’s world as she runs a late-night talk show, creating new opportunities for characters like Social Media Girlie to appear.
Shane expressed his excitement about joining the cast on social media. On April 2, he shared a behind-the-scenes photo on Instagram.
“It’s not every day you fall in love with a TV show…and then get to guest star in it,” he wrote. He thanked the show’s creators for “trusting me with their vision” and called Hacks a “masterpiece of a show”.
Season 4 of Hacks premiered on April 10 on the streaming service Max. Shane appears in a few episodes of the season.
For the Hacks team, this casting represents a modern approach to building a TV show, where a person’s authentic digital life can translate into a compelling on-screen character. For Jake Shane, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in his career, transitioning from internet creator to television actor.
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