Hacks Season 4 - Part 1

I’ve loved the show but, you know….maybe it’s time? How much more can they stretch it out realistically? The constant “I’m a lesbian GenZ” shtick is sort of played out too.

R1: I think season five should be its last season and we all know it's getting renewed for season five. I agree Jean and the creatives shouldn't be the last ones at the party.

Just watched both episodes and this remains the best comedy in TV. I had no idea who Robby Hoffman was, but she's hilarious, not a beat missed. Jimmy's red sweater in the second episode was to die for. Helen Hunt is starting to look like the Changelings in DS9, I have no idea what's going on there.

r1 The reviews are all glowing, it's most definitely not the time to pull the plug yet, show is as fresh as ever.

[quote]The constant “I’m a lesbian GenZ” shtick is sort of played out too.

I found it telling that she had to consult an even younger Zoomer on the Insta caption for her NYT cover because she's already losing touch with what's cool. Kayla, on the other hand, still seems in tune with what's hot and not.

This is one of those shows I keep watching even though I get no enjoyment out of it. It feels like something to get through and get it over with. I can tell that some of the dialogue is supposed to be funny, but it’s not to me. It’s mostly unpleasant. The fat chick is the saving grace for the comedy. Mark Indelicato Is always adorable, even when he’s chunky and I don’t like chunky, so that’s saying something.

I don't understand how you can allow yourself to get chunky when you're on one of the best shows on TV. Especially now with Ozempic around. I mean, that's a pretty noticeable transformation for Indelicato in my eyes.

I think it will get at least two more seasons.

It's not just the Deborah and Ava stuff anymore, the Jimmy and Kayla side of things is getting funnier and funnier as well. When he trod in dog shit in his own office, I nearly lost it. A Lassie reboot!

I do wonder what they intend to do with Marcus, he's the one character I could actually see leaving the show.

I think the best moment was at the very end of season 1.

When Jean Smart told Ava that after the show ended that she would never speak to her again…and meant it.

The look on Hannah’s face when Jean said that was very moving.

[quote] When he trod in dog shit in his own office, I nearly lost it.

I had a feeling that there would be people who would find that funny.

Yes, it takes all sorts to make the world go round, surprised your humourless ass hasn't learned that yet at your advanced age.

r9 is why this whole place is getting more and more deserted.

I really enjoy this show - but the tension some times makes it hard to watch. I'm going to be devastated if its not a happy ending. 😀 Debra's show had better kill it!!

I felt like it was a setup for developments later in the season. That said, there were some good moments like the Deborah/Ava hug after the dinner party.

Helen Hunt did well in her speech emphasizing that they weren't taking the job seriously enough, but my God, as was mentioned above, she looks like someone threw acid in her face. Given her sour reputation, that's entirely possible.

I think Mark Indelicato is looking super hot these days. I kind of want to hit it. When he isn't speaking.

First two episodes were very good. Marcus leaving was sad, but makes sense. I am just not a Robby Hoffman fan. Much like early Kayla on the show, it's not like her presence will ruin the show for me or anything. But, I don't find her schtick that funny.

Still enjoying the show as much as ever. Hard to see what direction they are going to go in. Deborah realizing that she's turned Ava into a version of herself and tries to stop it?

So is the feuding completely over? I thought that aspect could get a lot of mileage and be explored more - getting the show together despite being at war with each other.

I fucking love when Deborah showed up outside Ava’s mall apartment and she tried to run up the escalator the wrong way.

I thought the first two episodes were great and very funny.

I found it dark compared to earlier seasons... so not quite as funny, for me. But they effectively mined the fury on both sides. It just feels a bit different to me. Still, can't miss.

[Quote] but doesn't Paul W. Downs know woke is over?

Why, because the stupidest 23% of America put your boyfriend back in office?

Think again.

I feel like this shows popularity is made up. Unlike the White Lotus. I don't know anyone who cares about it.

Jean Smart is brilliant. Keep the show going on and on. I'm nowhere tired of any of it.

'Hacks' is the best show to come along in ages.

I'm glad Marcus is leaving the show (hopefully). There's nothing wrong with that actor but they were never able to do anything interesting with his character.

I didn't even notice that Damien had gotten chunky. He looked fine to me.

I enjoyed the first few seasons but lost interest during a plot line about the lead characters getting lost on a hike. I made the mistake of telling my sister that I felt the writing was getting preachy and some plot elements were strained and implausible, like Jean Smart’s character doing a keg stand on a college campus. My sister was pretty disappointed in me for saying that.

[quote] I didn't even notice that Damien had gotten chunky. He looked fine to me.

Are you saying that compared to your size?

We share your sister's disappointment in you r25 Please invite her to post here while you proceed to the nearest grease fire.

Please post a shirtless pic, r26

Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder have an insane amount of comedy chemistry. I love any scene with the two of them in it together.

R20, I completely agree. It’s good but the tone has changed. Hoping it bends back again.

I can’t help but admire Jean Smart in almost any performance. She’s a great pleasure to watch. I do agree that some of the conflict feels constructed, but that’s needed to advance a plot and storyline.

Some funny lines make it into the script. I liked one about “the oldest whore after Mary Magdalene”.

The best exchanges between the two leads are when they use humor to call out each other’s inherent flaws and weaknesses. I also like the production quality of the series (the lighting in particular).

R30, I rewatched both episodes and now I'm reversing my opinion. They've made some clear and unsentimental choices. They moved to LA, but it seems they haven't moved the whole original cast a la Laverne and Shirley or some such bullshit where every character uproots their lives and moves. People come in life, people go. Jean Smart so far as I am concerned won her next Emmy with the this is what happens to me every time my dream comes true melt down monologue. It was a great riff on what drives these people and the intensity of the need that never really goes away... Norma Desmond without the camp? It's definitely getting a little more dramedy than comedy with a few dramatic insights, but it's a really well crafted reinvention. By series four you could be running out of gas.. I think they've breathed new life into it, just takes a bit of getting used to. (I still feel they've a bit heavy on the Jimmy and Kayla content.)

Hacks - The Ozempic Season

I can definitely make use of the "I hear you're in the running with Mary Magdalene for world's oldest whore."

Mary Magdalene being a hooker was debunked long ago. Typical of this show's lazy approach to comedy.

None of Deborah's supposedly hilarious stand-up is at all believable; that's been the show's problem since the beginning.

I agree with what was said upthread — people are pretending this is a great comedy, and it really isn't. It's a career hosanna for Jean Smart (well deserved), but the anemic writing lets her down constantly.

The whole "women power" thing that Jimmy was saying wasn't meant to be woke, it was him kissing Ava and Deborah's ass.

I think the creators/writers have said they mapped out a five season show, and while I love the show I also agree that there's only so many times they can do the push/pull between Deborah and Ava, so hopefully it's five and done. I think this review says it all.

I hated last season but this season so far is MUCH better. I really liked it.

[quote]I agree with what was said upthread — people are pretending this is a great comedy, and it really isn't.

Thank you for pointing out that the empress has no clothes.

R35 I agree but got flamed above and in real life for mentioning that. I wish we could be honest about the quality of media without arousing competitive progressivism.

Please, if you want to Hate Watch, just say you're hate watching. Nobody's being fooled by using scholarly terminology.

Love the show; thought first two episodes of season 4 were very good. But, episode 3 was pretty bad.

As a huge fan I have to be honest; I’m not digging this season thus far.

The writing is sharp and the plot is focused. But there are just no laughs. Every episode of every previous season had at least one outrageous, laugh-out-loud moment. This season…not so much.

The Deborah-Ava feud has been so mean spirited and ugly that it’s left no room for humor. They’ve boxed it into a challenging corner where the situations are so intense and coarse that it’s challenging to mine for laughs.

There were a couple of chuckles with the writers’ retreat but nothing memorable. The main supporting cast is also being wasted as they make room for the writing team members.

Hopefully it can get back on track because when it’s on, there’s no funnier show on television.

I love Mayor Jo.

Liked episode 2 more, 1 and 3 seemed a bit try hard/meh. But definitely still liking it overall. Just get back to a good dynamic with the two main characters. Do that.

I'm eager to binge watch. Fan of Jean (although enough with the repeated Emmy wins) Maybe Hannah will win this year finally.

I prefer the more objective reviews instead of the eye rolling "Greatest show on TV ever!" hyperbole.

I actually don’t mind that it is more dramatic lately.

I think that would have saved Veep. Julia Louis Dreyfus is a good dramatic actress too and if the show had sometimes leaned into the drama, I think it would have sustained the last few seasons better.

Roseanne back in the 90s was good at mixing pathos with comedy

Episode 3 was a waste of time. Just the final scene with the HR woman made me smile.

I thought it started rolling once the mayor showed up. That was some funny stuff.

Mayor Jo is a scream, she should have a scene in every episode.

A roomful of new writers, and they’re mostly ugly, not funny, an annoying bad actors. That throw-up guy was horrible. That creature who goes by the name “Holmes,” got a huge makeover since her days on that horrible show, Welcome to Flatch—but she's still difficult to look, and she’s never been funny.

Kayla and this bland passel of new writers seriously dilute what was once a solid comedy with two great leads and a strong ensemble into a puddle of “let’s get this over with."

The eternal problem with this show, probably similarly to Mrs. Maisel (which I never watched past the first season), is that “famed comedienne” Deborah Vance has never once told a legitimately funny joke. So the “comedy” and success thereof is always based on the other characters’ reactions, including fake audiences who undoubtedly would need to be told what “jokes” are actually funny.

Centring an episode - probably this entire season - on whether the characters can right funny jokes or not doesn’t bode well for entertainment purposes because Hacks will certainly never rely on the laughter of its actual viewing audience to determine if anything Deborah says is funny.

It’s sort of like watching a show about a master composer made by people who can only tap out notes with one finger on a Casio keyboard. We already know where this is going. Deborah’s show will be No. 1 as the actual show drifts off into its own fantasyland of how a late night show works as if The Larry Sanders Show actually never happened.

Why did Kayla need her own “Kayla”? That seems really tired. And Jimmy is supposed to roll his eyes at both of them?

When the show started they spent a lot of time casting the perfect actors for the characters they had written. Now they are just trying to plug "friends and family" into supporting roles as they enjoy watching them, but they don't make sense for the show.

I love Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder is very good, but I'm over the repetitive feuding between Deborah and Ava. The writers' room segments weren't funny, though I did love the mayor of Las Vegas.

My partner insists on watching the behind-the-scenes featurettes after each episode, where Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello, and Paul Downs walk us through every narrative beat and metaphor. Some of it is very obvious and heavy-handed "the coyote blocking Deborah's car is Ava, because she won't back down!". I don’t know when this trend of over-explaining became so ubiquitous, but I miss when the work was allowed to speak for itself.

[quote] By series four you could be running out of gas.. I think they've breathed new life into it

It's their Edna's Edibles.

What we think about Debra’s poppers related injury this week.

R56 Honestly? The only genuine laugh in the show.

Still the most unfunny season yet.

Is Paul Downs' character gay?

R58 he feels almost asexual to me. I don’t think we seen him express sexual attraction to either men or women? It would track if he was gay. Most of the men that Debra has around her are gay.

I'm sure Paul wouldn't mind having some on screen action.

I don’t mind the drama. When Jean listened to Carol Burnett and chose to present the show to just Ava, that was incredibly moving

Not as bad as last week but not great. First two eps of the season were good.

The first episode of Deborah's Talk Show was dreadful. NOTHING new and exciting - and the big get? Randy Newman who looked like he was melting into a wheelchair? Are you f*in kidding me? That show would only kill with the DL demographic. Terrible writing. So disappointed. And the traffic on this thread proves it.

R63 I assumed that was the point of Randy Newman? She choosing things she knows her audience likes. And honestly if deb was real her most devoted audience would be datalounge users. It looks like next episode is being set up to be about response to show getting low ratings.

I could see Jean submitting "I Love LA" as her Emmy episode but I'm sure she'll have better material later in the season.

She might as well have Dorothy Kilgallen as a guest!

I thought it was typical of this show that when her late night debut was premiering in the hospital waiting room nobody laughed. But people still said she was great. Sure.

Jimmy looks good for 42!

This show has largely been driven by Jean's acting. If the show writers were capable of writing a truly funny late night show, they could make a lot more money doing that than writing this niche show.

[quote] I could see Jean submitting "I Love LA" as her Emmy episode but I'm sure she'll have better material later in the season.

I wouldn’t be so sure. Extremely weak season and could qualify as a drama at this point.

I’m surprised no one’s mentioned Ava being groomed to be part of a throuple. That came out of nowhere and was telegraphed like a lightning bolt.

And Helen Hunt with a toddler? She’s in her 60s. I guess it was adopted or a frozen egg. Helen Hunt having heterosexual relations, even for a role, is the stuff of science fiction.

I hate to say it, as I've been a fan of the show since the beginning, but this season is really not good.

And in what world would a network let a 70 year old helm a late night talk show?

^^and not just a 70 year old, but a 70 year old who isn't funny.

r72, she GOT Randy F*cking Newman as her guest on the opener. That's AMAZING!

I'm glad someone else noticed the absurdity of Helen Hunt having a small child, r70.

She's VERY stiff and one-note considering how long she's been acting. Jean Smart is way more believable and natural.

Maybe the kid can have playdates with Nicole Kidman's adorable toddlers

"And in what world would a network let a 70 year old helm a late night talk show?"

They briefly reference that in the fictional world of Hacks, late night has nose dived and Deborah got the job because no one else wanted it, yet the out-of-touch network still wanted to give late night a go. So, the answer is in the fictional world of Hacks.

Agree that this season is lacking.

Looks like the show's entering the pre-Jump The Shark period where they can now get famous guest stars, but most of the time, they really shouldn't.

If you watch the post-credits round table with the creators, it becomes obvious they’re inhaling their own fumes this season. I sense after the reaction to this season thus far, Season 5 will be a “back to basics” approach that returns the laughs and hopefully the Vegas setting.

It’s become clear how crucial Vegas was as a character this season and how truly cliched and boring Los Angeles is as a poor substitute.

I've just sat through the first two episodes of season four. They were surprisingly watchable.

Well of course they’re all inhaling their own fumes, R78. They’re all working on a set where they have to pretend Paul W. Downs is straight.

The first two were good. The last two were questionable . So sad.

[quote] She's VERY stiff and one-note considering how long she's been acting.

Helen Hunt is the Sam’s Club Jodie Foster. Only less feminine.

My biggest beef with this season is how unrealistic all of this network stuff is. Last year when they were setting it up it felt like it had some gravitas - Tony Goldwyn felt like an actual executive and there were high stakes with Jean sleeping with him, etc

The blackmail scheme with Ava was masterfully done.

But now what we’re in the trenches of the network it all seems so inconsequential- bumbling executives and dopey HR classes and employees.

As a result, Eva and Deborah have no real stakes - they’re smarter than the people they’re working for!

Imagine how much better it would be if their employers were actually concerned about the bottom line and her success in the new role! Deborah and Eva would be forced to set aside their fued in order to prevail over their corporate overlords.

What were are gonna get is some mushy makeup probably around episode 6 that is completely unearned.

It saddens me how much this show has declined. The previous seasons were so good and consistent. Yet each episode this season feels like a chore to watch. Even Jean Smart’s charisma can’t save the lackluster writing this time around.

“ My biggest beef with this season is how unrealistic all of this network stuff is….. dopey HR classes”

That is practically a documentary about how awful those HR classes are in real life

So true r85. As one who has suffered through bullshit HR classes, they are pretty close to what is shown on Hacks. They're interminable.

The writers/creators have made the mistake of basking in the acclaim that was 89% Jean Smart, 6% the ensemble and 5% the writing.

Having said that, iffy episodes of this show are still superior to so much else. Jean Smart is sublime.

It's lame that they can't even come up with consistency with such short episode seasons. The BBC has done this for decades without breaking a sweat.

Americans want a pat on the back for being "daring" for doing shorter seasons and still churn out tired, reductive writing in limited time frames. I'm not impressed.

The Emmys will still reward this, along with The Bear, despite the fact that both seasons are considered excrement. Just because. Again, reductive.

Also see Ted Lasso.

You may be right r78. Isn't there some old rule: don't give your characters their heart's desire. Well maybe not, but I did worry that giving Debra the talk show she'd always dreamed of, they were going off track. I don't think she has to lose all the time, but it's a big risk when you win in the way you always wanted. Make them win in some other, unexpected way seems better. Reinvent herself in some new, unexpected way that surprises everyone.

r82 More like the Temu Jodie! LOL

She should have hit Burnett up as her first guest.

[quote] I sense after the reaction to this season thus far, Season 5 will be a “back to basics” approach that returns the laughs and hopefully the Vegas setting.

The Plan To Save Hacks!

R91, the rule is if you ever go looking for your heart’s desire again, never look further than your own back yard.

I thought episode four strengthened again, a little... the dark hostility ebbed a little. It was better. But yeah, I agree there's a problem generally in that Deborah isn't that funny on the show. Markoe was funny. But there could have been a whole episode built around Ava's insecurity over Markoe - Ava watching out of the corner of her eye and the resolution is the whole time Markoe wasn't scheming to get Ava's job, she was scheming to get an OK on bringing her dogs on set - or decided to bring the dog on set in defiance of some rule at the end. There was something there maybe. Agree with the assertion upthread the season would have been better with a quick pivot from blackmail to both Ava and Deborah realizing they're in over their heads in a shark tank and building the whole season as the two of them as voices of reason in a world of Hollywood cutthroat losers. They could have done a Howard Beale thing where Deb turns against her corporate overlords and her comedy keeps going from strength to strength - and the ratings with it - as she turns her comedic sights on them and their products. They work better as team and while the sentimentality can be moving in moments, I have a feeling we're just building toward a great big hug.

Was there something in the ER waiting room scene, because the only people into it were the two leads - and they were only chuckling.

The poppers thing was funny if a fairly tired trope.

I found Ava's three way build kinda sexy. I don't get the Einbinder hate. I think she's a very likeable presence with a great voice.

Finally, is there some significance in the Randy Newman scene? Because I just don't get it.

This season feels like one with an idea, but no themes.

Ava is the only humor this season.

Hannah E ^^

Do they have a writer from late night working on the show? They should, and have that person write the monologues for Deborah.

‘Hacks’ Breakout Robby Hoffman To Co-Write & Star In ‘Unentitled’ Comedy Series In Works At HBO

Robby Hoffman is only a "breakout" in the sense that my face was a "breakout" when I was 15.

So this episode had Hannah get her pussy eaten to orgasm by a hot guy she’s in a trouble with!

That definitely has gotten the show back on track!!

Episode 5 finally paid off Michaela Watkins' character.

That poor actor, R102. I hope he gets paid extra and a year or two of intense therapy for having his face near THAT.

I think the HR plot line and the HR actress are completely out of sync with the rest of the show.

I think I’m burnt out on this show. It’s just the same thing over and over again.

And why is Deborah always dressed in old lady glam like she rolled around in Charles Basso’s dressing room at QvC? Wouldn’t they want her in something more on trend? Like maybe a nice tailored suit. Like the way Nora O’Donnel dressed when she was doing the CBS Evening News? Smart is already looking too old for this part and they keep her dressed like she’s the sequined version of Maude.

This show is now so dark and I'm finding both leads unbelievable. Vance's show looks unredeemable.

We really didn't need to see Ava getting her pussy eaten. Ugh.

Too much of disgustingly fat, hunchbacked, obnoxiously unfunny, mush-mouth Kayla. I can understand probably half of what she says, and what I do understand is just not funny. Why would any of these intelligent people want her around? I really miss Marcus, who seemed to ground the show. And, yes, the show is just too dark and chaotic, it’s become a chore to watch.

For what it measures, I keep forgetting to watch this show the night it airs... like White Lotus, I knew that was Sundays. This season of this show, which I had loved, I keep forgetting tonight's the night on Thursday.

This anemic thread is on life support. Further proof this show is dying.

Enough with this Kayla. She's play acting, NOT acting. Where the fuck is the director?

This season is such a drag. I think season five should be its last.

The dance mom storyline felt like filler and wasn’t funny at all. Also, the celebrity cameos this season don’t add much.

Fuck Jimmy Kimmel. I didn't think I could hate him more, until I saw that scene with Deborah.

Hated dance mom. And the pussy eating was absolutely revolting. We did not need to see that.

Actually, new episodes of “Hacks” drop on Thursdays.

[quote] Fuck Jimmy Kimmel. I didn't think I could hate him more, until I saw that scene with Deborah.

R115 You do realize he was [italic]acting[/italic] and playing a parody of himself in doing so, yes?

[quote]And the pussy eating was absolutely revolting. We did not need to see that.

And it went on so long. I immediately thought of Aunt Sassy: "I don't need to SEE that!"

[quote] Fuck Jimmy Kimmel. I didn't think I could hate him more, until I saw that scene with Deborah. Hated dance mom. And the pussy eating was absolutely revolting. We did not need to see that.

You are a wise man.

[quote]I think the HR plot line and the HR actress are completely out of sync with the rest of the show.

She's the only one who's made me laugh the last two episodes.

^ yeah I get it. Me too. I guess I just found it pretty broad compared to the general vibe of the show.

I did not expect RuPaul’s Drag Race to have a longer lifespan than Hacks. But here we are.

Whenever a show becomes a hit, it becomes a hot mess

See also

The Last of Us

White Lotus season 3

Desperate Housewives

Glee (anything Ryan Murphy)

Greys Anatomy

This season has been annoying. The Throuple storyline seems forced as does the tension between Ava and Deborah, which seems like a rehash. And Kayla should have a fatal accident.

I think part of it is the culture shift that has happened since season 3 aired last summer.

We are in the early stages of Trump 2.0, and I personally am finding it more difficult to laugh at a rich, un-PC boomer clashing with an uber-liberal millenial these days.

Also, some of the storyline here doesn’t make sense. Deborah has been the queen of QVC for years, how does she not know how to connect with fraus? And it would have been realistic for Deborah and Ava’s fight outside the Comedy Store to go viral, with all those people watching, leading to speculation in the media that the show is in trouble-that would have been more interesting.

Trump?

Stick a fork in it. on another note, I asked AI to imagine Jean with a facelift. This was the result.

[quote]We are in the early stages of Trump 2.0, and I personally am finding it more difficult to laugh at a rich, un-PC boomer clashing with an uber-liberal millenial these days.

JFC WTF does Trump have to do with this show. Some of you are obsessed.

BTW Ava is Gen Z, not a Millennial. This was made clear several times over the course of the show.

The Last of Us is a hot mess? It's only been on for maybe 10 episodes so far?

I get what you mean, R125. For me it mostly shows up in my attitude towards the late night show as the high-stakes crucible for this season’s plot. I keep thinking it’s so beneath all concerned - including us as the audience. Not only is it a dead genre but pretending it’s the major feminist rubicon that we now have to cross just feels wildly tone deaf. Like, we’ve got a billion other fish to fry these days. Being in Los Angeles the whole time only adds to that sense of elder millennial comedy writer provincialism - I can’t believe how much I am missing Vegas.

Also, there is a weird “educational seminar” quality to the way the show treats Ava’s sexuality, which actually feels quite retrograde. Like, when Deborah’s sexuality comes into focus as a plot point it’s actually about Deborah, the person, whereas with Ava it always feel likes it’s in service of re-explaining some aspect of bisexuality to us?

I know people hate her, but Kayla and Jimmy (who should also just come out as bisexual already!) setting up a fledgling talent agency is the half hour show I now want to watch - and broadly drawn but very funny characters like Robby Hoffman’s and Michaela Watkins’ would be perfect in that world.

I miss Vegas and all the bizarre and hilarious side characters - Josephina, Miss Loretta, Kiki and of course Mayor Jo. They added a lot to the show and Vegas was a better setting. Kayla needs to die in a grease fire.

be funnier

This season is cratering pretty quickly First two eps were pretty good but its been going downhill fast. It was so good for two seasons and still strong for the third season, if not as good.

👅 🐈‍⬛

Jesus fucking Christ Kayla needs to fucking die.

Both Deborah and Ava are loathsome this season. The show is so much better when they’re interacting honestly constantly and the extended feuding has made that near impossible. Their relationship has gone from deep, quirky and real to artificial and perfunctory.

The talk show and everything surrounding it are awful and the entertaining supporting characters have been jettisoned for new, dull substitutes.

The Ava throuple storyline is pure titillation and has zero impact on the plot. Los Angeles is so generic compared to Vegas.

I don’t think the season can be salvaged at this point. At least we were spared an appearance by raging heterosexual Helen Hunt this week.

[quote]The Ava throuple storyline is pure titillation and has zero impact on the plot.

Ava has zero impact on the plot.

There, R136. Fixed that for you.

“ The Ava throuple storyline is pure tit”

THANKS!

The only funny line was when the HR woman blasted Ava for constantly looking up the deadline for the entry submission for the Peabody Awards. That sums up Ava to a tee. As if Deborah!s shitty show would be nominated for anything.

Also, Ava was a total cunt to Deborah in the restaurant when she was busted with her throuple partners. She reignited the feud for no reason.

The writers have totally lost touch this season.

Deborah’s talk show makes the Pat Sajak Show look like late-night brilliance. It sucks donkey balls.

The “Hacks” producers can’t even get good celebrity fake guests despite its countless Emmys. Are they not even trying?

Truly tragic.

Why doesn’t Ava fuck more guys on the show? She should be constantly hunting for dick. Nothing feels better than a giant, hard dick in my hungry pussy.

I love dick.

Dick!

The red-haired actress has no self-respect to agree to show nudity on camera for cash. She's disgusting.

Well this last episode was total crap. I'm really so bummed with this season.

R142 = Lynne Cheney.

R142 = Larraine Newman.

The Guardian's Zoomer critic gave it 5 out of 5 stars:

R146 Critics used to be seasoned journalists with an objective eye, specific knowledge and writing skills honed over many years.

No one with a brain wants to work in the news business anymore so now they’ll take any woke idiot right out of J school.

A tragic end to a once noble profession.

R142=sighted people everywhere

I liked it better when it was Mrs. Garrett screaming at Blair and Jo that they were both being little cunts.

The show worked better when the leads were 2 sides of the same coin.

Now they are getting too emmeshed in each others lives and it's turning into a Sam/Diane, Tony/Angela situation, where they should just fuck and get it over with.

R150 they can’t fuck when Ava is having graphic cunnilingus heterosexual/bisexual threesome scenes.

This lack of character self awareness reminds me of the Connors where Sara Gilbert cast herself as a sexually viable female lead, constantly beating lovers off with sticks and the center love triangle desires.

You’re correct, R151. Looking at that sexy, exotic couple all you can think of is “In depraved, beautiful Los Angeles the best you can find for a third is dumpy, titless Ava?” Terrible clothes, awful hair. She doesn’t even have a good personality. The writers have to humanize her with clumsy pratfalls because she’s so odiously woke and obnoxious. And the three of them were eating in what appeared to be a very high-end restaurant and they were practically fucking each other at the table. So tacky and trashy.

Ava is such a selfish bitch. The show should end with Deborah taking a hit out on her and then driving her Rolls Royce through the desert and coyly smiling as she spots a pile of freshly tilled soil, knowing the worthless carcass that lies rotting beneath.

I’m right there with ya R152, until that last paragraph. Yikes. A little potent just for a TV show you’ve grown tired of, no?

This is Datalounge, r153.

R152’s posts hits all the right notes except J don’t see a reference to cunt bones being kicked.

Ava IS annoying and titless and about as sexy as a pissing toad.

I didn’t understand the casting of Emmy-winner and indie darling Julianne Nicholson as…”Dance Mom”?

I’m not sure she was even doing her own dancing.

Like, maybe cast a comedy actress if you’re trying to do satire…?

Absolutely NOBODY wants to eat Ava's yeasty puss! Let's get real now.

This show has been a weird one for me. It's just "there". It's watchable but I feel nothing for any of the characters, I get bored by end of each episode and just catch it later. It's similar in tone to The Comeback- which I was- and still am obsessed with. That show I still rewatch episodes- I really love Valerie. I feel nothing for Deborah. But I still watch. Very surprised by the critical acclaim.

That Jimmy Kimmel scene was awful. But then again this entire episode was one of the worst ones ever for this show, even beating out the “stranded in the wilderness” episode.

The Comeback was brilliant. Lisa Kudrow deserved every award for this one scene alone.

r155 " I didn’t understand the casting of Emmy-winner and indie darling Julianne Nicholson as…”Dance Mom”? "

and she is terrible, as is the character / story line. ugh.

It doesn't feel grounded around anything central. I know "all hands on deck to make the talk show a success" should be a viable central theme, but it all feels so haphazard. And again, I don't think the season started terribly. But I think it's pretty terrible now. Kayla was improved in season 3 but now it's like they wanted her to do a more obnoxious and needlessly wacky version of her first season character whenever she gets screen time - which she really doesn't need at all.

Jimmy could just say that Kayla died of kidney failure and no one would care.

For a show that too frequently seems set in a past time, I thought the inclusion of social media Dance Mom was spot on as something today's wine drinking fraus would be more into. As opposed to a veteran standup like Debra who their mothers enjoyed at their age.

Hopefully we'll get more a Dance Mom story arc and see how today's type of fame changes her. Maybe an All About Eve talk show takeover is in the works?

I didn't realize Polly Draper was playing the psychic! She was hilarious.

OMG. Dance Mom is in 5 more episodes. She’s obviously going to take over Deborah’s show.

Why else would they cast an actress of Nicholson’s calibre?

Or, they’re going to kill of Dance Mom so Hannah can do some virtue-signalling moralism.

Ugh you’re right. Dance Mom taking over the show totally makes sense why Julianne Nicholson was cast and why she’s in so many episodes. It’ll also lead to Deborah and Ava reconciling because Ava was against having Dance Mom on the show in the first place.

It's clear the producers hate Kayla. That sausage skin casing jumpsuit she wore did her no favors.

It’s obvious Deborah will be “cancelled” but I don’t think it will be because her one night stand with the executive will be exposed. I think it will be something stupid like her (and Ava) buying Mike’s Hard Lemonade for those underage boys at the end of the “stranded in the wilderness” episode.

This show should have taken a cue from 30 Rock and have never actually let us see her late night show. It should have just been the behind the scenes shit.

Deborah was already on the verge of being cancelled when she went to Berkeley. I don't think they'll go there again. Dance Mom is terrible and I really don't need a whole arc with her, but I guess it really drives home the taste of Deborah's audience who love her.

“ Jimmy could just say that Kayla died of kidney failure and no one would care.”

Jimmy could just say that Kayla died of gang rape by pit bulls and no one would care.

What does Ava's puss taste like?

Well, I think Kayla is funny, and I need Jimmy to do various shockingly enjoyable, borderline immoral things to me.

I like Kayla. She plays the quintessential younger millennial to the hilt.

Kayla isn't very contemporary---she's the kooky next door neighbor/friend. Sometimes they're done well (Rose on Golden Girls, Jack on Will and Grace), but mostly they're not.

I loved the comment above about not showing the actual TV late night show. It was a great idea. What I do not get....the show is so bad that nobody would want to watch that. It looks like an afternoon show for Moms....It is horrible. And can someone explain the Sweden joke? Yikes

It seemed like the dance went on for five minutes and they showed the entire thing. What was the point of giving her more continuous screen time than anything else in this episode?

This show has gotten too far away from its roots. It feels like there's no real character exploration anymore but just fights and power struggles.

It’s paling in comparison to The Studio which has been streaming at the same time. Even though The Studio has a somewhat retro sensibility Hacks’ LA looks like the 1990s.

I hope J Smith Cameron puts in another appearance as Deborah’s sister.

"Hopefully we'll get more a Dance Mom story arc:"

Jesus, god no please

R179 unfortunately the producers have said she becomes a main character this season and is in the rest of the season.

You don’t cast an Emmy winning character actress in a part like that unless you plan to use her more.

“ I hope J Smith Cameron puts in another appearance as Deborah’s sister.”

I am still hoping for a Jeri spinoff from SUCCESSION

So I'm gonna be an outlier. I thought episode five was one of the better ones. Not great, but better consistently on all fronts. I do think the writing is weakening generally across this season though. Agree they might have done better to avoid the broadcast of the late night show, or at least the monologues. I'm assuming based on the above that Dance Mom somehow becomes a sensation and the evil showrunners and network executives can Deborah in favour of Dance Mom, as a parable of the shallowness of entertainment. I'm not quite sure how Ava winds up blacklisted enough she and Deborah have to stick together, because in real life Ava would generally just move on to her next thing, unless she did something really, really, really, really bad. I'll be interested to see how they set that up, though I'm not saying I'll be entertained by it. (Maybe they give Deborah a sitcom. Often people fail upward.)

Sigh. This is just like when they moved Laverne and Shirley to LA. One of the greatest television comedies of all time went straight to hell. Not even Edna could save it.

I wonder, will Dance Mom turn out to be Ellen, though?

[quote]What does Ava's puss taste like?

Fire, brimstone, rotten clams, an overinflated sense of self worth, and death, R172

And I thought fusion was over.

Julianne Nicholson’s secret, sometimes ‘raunchy’ prep to play Dance Mom on ‘Hacks’

I’ve always rooted for Hacks because it was a real comedy while The Bear simply wasn’t. Too much bitching and too many arguments. Hacks made me laugh. Now I’m tired of the bitching and arguments on Hacks. There’s still some laughs but I have no idea where this show is headed. They kill each other? Get married?

I think I have PTSD from seeing Ava naked and getting her box munched. There was just no need for that.

Ave nude and getting clam-rimmed took me by total surprise, nothing I’d expect to see on this show. It was crude and seemed forced. It was just a little, MUCH I guess. We watched until they called Dance Mom onto stage to save the episode and the husband was like, “you ready to go up and got to bed?”… so we clicked off the tv. I think I’m just kind of over the show now but will check back here to see how the season ends. Hacks was the only reason we were keeping Max so I can at least take that off my monthly to-pay list.

R182;: The episode was absolute garbage.

I gotta bitch about this: The scene where Deborah surprises Ava in the restaurant with her couple fell totally flat. Piss poor writing.

I agree. There didn't seem to be any reason why Deborah would want to do that, let alone make such a big thing of it.

The undertone of this whole season is that these two women love each other as they fight each other. Ava is more of a true daughter to Deborah than her own daughter, and Deborah has been more of a role model and mentor than Ava’s drab mother. Despite this intense love, they are thwarting each other, misunderstanding each other and hurting each other.

Deborah was hurt to realize she knew nothing about Ava’s private life and that Ava has been denigrating the show — Deborah and Ava’s project, their baby — to her tricks. That was the point of that scene

This is the part in the rom-com where the lovers are making mistakes and hurting each other before they realize their mistake and either split for good or — more likely reunite.

R194 = Paul W. Downs, raging heterosexual.

Also, what is the timeline for this season if Deborah’s daughter is still pregnant? It makes her getting the late night gig even more preposterous if it’s only been a month or two.

The timeline of Debrorah's daughter's pregnancy is more dependent on the availability of the actress. She's now already balancing two higher paying shows so Hacks needs to work around when she's available for them.

[quote] I am still hoping for a Jeri spinoff from SUCCESSION

Ridiculous. This will never happen. Succession is already long forgotten. And it was a silly show when it was in its first run.

Season two was good, the rest was shit.

Calm down, r198.

Obviously, R198 went deaf and blind after season 2.

R197 The writers knew going into this season that they were in third position with the actress. They needed to adjust accordingly and either not mention the pregnancy or have her give birth off camera. It’s a minor thing but it speaks to the sloppiness of this season.

Like her daughter, I was pumped full of semen and am absent as a result of related issues.

I’ve never seen a program go from beloved and near-bulletproof to as despised as fast as this one.

R203 = Cybill Shepherd.

R203 It speaks to the decline in quality of this season.

I don't think it's despised. It's just not hitting everything out of the park as solidly as before. Part of the problem may be that a very small cast, centred around Deb and Ava, is now larger. It's a half hour show and Jimmy and Kayla are getting their own screen time, sometimes unrelated to Deb or Ava. You could have built a whole full series around the production of the show. That writers room should be full of great characters, but instead we're getting Jimmy and Kayla's receptionist/assistant. Somebody should talk to the writer/director/co-showrunner Paul W. Downs about all the screen time Jimmy and Kayla are getting.

Hey, wait a minute....

Am I the only one who doesn’t hate this season? It’s dramatic and not comedic but that doesn’t make it bad.

The stand up was never funny, so why should the talk show be funny? Also have you guys watched late night television. Is it ever truly funny?

The Kayla critique is also nothing new. I have found her shrill and awful from her first episode. But she somehow got a contract on the show, so I live with it.

The only scene I didn’t need this season was Ava having oral sex with her throuple.

R207 You are correct that within the show, Deborah the performer was never as funny as Deborah the character. Initially the show was funny because of Deborah’s over the top lifestyle and boomer-ish disregard and disrespect for Ava. The stand up performance scenes themselves were pretty meh. Deborah getting another shot at a late night talk show was the quixotic dream that drove much of the action. So where do you go after that dream has been achieved? Do lousy imitations of real shows? Deborah and Ava with pistols at ten paces? It ain’t exactly jumping the shark, but the dynamic of the show has changed and how the writers and producers deal with that will determine if there’s a season 5.

They should have had a dreadful headwriter that Ava's got to cope with, ultimately succeeding in the role, and then the lovely and talented Helen Hunt cancels the thing anyway.

[quote] the lovely and talented Helen Hunt

Don’t forget cock-hungry, heterosexual dynamo.

Fuck me with your cunt-splitting cock!

R210=renowned cockhunter

This last episode was a mess, talk show wise. It felt more like a daytime show than a late-night show. Cooking segment. Sad hair extensions. Dance Mom. And before that - Randy Newman as the guest on an opening show??? Yep., That'll bring viewers in.

I skipped the throuple scenes. I'm not interested in watching Ava date or have sex.

R213 = All HBO subscribers

It’s quite telling that Ava’s sex partners who she has apparently been in a relationship with for months don’t even have names. Talk about telegraphing how unimportant two characters are to the show. They might as well be prostitutes.

Hopefully they dump Ava for someone good looking with breasts.

R215, or for Jimmy instead.

Jimmy has great-looking breaststroke, BTW. He regularly shows them off on other shows.

Breasts!!! Darn autocorrect

Did anyone notice that we didn't see Deborah's cardiologist appointment and she didn't talk about it afterwards? I wonder if the show will end with her dying or seriously ill.

We can only hope unless it means another season of this.

They need to bring in the OG titless ginger with whom Jean Smart has actual chemistry.

I did, r219. I wonder.

I love Jean, but she seems in danger of becoming overexposed at this point.

If Walton Goggins shows up this season I’m turning in my Walton Goggins Fan Club card.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

😂

Walton Goggins is going to show up and eat Ava's pussy.

🦷🦷🦷🦷🦷🦷🦷🦷🦷

Next week Deborah gets Benson Boone on the show, doing a stupid backflip.

When is Shelley Hack going to guest star?

I don't see Deborah Vance buying a suitcase of illegal drugs for her writers.

On the season finale, Randy Newman comes back with Anne Murray to sing "You've Got A Friend in Me," as Deborah & Ava reconcile before the big reveal that Damien is a top. A ratings juggernaut!

R230, totally agree. Furthermore, you don't buy a suitcase of drugs for people and continue to treat them like annoying strangers afterward. That's why I buy my writers messenger bags full of drugs. Less of a bonding moment.

[quote] Jimmy has great-looking breaststroke, BTW. He regularly shows them off on other shows.

Eh? What shows?! Are they available in the UK (the shows or the breasts)???

Those saying Deborah's stand-up isn't that funny are correct. But the show has purposefully portrayed her that way. That's why she was stuck in Las Vegas doing casinos and selling branded junk on QVC. The whole point of Season 1 was that Ava arrived to revive her career and make her relevant which is what she accomplished.

I think the show needs to end with Ava usurping Deborah in fame and talent and leaving her behind.

Would someone who looks like Damien have trouble getting laid in LA? He's definitely cuter than average.

Damien could get laid in LA. By the hottest guys out there (I realize that's subjective), I don't know, but he'd get laid.

R234=Hannah Nothingburger

[quote] I think the show needs to end with Ava usurping Deborah in fame and talent and leaving her behind.

Ava is too ugly, woke and annoying to ever be famous.

Ugh. The new episode is on tonight. I dread watching it but too invested not to at this point.

What a tragic season.

Apparently one of the themes of this season is that Deborah has achieved her dream just as late shows are dying . It’s a Pyrrhic victory and unless she and her writers can reimagine the genre, her show is a goner. Evidently that’s what Ava is supposed to do. Hey, that’s Paul Downs take not mine.

I hope we’re spared Ava’s fried egg titties and ginger fish taco tonight.

R241 I'm 15 minutes in and there is a sound rejection of her fried egg titties and ginger rotten fish tacos.

Holy cow. Hannah deserves an Emmy for that scene with Jean toward the end. No laughs but one of the most emotional moments to tell someone you love that you can’t trust them and hate them.

There were a few good bits.... the engagement ring story was delicious evil, but this show is getting a bit emotional for me.

No, R243, that wasn't acting, she was just reciting lines.

R243, the credits are rolling and there's a credit for Hannah's personal nose hair puller, which explains the two tears she squeezed out in that last scene.

An improvement. Not the best but far better than any other episode this season. Cautiously optimistic. Still on probation.

Episode six is the best episode since the first two.

Two episodes next week.

Is it eight or ten episodes this go?

Tonight's episode wasn't as bad as the last two. The tension between Ava and Deborah seemed more real. Even though Kayla only had a cameo, it still reminded me how annoying she was. The ending tied things up in a bow too much.

R250: Ten.

Very satisfying episode. I like how dark it got. Glad the corgi pup didn't get hurt.

Next week - Dance Momma!

R243 they clearly spliced in the three seconds of Ava‘s teary face into the rest of that scene because the tears appear then disappear instantly.

I thought this episode put the show back on track.

I think Mark Indelicato is so fucking hot. What is wrong with me?

R256 = Vanessa Williams

[quote]I think Mark Indelicato is so fucking hot. What is wrong with me?

Him in that character is very hot. An adult Mark is yummy. When he acts like a flamboyant gay twink outside of that, not appealing.

Still getting worse. This week didn't improve. Two great seasons, one very good season, and two pretty good season 4 epsiodes. And then the cliff. Are these even the same writers?

The Ava writer's room scene was just stupid.

I really liked this show when it started. Season 5 has me praying for it to be canceled.

Jean Smart's appeal can't be the ONLY thing worthwhile on a show.

Mark Indelicato was on Watch What Happens Live a couple weeks ago wearing a corset and I still thought he was hot. He was kind of an asshole though. I got the distinct impression he was coked up, actually.

I think this show made a real mistake when it expanded its world to LA. I know the story may have demanded it, but it has meant that there are too many characters, all of whom are underdeveloped. Who gives a shit about the execs, the writers or the throuple couple? And celeb cameos are usually a mistake.

All these new people and the move to LA have diluted the chemistry between Deborah and Ava, which is the real love story here. And, unforgivably, the cast of thousands has somewhat taken the focus away from Smart.

Alan Sepinwall:

"This week’s Hacks, “Mrs. Table,” was my favorite of the season so far. Not coincidentally, it’s also the episode that finally ends the latest feud between Deborah and Ava. Like I said at the start of the season, it’s exasperating that the Hacks creators insist on beginning each year with their leads being at odds, when the show is always better when they’re working together. That said, I’ve seen the rest of the season, and without spoiling, it ends in a way suggesting a fifth season would not make us go through this routine again — not at the beginning, anyway."

[quote]Jean Smart's appeal can't be the ONLY thing worthwhile on a show.

R261 the show never would have made it past the first season without her. She was born to be Deborah Vance.

I can’t be the only one w who does t get the gushing over Jean Smart as if she’s a grande dame of stage and film, can I?

She’s great, and likable and she was incredible in Mayer of East Town. But the sycophantic constant drooling some people do over her, I just don’t get.

MARE of Easttown. Did you even watch the show?

R264: They're stuck. Truly ending the feud will make the show unwatchable but continually dragging it means endless, unbelievable plot twists (like the previous couple episodes) and and also makes the show unwatchable.

“They're stuck.”

WRONG! Charlene Frazier is gonna eat the pussy out of Beldar Conehead’s granddaughter!

The show DRAGS when Ava and Deborah are on the outs. They can spar, sure, but no more total hating each other. It’s gotten old. I’m ready to see them united and fighting the network and Helen Hunt who don’t agree with their direction of their show.

The throuple storyline was, what, three scenes in total, one with Ava flat on her back. We still didn’t know anything about those people when they were breaking up with her. It just amounted to sex tourism.

This week’s episode felt like the worst. Deborah going into the ocean in a mink coat? Sure. She’d sink to the bottom.

Is Dan Bucatinsky’s character the Executive Producer on Deborah’s show? I thought he was one of the writers at first.

If they insist on showing Deborah’s monologues, why didn’t they have a late night writer (like Merrill Markoe, who is right there on the show) help write them?

[quote] I’m ready to see them united and fighting the network and Helen Hunt who don’t agree with their direction of their show.

I think we can all agree we want to see Helen Hunt grab a few margaritas and go on a depraved, lusty cock hunt. My mouth is watering just thinking of juicy cock.

It’s Saturday in L.A., bitches! Cinco de Mayo may be over, but mama’s craving some chorizo!

Pinga, por favor!

Helen Hunt screams POWER LESBIAN in this show. Or maybe that's just her real life vibe these days.

Did she sell her lips cause she's in financial dire straits?

Maybe we need to let the entire season play out before criticizing the story choices.

R276: the last few episodes suggest otherwise.

Please tell me no more of Ava's ginger minge!

My pussy stinks.

FYI - Alexander Koch who played the male thrupler Dev lost his house in the Altadena fire.

I was sorry we didn't't get a better look at his cock.

I skipped through the part where Ava showed up at the couple's house looking for emotional support. I knew they would tell her to fuck off using gross therapy-speak and didn't need to watch it happen. That whole plot was so dumb.

[quote] I skipped through the part where Ava showed up at the couple's house looking for emotional support. I knew they would tell her to fuck off using gross therapy-speak and didn't need to watch it happen. That whole plot was so dumb.

Actually, she just wanted to fuck and they basically dumped her because she was only interested in sex.

The plot was like science fiction.

Ava's puss is sooooo irresistible y'all!

It makes men and women lust for her to no end.

For all you Meg Salter fans, I just saw that Salter and DL face Lens Dunham have a Netflix series premiering in July described as “a romantic comedy.”

I wish I could see your faces.

R284 Sara Gilbert has the same problem!

See also Jennie Garth

[quote]For all you Meg Salter fans, I just saw that Salter and DL face Lens Dunham have a Netflix series premiering in July described as “a romantic comedy.”

R285 those two fucking fat facers on the screen at the same time? There isn't a screen large enough in the entire world.

Clearly not sponsored by Zepbound.

Oh DEFINITELY sponsored by Zepbound as a cautionary tale.

[quote]those two fucking fat facers on the screen at the same time

Fucking amateurs!

🔪 💃 🧑

Not one single funny moment in episode 7.

Highlight of episode 8

Montage!

I'm watching episode 8 where Deborah's in the green screen robot suit and it occurred to me that even though she's a comedian she's really bitchy and tight assed about everything.

[quote] even though she's a comedian she's really bitchy and tight assed about everything

Totally unrealistic.

Jesus, both of the episodes they dropped tonight were absolutely horrible. It’s gone totally absurdist now.

Dance Mom is a thoroughly ludicrous character. And maybe a trio of horny Filipino cater waiter midgets would want to gang bang Mayor Jo but three hockey players? I don’t think so. And they really wasted the wonderful Jane Adams as Ava’s mom.

Jesus CHRIST Kayla's scenery chewing needs to stop.

Sad it appears that Jimmy is in fact straight.

[quote]Jesus CHRIST Kayla's scenery chewing needs to stop.

Tonight she reminded me of Maria Sofia, the bad actress from Curb Your Enthusiasm whose line deliveries were all over the place and consistently terrible.

The Dance Mom development was awful and made no sense. Nor did it make sense for Deborah to turn on a dime from frau-pleasers like Dance Mom into basically a copy of the Joan Rivers late night show from 40 years ago.

Kayla, Dance Mom, Hasidic Lesbian Receptionist: I've had it with the wacky. And though I like the Mayor Jo character, fucking three hockey players on a Zamboni was a hat on a hat on a hat. A regular sex scandal, like with a male escort, would have been funnier and more organic.

Two more eps to go. This season has been a total miss.

I thought eps 7 and 8 were slightly better, but still not good. For some reason I thought it was a series finale with two episodes released and getting to see Mayor Jo, Marcus, and Ava's Mom again. But, there's 10 episodes this season and people have talked about the possibility of one more season.

Also: am I the only one bothered by the fact that they shoot exteriors at Television City on Fairfax but there is inexplicably a huge backlot attached?

Agree about the wackiness overall, but damn, could they have done something with Ava's mom besides every fucking cliche ever? OMG, I'm a loud and annoying rube who thinks shouting my daughter's name in a big city is the only way to find her. OMG, I'm an annoying bitch who nags my daughter incessantly about giving me grandkids. OMG, I'm a tiresome twat who can't be alone for five minutes, so you have to take me to work with you, where I'm guaranteed to be a tedious pain in the ass. But ya gotta love me, cause family, amirite?

I didn’t realize there were two episodes tonight and accidentally watched episode 8 first. It took until about 20 minutes in, when they mentioned Dance Mom wasn’t actually a mom, before I realized I’d skipped an episode. I still need to go back and watch episode 7 but hopefully it feels less stuffed than episode 8 did. Between Ava’s mom, the sex scandal, the Kayla and Jimmy nonsense, them adjusting the taping schedule, and Helen Hunt being fired they crammed like 4 different episodes into one. Also, is there a reason they couldn’t pre-tape the interviews and still do the monologue on air day to address current events?

The only reason Kayla exists is to give us more Jimmy. So unless you’re bitching about Jimmy, you shouldn’t be bitching about Kayla. They’re both equally pointless and equally annoying.

^Lucia Aniello^

They basically disposed of Ava's mom in Episode 8 w/o explanation. Making Kayla competent is almost as bad as having her on the show at all.. Jimmy doesn't really have a purpose at this point.

R299, you left out Stacy, the “wacky” HR lady but thank god she appears to be going away.

I guess Winnie will be the one who finds dirt on Deborah which leads to her “cancellation.”

Ava getting pregnant and having a kid will definitely be part of the storyline for season five.

Whether we want it or not

I like Kayla. She made me laugh in this episode with her full gorilla mode. Killing the dolphin 🐬 with a muffin to the blowhole was hilarious.

What are they implying with what the producer said to Ava at the party about Deborah? That Deborah didn't mean what she said that night and was only trying to get her back? I thought it was clear that she was sincere. If they're trying to "reveal" Deborah as a shark, that ship has sailed.

[quote]I like Kayla.

I think you and I are the only ones here, R309.

R310 = the actress playing Kayla

In one of the episodes in the first or second season, Jimmy is trying to have a heartfelt moment with Deborah. He starts talking about when his father died, how Deborah was supportive, and then Kayla butts in drunkenly and says to Deborah “bitch, you got this bitch. I believe in you girlie”. Deborah is disgusted. It is the single funniest moment in the entire show and my partner and I send the clip of it back-and-forth to each other.

Bitch, you got this, bitch. I believe in you girlie. Hmm.

Would Winnie's behavior really be bad enough to get fired over in real life?

R312 R313 I believe that scene is from the Season 1 finale. It's in Deborah's dressing room, just before she goes on stage to do her 2500th and final Vegas residency show.

R314 In real life, a board/chairman could spin any number of tales about underperformance in various business areas as public narrative for firing a CEO.

[quote] Would Winnie's behavior really be bad enough to get fired over in real life?

Who cares? Winnie’s now going on a cock hunt through L.A. And I’m getting some “hands on” method experience, if you know what I mean.

Break out the bubbly cause mama’s hungry for a big, delectable dick 🍾. Fuck!

Cock!

[quote] I guess Winnie will be the one who finds dirt on Deborah which leads to her “cancellation.”

R307 Who knows exactly what will unfold in the story, but I agree and I think Deborah may have unwittingly bitten off more than she's used to chewing on this one. I don't think she meant to get Winnie [italic]fired[/italic]. I think she just wanted Winnie to back off a little bit, and was frustrated that even at the party Winnie couldn't be satisfied for just a little while on the unexpected achievement of Deborah getting the show all the way to #1.

Her exact words to Bob -- something like "I'd love it if Winnie never asked me for a spinoff ever again" -- I think were intended to be a little hyperbolic. But taken verbatim, Bob did exactly what Deborah asked. He saw to it that Winnie will never ask her for a spinoff ever again. Brutal.

Deborah may have learned a lesson the hard way here. With the likes of Bob and Winnie, she's tangling with people far more powerful than she's been accustomed to for most of her career. I guess we'll see if Deborah leans into these tactics and how Winnie will even the score.

Corden didn’t come up with “Carpool Karaoke” his first week.

That was originally done on Comic Relief UK for Red Nose Day with the late, great George Michael.

[quote] I guess Winnie will be the one who finds dirt on Deborah which leads to her “cancellation.”

Except in real life, it would be Bob who was canceled while Deborah was lionized as a victim of their power imbalance.

I don't think either of them would get canceled. They're both rich and over 50. It would just be a salacious piece of gossip.

There was too much extraneous shit. That bit at the party sowing seeds of doubt about Deb’s sincerity in making up with Ava followed by Winnie being fired leaves fear and loathing for rest of the season.

If Ava is already unwittingly pregnant from her adventures in throupleland cue next season her Mom moving into the mall to look after her ugh.

Are they burning episodes?

R301 It annoys the hell out of me. They’ve combined Television City, Universal and WB into one lot. Not to mention the fact that Jimmy Kimmel doesn’t even shoot on a lot yet they had him at Television City too.

Ideal situation: Ava gets knocked up, goes back to mommy in Saudi Aurora and hires Kayla as her nanny to go with.

Ava gets knocked up. Deborah performs a non consensual back alley abortion and wears the fetus like last season’s Versace wrap.

The end.

i thought 7 & 8 were a return to form. It was funny stuff.

I liked 7 more than 8. The christening stuff was hilarious.

Hacks, and the movie Guinevere with Sarah Polley and Stephen Rea, are the only times I have liked Jean Smart as a performer - and in fairness, I absolutely love her in both.

Other performances, like in Mare Of Easttown, have too much of the squawking of her Frasier character.

[quote]Deborah performs a non consensual back alley abortion and wears the fetus like last season’s Versace wrap.

Neaux, R325. Her daughter puts in the rock tumbler and makes a pendant.

The daughter was on fire in the christening episode. She was hilarious.

Ava's mother is so not Waltham, MA. Waltham, MA is full of tough blue collar bitches, not dizzy fraus.

Deborah's daughter having a baby at 50ish? Ok.

I know Michael Patrick King gets rightly ripped to shreds for ruining SATC with AJLT, but I will say he didn’t ruin The Comeback in a way that Hacks seems to be ruined lately so I will give him credit for that

She does look really old, r332.

R333 That’s because he had you there to temper him. MPK needs a strong hand (like Darren Starr) to save him from himself. When he doesn’t, we get AJLT and AJ and The Queen.

Sorry but Jean Smart as a comedian has never really worked. I like her, but she’s just bland, she isn’t funny in that way and really can’t act the part. I do like the show, but Smart is horribly miscast here.

R336, are you on the spectrum?

The "Dancing Mom" arc has an end (unlike Ava's mom vanishing) but it doesn't really get resolved. Who is on the hook for the million?

R337, are you typing from a dark, cigarette smoke filled basement?

I am intrigued by where it all goes. Dance Mom and Winnie took turns I didn't expect. Not saying it will be good writing but I didn't really see that coming.

Why don't you guys like this season? I think it's really funny.

Because we don't think it's that funny or well-written.

R336 is not the first one to make that point, r337. Jean Smart is good actor but her comedy has always been the show's weakest aspect. They tell us Deborah is a talented comedian but they never actually show it.

Jean Smart totally miscast? Apparently Emmy voters disagree as they hand the award to her every season but what the hell do they know anyway?

Damn right. She IS the show.

They've shown Deborah doing stand up several times. She was never supposed to be a laugh riot hilarious stand up like Joan Rivers. The title of the show is "Hacks," after all. She was also never a big A-List stand up like Joan Rivers, Roseanne Barr or Ellen Degeneres. I think the best real-life comparison to Deborah Vance would be stand-ups like Rita Rudner or Elaine Boosler - they peaked in the 80s with their middle-of-the-road stand up and were never huge stars.

Speaking of Joan, the funniest time of my life was at a Joan Rivers concert at NYC's Gramercy theater during pride week.

I laughed so hard for one solid hour that my face and sides literally ached. She started with a bang and did not let up. Truly a unique and sorely-missed talent.

Holy cow plot twist

I thought it was all going to turn out to have been a dream. That opening bit with Katie Couric where Deborah was talking about her ‘illiterate” sister? It was so bizarre I thought it meant something was happening down the road. Very odd.

R349 maybe the finale will have Ava walk out of a shower and this whole season was a dream

We can only hope, R350.

R341: I don't think this season is awful but it's not as good as season three. That being said, I actually really liked episode nine. The bit with Jimmy giving cocaine to the Dance Mom was hysterical.

Very good episode.

Tony Goldwyn still looks good. Sometimes I confuse him with Billy Crudup.

How. Oilfield you—nothing similar there.

could*. Not oilfield ;)

The scenes and the dynamic between Deborah and Ava are so good, and the screaming "comedy" matches with Jimmy and Kayla are so, so bad it's like watching improvisers flailing onstage.

I don’t know who looks worse: Helen Hunt or Kim Novak?

Really. Hunt always had a forehead the size of a drive-in movie screen, but now her facial features are sinking, and near implosion.

During Deborah's surprise monologue, I was hoping she would mention what happened to Winnie and apologize for it.

As I said at R318, I don't think Deborah meant for Bob to [italic]fire[/italic] Winnie. Right along with Deborah sticking up for Ava in the monologue, it would have been a nice inclusion for her to acknowledge the misunderstanding (and her instigation of it) and stand up for Winnie as the network executive who was the biggest ally and advocate for the show.

One more episode to go. Maybe they'll find another way in the finale to somehow make amends with Winnie. Or maybe they won't -- often, not everything gets tied up in a nice bow. We'll see!

Helen Hunt does look like she survived an office fire and I’m not sure when or how that happened, but the Helen Hunt of As Good As It Gets and the Helen Hunt of Hacks, really should be studied by medical students

Helen Hunt must have spent all her "mad About You" money.

The episode has the same hurky-jerky writing as most of the season--underdeveloped arcs that were pieced together as "surprise" plot twists.

Doesn't Deborah have fuck-you money at this point? I don't think that 18-month noncompete clause should be that big a deal to her. There's going to be a lot attention on her for the foreseeable future even if she's not performing. She can write a book. I know performing is supposed to be her lifeblood, but she can keep busy for a year and a half.

Wow, Tony Goldwyn's been married to the same woman for almost 40 years.

Strong episode. Goldwyn is still sexy as fuck. I am surprised Deborah didn't threaten to expose their hook-up during the confrontation at the end though. That would've shut him up.

Tony Goldwyn’s wife is an esteemed production designer. I worked with her a few times in the nineties. She’s a great lady. And a lucky one because he’s still hot as hell.

Tony’s wife here. I know you fantasize about my husband every time we worked together! @r366

R367 hahaha, I’m sorry Jane! I couldn’t help myself. Nineties Tony Goldwyn was a sexy fucker.

I would ride Tony Goldwyn’s hard bare cock even if he was Kendall Dobbs in the mid 80s without the medication.

Tony Goldwyn is 65 years old and still a piece of ass. Lucky man.

Mother fuck this is awful

R363 Yes Debra has fuck you money but she is a compulsive performer. She needs to have the stage and the spotlight. You can really this in her relationship with her daughter. Remember how she turned both AA meeting and her grandson baptism in to standup show. I really don’t think writing a book would give her the same level of fulfillment as performing on the stage.

I must be one of the few people who likes this season.

The fat girl is awful

Helen Hunt and Tony Goldwyn are acting circles around the other LA cast

Where did Helen's lips go?

Which set, r376?

It just seems like missed opportunities all season. Instead of everybody being somehow trapped on this stupid talk show that is not really what anybody wants, but somehow for dumbfuck reasons it's caught on, they go for stupid, forced "dramatic" blowups in hallways and people driving off the lot in a big fury over nonsense. Lazy and dull.

[quote]I must be one of the few people who likes this season.

TV Insider's Matt Roush is another:

In the penultimate episode of the Emmy-winning comedy’s terrific fourth season, late-night host Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) faces a career and public-relations crisis when studio boss Bob Lipka (Tony Goldwyn) insists her show book a controversial movie star (Eric Balfour) as a guest. The fallout could be a game changer for everyone, including her outspoken head writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder) and devoted manager Jimmy (Paul W. Downs), who’s got other problems as he scours the studio lot looking for a wayward Dance Mom (Julianne Nicholson).

I hadn't seen Eric Balfour in YEARS, it took me a minute to recognize him. Time really goes by.

I used to love Eric Balfour. I did not recognize him at first. There was that movie where he showed his dick....time to rewatch it.

I dislike Einbinder more and more as the show continues.

Einbinder is the only thing good

How do you solve a problem like Hannah Einbinder?

This episode was better. Very cloyingly Big Dramatic Moment, but still.

Has anyone seen Hannah Einbinder in something besides hacks? Always hard to judge a performer on one show or movie.

Honestly, though, what the fuck did happen to Helen's face? It's like she had work done, it was horrible, and now she's waiting for her face to relax. Kind of like Linda Evans, who fucked it up, let it be, and now looks terrific again.

R386 she'll never be in anything else. Ever.

If Hannah Einbinder is never in anything else I'm fine with it. She's great as Ava because Ava is supposed to be strident and annoying, but I don't need to see her in another project.

[quote] There was that movie where he showed his dick....time to rewatch it.

Honey, that micro-sized cock made Terrence Howard’s look like a nine incher. Seeing it once was enough.

If Hannah Einbinder is never in anything else I'm fine with it . . . but I don't need to see her in another project.

So are we, R389.

[quote]If Hannah Einbinder's ginger snatch is never in anything else I'm fine with it . . . but I don't need to see her ginger snatch in another project.

Fixed it for you.

FANK you very much!

This is Hannah Einbinder’s first role. She’s some kind of nepo baby but I’m too lazy to look it up. But I think she’s pretty good.

She is the only energy on the show. HBO or MAX should be shoveling $ at Hannah

I tried to watch Hannah's standup comedy special on Hulu but it was Gen Z self-righteous wokeness I turned it off after 5 minutes.

And she sings.

As I was leaving, I held the door open for Tony Goldwyn at the Paris Baguette on 41st and Broadway this week. He smiled and said "thanks."

R393 her mom was Laraine Newman from SNL

Her mom IS Laraine Newman