Happy Sunday, Streamers.
We’ve got another female-led showbiz comedy this week, swapping out Midwestern daytime TV for Vegas glitz and starring a divine force of comedy greatness we’re all blessed to get to hang with for the next 10 weeks. Read on to learn why.
Hacks
What It’s About: This comedy-drama follows Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedian (Jean Smart), in the latter phase of her career as she mentors - and employs - an entitled, outcasted 25-year-old comedy writer (Hannah Einbender).
Why You Should Watch: If you’re a fan of entertainment industry comedies, female empowerment, dunking-on-millennials humor, and Jean Smart (who consistently knocks it out of the park on this show).
Along with Barry, Hacks is one of the best TV comedies from the last five years. Thematically similar to I Love That For You but darker and less zany, Hacks is centered around the contentious and sometimes heartwarming relationship between Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart. The major laughs come from their opposing world views (Deborah’s jaded and no-nonsense, Ava’s entitled and self-righteously woke), while their mutual bond comes from a shared dream of making it in comedy, a mutual penchant for self-sabotage, and an inability to maintain personal relationships. The latter trait is the main question the show grapples with repeatedly: can you succeed in show business without totally sacrificing your personal life?
Season 2 of Hacks continues in its attempt to answer this question by following the main characters as they take Deborah’s act on tour, the catch being Ava has vengefully submitted stories for a defamatory show all about Deborah’s life that now might be picked up. The show is impeccably written, and the pitch-perfect supporting characters are an absolute blast, whether they’re rolling their eyes as they’re repeatedly dragged into Deborah and Ava’s bullshit, or are too self-obsessed to notice or care (Megan Stalter’s character falls into this camp, and is an absolute gift/highlight of the show). Trust me when I say this is a return to embrace with open arms, or a show to dive in on ASAP if you missed it the first time around.
Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From:
Jean Smart - Similar to the character she plays, Jean has a 40+ year career in comedy under her belt. Most recently she’s been in prestige HBO hits like Mare of Easttown andWatchmen, but she’s also had roles in shows such as Frasier, The District, 24, Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce, Legion, and Fargo, as well the movies Sweet Home Alabama, Garden State, and I Heart Huckabees.
Hannah Einbender - Hacks is really her first big break, but she no doubt will have more to come (having seen her fine-tuned stand-up set, my guess is as a writer). It also should be mentioned she’s the daughter of Laraine Newman, one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live.
Christopher McDonald - SHOOTER!!
Megan Stalter - While technically her biggest job on screen, Megan has been a darling of the comedy scene and internet for years. Check out her Instagram and you’ll figure out pretty quickly why.
Kaitlin Olson - Dee from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done:
Partners in life and their career, writer/producers Paul W. Downs and Lucia Anello are most famous for bringing us Broad City. The third creator, Jen Statsky, is another writer/producer who has worked on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Broad City, The Good Place, and Parks and Recreation. Paul also plays Deborah and Ava’s manager “Jimmy” on the show.
Where You Can Watch: HBOMax