On Screen: “Hacks”
Hacks
Back in 2021, HBO Max premiered “Hacks,” an audacious, five-season comedy series about two women: a boomer standup diva and a millennial joke writer who — through generational friction — eventually became artistic soulmates.
Starring Jean Smart as droll, deadpan Deborah Vance and Hannah Einbinder as bisexual, eco-conscious Ava Daniels, “Hacks” went on to win 12 Primetime Emmys, and — now — it’s come to an end.
So let’s look back.
When she’s first introduced, legendary Deborah lives in a luxurious mansion in Las Vegas, paid for by her residency on the casino stage. Realizing that she’s continually re-hashing old material, her astute agent, Jimmy (Paul W. Downs, who doubles as one of the series’ writers), pairs her with Ava, a woke young comedy writer whose rising career tanked after she posted an ill-advised tweet about a right-wing senator.
Despite their obvious differences, Deborah and Ava develop a collaborative interdependence that’s reflected as Deborah’s career soars, leading to her eventual ascendance to hosting a late-night network TV show, only to suffer the wrath of an autocratic boss (Tony Goldwyn), enduring an exile in Singapore and spurring her onto a sold-out Madison Square Garden gig.
Meanwhile Deborah has spent years coping with her resentful daughter DJ (Kaitlin Olson), a recovering addict who cajoles her into teaming up on “The Amazing Race.” Plus, there’s Deborah’s enterprising business partner Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins), housekeeper Josefina (Rose Abdoo) and assistant Damien (Mark Indelicato).
“Hacks” showrunner-creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky have also scripted plum supporting roles for Downs and his obnoxious scene-partner Kayla (TikTok’s Meghan Stalter).
FYI: Hannah Einbinder is the real-life daughter of original SNL’s Laraine Newman — and if Jean Smart wins another Emmy this year, she will tie with Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus for the record of most Emmy wins.
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, the conclusion of “Hacks” is a total 10 — with all five seasons now streaming on HBO Max. Hooray for “Hacks!”
Susan Granger is a product of Hollywood. Her natural father, S. Sylvan Simon, was a director and producer at M.G.M. and Columbia Pictures. Her adoptive father, Armand Deutsch, produced movies at M.G.M.
As a child, Susan appeared in movies with Abbott & Costello, Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Margaret O’Brien, and Lassie. She attended Mills College in California, studying journalism with Pierre Salinger, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with highest honors in journalism.