Exclusive Interview: Michael Angarano and Andre Hyland on How ‘Laid’ Balances Comedy, Drama, and Everything In Between

Romantic comedies have long grappled with the question, “Why can’t I find love?” But in Laid, the answer isn’t just complicated—it’s deadly. This darkly hilarious series flips the rom-com genre on its head, following Ruby (Stephanie Hsu) as she discovers her former lovers are meeting untimely and unusual ends. To stop the pattern, Ruby must confront her past, revisiting her sex timeline and the relationships that shaped her.

At the heart of the series are Michael Angarano, who plays Richie, one of Ruby’s exes, and Andre Hyland, who stars as Zack, the boyfriend of Ruby’s best friend, AJ.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to sit down with Michael Angarano and Andre Hyland to discuss their experiences bringing Laid to life. From navigating the series’ unique tonal balance to exploring the creative freedom they had with their characters, Michael and Andre share what drew them to this project, how they connected with their roles, and why Laid is a rom-com unlike any other.

PC: Michael, the creative team mentioned that Richie was one of the hardest roles to cast because of the many nuances in his character. He serves such a distinct purpose in the overall narrative. Without giving away any spoilers, what did you read between the lines about this character that made you want to be part of the project? How did you help shape his direction and arc?
Michael: Thank you for asking that. The writing was so good and so specific. With a character like Richie—without giving anything away—he’s the emotional foil to Ruby. He’s one of the few people, if not the only one, who can be completely honest with her. He’s a character who doesn’t hold anything back. He’s very forthright without being judgmental, and even when he is judgmental, he’s neither apologetic nor mean about it.

Richie felt very specific in that sense, but ultimately, he’s someone who is comfortable with himself. That clicked for me. He’s like a Sam Rockwell type—living in his own world, having accepted where he is and who he is. He’s not a huge success, but he’s at peace with himself. That acceptance frees him up in Ruby’s world to be honest with her, and I think that serves a really important purpose in the story. But all of that was in the writing—it was baked in from the start.

PC: I love their dynamic. Andre, Nahnatchka [Khan] is not only one of the co-showrunners but also directed six of the eight episodes. How does the filming experience differ when the person who’s put pen to paper is also directing? Additionally, how have your experiences as a director and writer influenced how you approach your work as an actor and interpret scripts and characters like this?
Andre: Regarding the first part of your question, having the writer as the director is great because it cuts out an extra layer of interpretation. It’s more direct—it’s coming straight from the source, and I really appreciate that.

As for my experience directing and acting, it’s given me a better appreciation for how much directors have on their plate. It also makes me less intimidated when I have questions. Every production, no matter how polished, is essentially troubleshooting in real-time. That doesn’t mean people don’t know what they’re doing—it’s just a constant process of solving problems.

As an actor who’s also directed, I’ve learned to trust the bigger picture. If something doesn’t make sense in the moment, it’s important to have faith that the directors have spent countless hours and months shaping this world. Actors focus on the moment, but directors are looking at the entire scope. Sometimes what seems chaotic actually has a method behind it. And if it doesn’t—well, that’s on them! [laughs]

Ultimately, understanding everyone’s roles better helps me focus on my performance without getting bogged down by uncertainty.

PC: Michael, this show is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. It plays in so many different tonal spaces. Given the illustrious career you’ve had, what’s the project that’s had the biggest impact on developing your voice as both a comedian and someone who can deliver those dramatic beats? And as Andre mentioned, your experience behind the scenes—how does that help you gauge how far to push a scene in either direction?
Michael: That’s a great question. What makes Laid so unique is that it’s truly the sum of many different parts. It’s cross-genre, and it feels like a hybrid between a single-cam and multi-cam format. I’ve had the chance to work in both, and they’re so different, but Laid blends them in a way that feels seamless.

The show hits the right balance—it’s campy, broad, serious, self-aware, grounded, emotional, romantic, and even dark at times. That’s a testament to the writing. You can set out to create something like this, but the execution is key. During table reads, we’d all laugh a lot, be surprised, and really enjoy seeing what everyone brought to the material. It’s a combination of the writing and the casting—both just clicked in a way that allowed the show to strike its own distinct tone effortlessly.

PC: Absolutely. Andre, with your stand-up background, you’ve mentioned how it brings flexibility, awareness, and fearlessness to your acting. Was there a particular scene in Season 1 that made the final cut because of that approach that you’re especially excited for audiences to see?
Andre: There isn’t one specific scene, but there are moments when Zack and AJ are arguing that I really enjoy. Those scenes had a bit more freedom. A lot of it was written, but shooting them was really fun because we got to play around and try new things. Even during the table reads, you could slip things in and experiment. Sometimes those things would end up in the script the next day.

Michael: I think you had the best record with that. [laughs] You improvised a line in one of the episodes that ended up being the last line of the show.

Andre: Yeah. [laughs] Things kept shifting. In my real life, I call people “ding dongs,” so it’s great seeing Zack call people “ding dongs” in there. I liked that. The writing was already strong, but as a performer, I’m always trying things. It’s nice to have that creative space, whether it’s used or not, to bring your own quirks and personality into the work.

Make sure to follow Michael (Instagram) and Andre (X/Instagram). Season 1 of Laid is out now on Peacock.