What I’m Watching: Hacks (Season Finale)

Hacks: Season 2, Episode 8 “The One, The Only” (B+)

There wasn’t too much drama in this finale and it didn’t end on a big cliffhanger, but it still felt very worthwhile and sets the stage for a season three I’d come back to right away. Eight episodes doesn’t feel long enough for a show this good, but at least this round was just as good as the first one. It’s crazy that Deborah would need to spend so much money at an auction in order to get Marty’s attention and then to trade him for the privilege of using the venue she so desperately needed. Ming-Na Wen’s Janet reappeared as a threat intent on taking all of Jimmy’s clients, including Deborah and not including Ava, who would still want her to know who she was even if she wasn’t going to switch representation, but Deborah didn’t seem like she was ever considering going with something different even if she received her politely. The soda-drinking man next to Jimmy dying during the show was also a road bump that he wisely chose to spin as a survival story that no one would ask questions about in the moment, leading to a taping so successful that it was apparently the subject of a bidding war from all the networks. Ava coming back in the middle of her side gig was all the confirmation Deborah needed to let her go so that she could do well, and her dropping the lawsuit just raises the question of what reason they’ll have to interact going forward. I like that Marcus got some closure related to his breakup with Wilson, and even though Kayla is still out of control, she’s actually doing decent things for Jimmy. I really like this show, and can’t wait for a renewal announcement!

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder

What I’m Watching: Hacks

Hacks: Season 2, Episode 7 “On the Market” (B+)

Of course Deborah owns a side mansion, something that she hasn’t been able to sell because, like with most aspects of her life, she refuses to compromise. She’s also acutely not aware of how bad things are with her career, namely that Michael wanted to have 98-year-old Mort take her on as a client since he thought Jimmy was wasting his time. His quitting scene wasn’t quite as dramatic as Ari Gold’s big exit on “Entourage,” but it was still pretty formidable, and I like that Kayla said she was coming with him even though he really didn’t want her to, and his pick to join his team, Silas, refused to do so because he had gotten a promotion that Jimmy admitted he deserved. Susie Essman’s Elaine probably also isn’t the best choice to work with Deborah on her special since she seems to be even more set in her ways, which include eating pancakes with a spoon because it apparently yields a better syrup-to-pancake ratio. I thoroughly enjoyed the cringe-worthiness of Ava going back to her condo and sleeping with her subletter, who enjoyed the flirting at first but wasn’t so into it in the morning when Ava once again got told she looked tired while she was sleeping and had slept in until the afternoon. Ava’s legal prospects don’t sound great, especially since her lawyer only agreed to meet with her if she would simultaneously give her son comedy advice. Elaine not bothering to tell Ava about her ideas is also not going to make for a good working relationship.

What I’m Watching: Hacks

Hacks: Season 2, Episode 6 “The Click” (B+)

I enjoyed the opening scene with Deborah thinking that she might be able to use the fact that she was apparently descended from an important figure of the Salem Witch Trials, only to learn that it was one of the accusers who was responsible for the deaths of many innocent women. Kiki’s return changed the mood of the tour, which was helpful, though there was also another unannounced tagalong in the form of Nina. I love Jane Adams and I’m very happy that she came back in this context, showing up to pitch her MLM business and then getting upset with Ava that she didn’t support her for trying something new. Going to get pancakes for her rather than waking her up felt like an honest effort to be kind, and I liked Ava’s response to being told that she looked tired while she was sleeping. Deborah had quite the adventure with the younger man at the bar, and the best part was the reaction of one of his roommates to meeting the woman whose spice rack they had. Deborah processing that a different driver operated every Uber ride also made for a very funny scene, and trying to understand why her stalker had lost interest was moderately cringe-worthy. There’s something depressing about her discovery that she could just state things that happened in her life as jokes and choose to laugh at them, and while it might take a toll eventually, for now it seems to be doing the trick and the tour is very much back on track.

What I’m Watching: Hacks

Hacks: Season 2, Episode 5 “Retired” (B+)

It’s always nerve-wracking when Deborah runs into someone since it’s very possible that she did something to ruin that person’s life or make them hate her. I was excited to recognize the always terrific Harriet Sansom Harris as Susan, whose career Deborah believed she had ended prematurely by erasing her name from a finalists list. It didn’t help that Deborah relented in her effort to let her opponent win in the game at the fair and ended up letting her eagerness not to be upstaged get the best of her, but fortunately there was more depth to the relationship than that. I was worried that Deborah would be horrified by the judgement implied in the fact that she decided to retire because of something associated with Deborah’s parenting abilities, but it ended up making for a worthwhile reunion and a decent goodbye. I thoroughly enjoyed Ava’s antics when Deborah wanted to buy her clothes and how she and Marcus both weren’t able to come up with any hobbies for the very frustrated cartoonist. Her panicking on the ride and threatening first a bomb and then diarrhea was amusing, and Deborah knew what to do to get her in the right frame of mind by holding her in the water. Kayla coming in to work on a Saturday because she was on top of Jimmy’s schedule for once made for an unexpectedly tender weekend workday that was only mildly inappropriate with her trying to make him an alcoholic drink to relax. Needing to look up what coverage on scripts meant when he gave her some new responsibility and lamenting that she had already booked her ticket to the dentist were among my favorite moments.

What I’m Watching: Hacks

Hacks: Season 2, Episode 4 “The Captain’s Wife” (B+)

You always have to wonder how mistakes get made like the one that happened here with Deborah being booked on a lesbian cruise instead of a gay men’s cruise. What was very sweet is that, even after all the misery she endured and the humiliation of being voted off of the boat, Deborah instantly forgave Marcus and invited him to come on tour with them. That likely means the end of Weed’s presence, which isn’t going to be bad given how disruptive she’s been, but Laurie Metcalf has been a sincerely entertaining part of the past few episodes. It will be good for Marcus too, given that his younger friends call him Gru and he had a rather unfortunate and embarrassing run-in with Wilson. Ava’s newfound sobriety was challenged by the apparent lack of existence of land rules out at sea, and she didn’t actually do anything she would regret, though she almost had the chance to engage in a threesome that would have made her very happy. Deborah, on the other hand, got off to an okay start when she got up on stage to sing and then everyone was finally ready to give her a chance, but then she went off-the-rails by picking on an audience member who just wasn’t having it. The whole set from that point on was quite cringe-worthy, and her defense that it wasn’t a lesbian joke but a woman joke didn’t help much either. The molly hitting Ava as they were in the dingy was a funny way to end this ordeal.

What I’m Watching: Hacks

Hacks: Season 2, Episode 3 “Trust the Process” (B+)

I like that this show manages to both be exactly what you’d expect and a big surprise at the same time. Deborah was having fun toying with Ava, asking her how she should sell her condo if her lawyer is bad, and then she got into much meaner territory when they got on the bus. Theoretically, Ava’s mini-bed that was extra tiny to make room for Deborah’s tanning bed had been commissioned long before she knew Ava wrote that email, but it felt especially cruel in comparison to Deborah’s lavish bedroom suite. Putting the dresser that she bargained the guy down for even though she knew its value right in front of her bed was deliberately unkind, and we’ll see how much more that happens now that Deborah showed that she does care for Ava even after all this when they had to turn the bus around to find the tennis ball can full of ashes. Laurie Metcalf as Weed is quite a character, and I feel like she could just talk to herself all episode and it would still be entertaining. Her fast food preferences, however amusing, definitely made things more difficult, and I’m sure we’ll get wackier antics to come like her crusade against the mattress industry. I’m glad that Damien is on the tour bus so we can learn more about him, like that he doesn’t like comedy, while Marcus is wallowing at home and opting to get a dog rather than try to get back out there and start dating again.

What I’m Watching: Hacks

Hacks: Season 2, Episode 2 “Quid Pro Quo” (B+)

It was always going to be a dramatic and unfortunate scene when Deborah found out about Ava’s email, and the fact that Ava confessed to her before she heard about it in another way didn’t help with that in any way. Her initial reaction was quite violent and typically unforgiving, telling her that she wouldn’t be hitting her if she could run faster. Forcing her to read the entire e-mail at the diner was a fitting punishment, one that showed Ava just how terrible and unkind what she had written was, and I think we all knew that wasn’t going to be it. Showing up the next morning to pick her up with coffee that wasn’t poisoned made it seem like it was all done, but instead Deborah is going to forgive her but teach her an important lesson by suing her for violating her NDA. That should only make Jimmy’s job harder since theoretically they might still be working together while they’re in litigation. I did enjoy seeing Ming-Na Wen from “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and “The Book of Boba Fett” as Janet, who was happy to help Jimmy until he accidentally revealed that he was a prospective buyer who killed their sale due to the black mold. That he had to have Kayla back on his desk in order to make it go away was unfortunate, especially since Ava told Deborah anyway and now he still has to attend a fifty-two-week anger management course. Barbara's story about (not) dressing up at the Halloween party was hilarious, and I’m so glad that Martha Kelly is part of this show now.

What I’m Watching: Hacks (Season Premiere)

Hacks: Season 2, Episode 1 “There Will Be Blood” (B+)

I’m so happy that one of last year’s best new comedies is back again so soon, and this opener indicates that we’re in for a very entertaining ride. Ava did somehow manage to make things worse when she called Kirby Howell-Baptiste’s writer and she kindly offered to hang up the phone so she would stop sharing information that was just as damaging as everything she had put in her email that she so idiotically closed by signing away her permission to use it. Jimmy’s suggestion that she throw her phone in the ocean wasn’t a bad one, though he’s also having to get creative giving the fact that the HR administrator played by a hilariously deadpan Martha Kelly isn’t able to punish Kayla for the truly shocking things she continues saying that most definitely continue sexual harassment in the workplace. I like that the relationship between Deborah and DJ is evolving, and that Deborah even warmed to the idea of liking her son-in-law. Walking over to pump him up right before he was about to lose was a cool moment turned into a frightening one when she ended up covered in blood and cheering for his upset victory. Ava is right to be worried about what she might do, even if shooting a paintball gun at her replacement’s giant hotel-side ad isn’t the most terrifying thing. It’s too bad that Marcus and Wilson are no more, and hopefully Marcus won’t wallow too much in his sadness before finding someone else.

Interview with Abe: Hacks

As Emmy voting is underway, I’m delighted to share some of the interviews I’ve been able to conduct with contenders across all categories. 

For HBO Max’s “Hacks,” here’s stars Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, and Kaitlin Olson and creators Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky. Watch above and click through to check out the conversations we had for Awards Radar.

What I’m Watching: Hacks (Season Finale)

Hacks: Season 1, Episode 10 “I Think She Will” (B+)

I was very relieved to find out right before I watched this episode that this show has been very deservedly renewed for a second season, which is fantastic. It’s especially good to know because there’s so much more material to cover, both in terms of Deborah’s act and her relationship with Ava, and the ending of this episode makes it absolutely worth revisiting. I don’t actually think that Deborah is going to be so upset when she finds out that Ava spilled secrets to the two British writers who only wanted to hire her because she had dirt on Deborah, but it’s going to affect how they act towards each other and the way they work together to come up with material. Ava needing to leave because her dad had a stroke and not getting any reaction from Deborah escalated their unspoken issues, and Ava walked away as the much more wronged party when Deborah slapped her because she called her a hack. Deborah, not one for apologies, did a remarkable job of rescuing the awkwardness of Ava’s father’s funeral, stepping in to make her mom laugh and show that she does in fact have emotions and care for Ava. She also made Marcus happy by recognizing how she had mistreated him and that he should be promoted instantly, but her saying that without Marcus getting to say his piece was too much for Wilson to want to stick around. I loved how out of touch Kayla was in this episode, thinking that Jimmy preferred the middle seat and wearing “lingerie pajamas” so that they would seem more like a married couple on their honeymoon. I hope that they’re featured much more in season two. This show has been superb so far, and I really hope that Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder earn Emmy nominations for their terrific work, along with the show in other categories.

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder

What I’m Watching: Hacks

Hacks: Season 1, Episode 9 “Interview” (B+)

There was no way that Ava was going to go to LA to interview for a job and not have Deborah find out about it, and the fact that she turned it down because she learned that it supposed to use her experience working for her current boss as inspiration for comedy fodder isn’t going to mean quite as much as it did in the moment. Ava was hilariously overexcited about being back in LA where she could order whatever latte she wanted and pay an extravagant $11.58 for it, and going to the spot that she and Ruby used to share was a great way to run into her ex right away. Their reunion was actually rather positive, and Ava demonstrated some unexpected restraint and maturity by not blowing off her interview prep for a chance to revisit old memories. I was excited to recognize Chris Geere from “You’re the Worst” and “This Is Us” and Kirby Howell-Baptiste from “The Good Place” and “Why Women Kill” as the two Brits meeting with her, though they quickly revealed themselves to be rather vain and haughty. I enjoyed the fact that, prior to faceplanting after she walked away, Ava chose to insult their accents when she understood just what it was that she was being asked to do. Marcus seemed to want to hurt Deborah more than Ava by sharing the news of her interview, something that got Jimmy very upset at Kayla, and Ava making light of the situation while having absolutely no clue that Deborah knows was a foreboding way to end this penultimate episode, particularly with Deborah’s fish-gutting activity with that very large knife.

What I’m Watching: Hacks

Hacks: Season 1, Episode 8 “1.69 Million” (B+)

So much for Marty and Deborah being good for each other, as he somehow managed to outdo himself by telling her as he was trying to sneak out from her bed that he had bought out her contract and she was completely done. That didn’t put her in a great mood for her trip to Sacramento, and I enjoyed how she just burst into Ava’s room and told her to get up without acknowledging the fact that she was asleep and apparently had to pee. Their dynamic improved considerably as they spent more time together, going from her refusing to let Ava call her D to them using rock, paper, scissors as a method of deciding what food to get. It was interesting to see more of Ava’s home life as her father was looking on Travel-o-city to book a flight to come visit her and her mom was not at all happy to even consider that, and I’d love to see Deborah get a chance to talk to them and alternatively insult and praise Ava. I didn’t know what to expect from Deborah’s stint on stage, and while it was decidedly uncomfortable, it was pretty spectacular to see her offer the chauvinistic comedian a ton of money to never go on stage ever again. As if that wasn’t a momentous enough triumph, Ava also got her own big pitch from Kayla of all people that might really change things up. I’m also hopeful that another season is in the cards because I would so love to explore Marcus and Wilson as they progress in their relationship.

What I’m Watching: Hacks

Hacks: Season 1, Episode 7 “Tunnel of Love” (B+)

It was jarring to see Ava wake up and start making out with a guy we know is dead, and then it got even wilder when she saw Deborah there and started passionately kissing her instead. Naturally, she would let that get in her head and give her something to obsess over, especially when Deborah complimented her and she struggled to come up with a fitting response. I enjoyed the fact that Ava thought makeup didn’t have rules, a statement Kiki said was completely not true, and that Kiki was the less-than-helpful sounding board throughout the night. DJ’s party included plenty of awkwardness but not quite as much as I would have expected, though things took a dive when Deborah ended her surprisingly sweet and supportive toast with the insistence on a prenup. DJ’s refusal to get one seemed aimed mostly at angering her mother, but it was touching to see that unwilling chauffeur Ava still knew that Deborah would want to be present, even if only through a phone, to witness her daughter’s wedding. The rivalry between Damien and Josefina was very entertaining, particularly when they opted to team up and take down their most annoying guest together, and I also liked seeing how Marcus and Wilson got to know each other now that they’re beginning to date. Marty and Deborah’s relationship is one of the most interesting parts of this show, and there are so many layers to it that here found themselves being exactly the right support they both needed.

What I’m Watching: Hacks

Hacks: Season 1, Episode 6 “New Eyes” (B+)

So this was it, the turning point in Deb and Ava’s relationship that officially makes them friends and no longer only adversaries. It didn’t get off to a great start, with Deb still managing to insult Ava just after she had come out of surgery and didn’t look great herself, but pranking Perla showed their enjoyment at getting to be in on a joke together, before things got serious and Ava was the one who ended up in the hospital. I enjoyed the fact that Ava was able to unlock Deb’s cell phone by using her wax museum figure, and that the two of them wanted so much to close their eyes that they insisted on doing so while pretending that they could continue to work at the same time. There were some sincere revelations, like the fact that Deb didn’t actually burn down her ex-husband’s house but only joked about it, and more humorous ones, like Deb’s eagerness to teach Ava how to play mahjong and how Deb’s marriage therapist wanted them to work on their own relationship after he pursued her. It will be fun to see how they work together going forward, and whether these events will make their relationship more contentious, and as a result, more capable of spewing comedy gold. Marcus coming home to find his mom house-sitting and throwing a rager was an amusing start to his own time alone, where he used a whole lot of water just to place a call to the hot water cop who was absolutely interested in him too.

What I’m Watching: Hacks

Hacks: Season 1, Episode 5 “Falling” (B+)

It was good to see Ava interact with other people over the course of this episode, not that either of those ended up working out particularly well. I enjoyed her banter with the front desk agent who had no interest in helping her until he felt so bad for her because of how uncomfortable her interaction with old friends was that he gave her a pity toothpaste. I recognized Madeline Zima from “The Nanny” and “Californication” as Ava’s old friend who seemed somewhat happy to see her but quickly lied to her about them having plans before letting slip later on in line for the club that she was directing the next Marvel movie. I thought that Ava should have bonded with the new addition to the group because she was similarly-minded, but Ava doesn’t stop to think much and instead just acts in the moment. The guy she met was truly what she needed, and their night of many highs and many drugs was really quite wonderful. The fact that he jumped out the window and killed himself was a dark turn, but instead of this show letting Ava sit in that grief, she just has to keep going as if everything is normal and wait for Deb to listen to the voicemail and chew her out for it. Deb wasn’t particularly polite to Ava when she met her with her new friend, and she’s also cutting Marcus out because she feels like he’s being too honest and disloyal. Blackmailing Marty and ensuring that his ex-wife showed up at the table to light a fire under him was bold and direct, and she’s gradually making sure that any of the friends she has left aren’t going to want to help her when she needs it most.

What I’m Watching: Hacks

Hacks: Season 1, Episode 4 “D’Jewelry” (B+)

It was great to see more of Kaitlin Olson in this episode as DJ, especially after I had the chance to interview her along with Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder. Being Deb’s daughter can’t have been easy, and it’s interesting to see how they accommodate each other’s differences in their very rocky relationship. “It’s like watching Picasso sing” was a particularly cruel way for Deb to comment on her talents, and telling Ava to “do yourself a favor, take the afternoon off and get your tubes tied” was somehow meaner. Ava coming to DJ’s show just to piss Deb off was an opportunity for the two of them to connect and for DJ to open up a bit, and it was fun to see Ava spring into action to pretend to be a buyer so that an actual buyer would express interest in her line. Even though she hates Deb, Ava ran right to her when she found out how DJ actually supports herself, and we found out that Deb knows all about this and purposely deglams for the cameras so that it can help her. I’m excited to see that Jane Adams, a fantastic actress who has appeared in such shows as “Hung” and “Sneaky Pete,” is playing Ava’s mom, and I hope we get to see more of her in the future. Their relationship doesn’t seem to be much healthier. One dynamic that has more baggage to it is the one between Deb and Marty, who really do see something they need in each other even if they’re spending most of their time trying to sabotage each other and Marty was ready to push Deb aside instantly when a photographer mistook her for his wife.

Take Three: Hacks

Hacks: Season 1, Episode 3 “A Gig’s a Gig” (B+)

It’s definitely true that Ava isn’t treated well, but she doesn’t exactly do much to recommend herself, like being caught by Deb trying to take a naked photo while she was supposed to be endlessly digitizing the library of all of her work. Ava also doesn’t do a good job of following directions or respecting her new boss’ privacy, bringing the envelope from her sister to her and then taking it out of the trash despite repeated instructions to leave it alone. Deb also showed that she’s more than capable of hitting back when she feels that she’s been wronged, picking on Ava as the girl with the big hands on the tour bus, making another joke about her physical appearance, and then sharing the embarrassing moment from earlier with everyone there. The brief peek we got into Ava’s social life was informative, since she and Ruby were clearly not on the same page but there was still affection there which meant that it wasn’t entirely Ava’s fault for not moving on. I was pleased to see Brent Sexton from “The Killing” and “Justified” as the father of Jimmy’s terrible assistant, who went out for lunch but of course wasn’t going to bring her boss back anything despite that being her job. As if Deb and Ava’s relationship wasn’t bad enough, there’s also clearly a strain on her dynamics with Marcus and D.J., potentially preventing a relationship with the water cop for the former and eviscerating any self-confidence that her adult daughter might still have.

Interview with Abe: Hacks

I was thrilled to be able to speak to creators Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky about HBO Max's new comedy “Hacks.” Check out my great conversation with them at Awards Radar. Read and watch my reviews of the first two episodes here!

Interview with Abe: Hacks

I was so lucky to be able to talk to actresses Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, and Kaitlin Olson about their roles on HBO Max's new comedy “Hacks.” Check out my great conversation with them at Awards Radar. Read and watch my reviews of the first two episodes here!

Round Two: Hacks

Hacks: Season 1, Episode 2 “Primm” (B+)

The second episode of this show did not disappoint, as it showed how the relationship between Deb and Ava isn’t going to be easy to foster, and every minimal success Ava thinks she’s achieved is actually infinitely less progress than she believes. The fact that Deb starts her day at 5:30am and Ava can barely pull herself out of bed at 10:30am isn’t even the crux of it, and anytime Ava complains about the legitimately bad treatment she’s getting, Deb is going to ignore her since she feels like she overcame so much to get to the place where she is now, which involves such absurd struggles as having to barter for a $10,000 pepper shaker and waiting for a helicopter to show up after a flat tire in the desert, and the far more real issue that Marty is trying to sabotage her career, crab billboards and all. Kayla is absolutely fulfilling the role of the unbelievably terrible assistant, and I enjoyed the chance to meet another person in Deb’s circle who has managed to take the good things – like the hand-me-down Rolls Royces – and focus on them instead of anything else. I’m glad that Ava just going back to talk to the antiques dealer didn’t work and that instead she had to do something very dramatic to leave with the shaker, which of course earned her the privilege of digitizing everything Deb has ever done rather than actually spending time with her. It’s probably Jean Smart’s delivery, but the best line of this episode was her response to Ava asking her for guidance on jokes: “Yes, there should be more of them, and they should be funny.”