Hacks S1

In Hacks, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart, who you might recognise from Mare of Easttown) is in danger of losing her residency as a comedian in Vegas. Meanwhile, in LA, 25-year-old Ava is looking for work as a comedy writer. It looks like they’ve each got something the other needs – but Deborah is highly sceptical about working with someone so young.

She kickstarts their partnership by undertaking a highly unconventional road trip with Ava, and then enlists her to take on a series of arduous tasks before she’s willing to put the future of her career in Ava’s hands. Will Deborah ever trust Ava enough to use her material?

The Atlantic says, “The genius of Hacks is how deftly it critiques decades of TV comedy, reminding viewers of what’s missing now (stars of Deborah’s wattage and grace) as much as what’s changed for the better.”