How ‘The Pitt,’ ‘Hacks’ Casting Directors Found Their Small Parts

In the world of casting, no role is ever considered too small.

Series such as “Widow’s Bay,” “Hacks,” “Pluribus,” and “The Pitt” have not only captured the attention of the Television Academy but have also garnered nominations for numerous supporting actors and guest stars. Notably, actors like Kate O’Flynn, Carlos Manuel Vesga, Lauren Weedman, and Patrick Ball have received their first Emmy nods for their impactful, albeit brief, performances.

But how did these acclaimed shows discover their memorable hospital patients, hive mind members, and eccentric assistants?

In the second season of “The Pitt,” 13 performers were recognized, marking an increase of 10 from the previous season. The show’s unique filming style offers consistent work for L.A. locals, sometimes up to six months, for those landing background roles.

Casting directors Cathy Gelfond and Erica Berger, who have collaborated since 2017 and won an Emmy for their work on Season 1, are in charge of casting anyone with a speaking line. This season alone, they cast 250 performers.

Gelfond reflects on her career, stating, “In my 30-plus years, I think I had done two movies and had never done a television show [in Los Angeles]. So, it’s been quite fascinating to see the depth of talent in day players.” Berger adds, “We get to do every single part here, from top to bottom, so we have more opportunities to give people their first chance.”

New talents this season, like guest stars Brittany Allen and Jeff Kober, left a lasting impression as hospital patients.

“It’s really about being moved,” Berger explains regarding her attraction to certain actors. “When I’m still crying after watching 40 takes of the same scene, I know it’s going to affect others as well.”

In crafting the quirky setting of Katie Dippold’s horror comedy, “Widow’s Bay,” located on a small New England island, casting directors Allison Jones and Emily Buntyn embraced the idea of casting unfamiliar faces. “I’m from that part of the world, you’re not going to cast glam-looking people who come from there,” Jones mentions.

Jones and Buntyn, who have collaborated for over ten years, initially consulted on casting Tom Loftus, the skeptical mayor portrayed by Matthew Rhys, who earned dual Emmy nominations for his role in “The Beast in Me.”

Jones was particularly struck by Dippold’s portrayal of the town’s older residents when reading the scripts, before “Widow’s Bay” became a sensation.

“I was eager to cast these crusty and old locals,” Jones remarks with a smile.

Dale Dickey, who plays the town gossip, was a natural fit. Her audition was unconventional: “The scene was her just having a coughing fit. We needed an actual smoker,” Jones explains.

Jones, a casting agent with a history that includes “Barbie” and “Freaks and Geeks,” has extensive industry connections. She learned about O’Flynn through her manager, who had recently signed her from London.

“She embodied the role entirely; she was very quiet and nailed the American accent, but her interpretation brought something unique to the character,” Jones observes about O’Flynn’s audition.

“We had many great actresses audition for that role, but Kate stood out as if someone made a strange noise and a dog tilted its head curiously.”

At the heart of “Hacks” lies the evolving relationship between a seasoned performer (Jean Smart) and an emerging comedian (Hannah Einbinder). The fifth and final season celebrated this dynamic with a richly diverse, multigenerational cast, featuring returning talents like Laurie Metcalf and Weedman, and introducing Cherry Jones and Leslie Bibb.

“In comedy, if the minor roles aren’t perfect, the show suffers,” casting director Linda Lowy states.

Under their Backyard Casting banner, Lowy and Morgan Smith were thrilled to include more L.A.-based actors this season. Financial considerations played a role as well: “We needed to find locals, and I think that’s across the board with every show now. There’s no extra money anymore,” Lowy explains.

The process of casting Jones, who appears in the standout “Montecito” episode with Bibb, was challenging due to scheduling conflicts with the Emmy-winning actor. Lowy notes, “It just shows that if you keep going at it in the most gentle, creative, nice way, you might get what you want.”

The show has received praise for its representation of queer characters, with openly queer actors like Einbinder bringing personal experiences to their roles. “Anytime that they intentionally write a queer character, we always try to prioritize those castings for authenticity,” Smith says. “We literally put it in the breakdown.”

For “Pluribus,” created by “Breaking Bad” visionary Vince Gilligan as a project for Rhea Seehorn, casting the right actors to fill the hive mind was crucial.

Casting directors Sharon Bialy, Sherry Thomas, and Russell Scott, who have a history with Gilligan on “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” helped discover breakout talents like Karolina Wydra and Vesga.

“We had exhausted all our options worldwide and eventually resorted to revisiting our old handwritten notes,” Scott recalls. 

That’s when Wydra, who lacked representation at the time, resurfaced from an audition years prior.

Vesga’s casting was the result of an hour-long discussion Bialy and Scott had with him at Gelson’s, after being captivated by his audition tape. Bialy recognized “the kind of actor” Gilligan would gravitate towards for the role of Manousos.

“Casting intelligent actors often yields more than expected in future episodes,” Bialy states of the theater-trained performer.

“Vince’s casting approach often involves selecting individuals new to television. They might come from theater but lack on-camera experience. We spend considerable time guiding them to focus on listening,” Bialy explains.

As these casting directors look back on their Emmy-nominated efforts and prepare for future seasons, the quest for emerging talent never ceases.

“It just never stops once you are submerged into this career path,” Thomas shares. “If I’m watching the new ‘Descendants’ movie with my kids on the weekend, I am going, ‘Oh, my God, that’s a discovery! Wow, they’re really good.’ And I’m looking them up in the middle of having this moment with my family because my brain just won’t turn off.”