A Deep Dive into the Comedy World of HBO's 'Hacks'

What jokes do you have for me?

Hacks is an HBO series about Deborah Vance, a once-legendary Las Vegas comedian, who hires Ava Daniels, a comedy writer, for her shows. This toxic mentorship brings them several opportunities, but the duo competitively take one step ahead of each other to succeed.

I have binged Hacks for the last few months, and now, with no more episodes until season 5, there’s a void to fill. Hacks is a funny, relatable, and strongly written series about making it to the top in the entertainment industry.

Hacks wouldn’t be a hit without the dynamic duo, Debra Vance and Ava Daniels, played tremendously by Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder. Smart and Einbinder have fantastic chemistry. They were so natural in all of their conversations.

Ava and Debra’s relationship epitomizes lessons on who you connect with in Hollywood. It’s one of the best examples of an age-gap friendship. However, does it make sense? While they're learning numerous times about how they value one another, they claw at each other's throats.

Similar to her character’s audacious profession, Smart has also had a successful acting career. Smart is phenomenal as Deborah Vance, playing her character with grit, attitude, and quiet vulnerability. She becomes dependent on Ava for even the simplest of ideas. That angle of her character is played with layered depth by Smart.

Hannah Einbinder beat out 500 women for the role of Ava Daniels! She is a strong actress, and similar to Ava, she is stamping her name on Hollywood. Ava is a complex character. She is both naive about her decisions and willing to be manipulative to get to the top. I like that about her. The best outcome for Ava is that she should go her own way.

Hacks would be lost without its standout supporting cast. Credits include Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, and Kaitlin Olson. Smart and Einbinder dominate the series, but the supporting cast adds comic relief and authentic representation of the bustling entertainment industry.

Sometimes I thought I was watching a comedy show between Jimmy and Kayla (Downs and Stalter). Their banter got stale, repeating jokes and a dynamic we’ve understood since season 1. Both have major scenes of growth.

Hacks was created and written by Lucia Aniello, Jen Stratsy, and Paul W. Downs. They wanted to make a show about female comedians, who they felt didn’t receive the right attention as male comedians.

Hacks is a great show, but it’s repetitive, and the jokes are distasteful. I’m surprised characters find insults funny, like when Debra is laughing at her daughter calling her an awful name on live TV and in front of a live audience. The show was starting to lose its steam in season 3. And like most shows now, it takes an unnecessary porn route.

The series offers clever and relevant themes about reinvention, generational clashes, and the harsh realities of the entertainment world. Ava and Debra’s partnership is a lesson on who you should trust in the Hollywood world. The entertainment world or any business is tough to put your foot in the door, but you have to be firm and aggressive to get what you want.

Watching this series made me reflect on my rising career as an entertainment reviewer. In the last two years, I have taken steps to get my name in the ballpark. It has worked, and I’ve had more theaters reaching out and asking me to come review their shows. Keep building your profile.

Hacks is worth checking out for its talents and funny jokes. I look forward to binge-watching season 5 when it’s out.