Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Hacks Season 4Hackshas been heralded as one of the funniest shows in recent memory, and also one of the most painfully accurate depictions of what it is like to be a comedy writer —just askConan O’Brien, who recently admitted that he struggled to watch the series because of its authenticity.Hacksexamines the generational differences in comedy, as it centers on the dark relationship between the legendary stand-up comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and the edgy comedy writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), whose dynamic grows more complex when they attain greater success. The fourth and most recent season put their relationship in a new light, as Deborah finally attained her dream of becoming a late-night television host. However,Deborah and Ava are no longer the most entertaining characters on the show, as they’ve been overshadowed by two of its funniest supporting players.
In addition to serving as the co-creator and co-showrunner ofHacks,Paul W. Downsplays Jimmy LuSaque Jr., the tireless manager who tries to keep both Ava and Deborah on track. Although Kayla Schaeffer (Megan Stalter) had previously served as Jimmy’s assistant, she was promoted to co-manager in the third season, which led to both Ava and Deborah landing bigger gigs.Ava and Deborahs’ dynamicmight be the series' hook, butJimmy and Kayla have consistently been the most entertaining characters inHacks.
Jimmy and Kayla Were the Best Part of ‘Hacks’ Season 4
Jimmy has to be the gluethat keepsLate Nighttogether, as it immediately becomes clear that Ava and Deborah have completely different perspectives on what they think audiences want. Ava favors more edgy, boundary-pushing jokes that call attention to Deborah’s history of making progress in the industry,but Deborah is content to perform more “agreeable” bits and segmentsthat are similar to other late-night shows if it means better ratings. Jimmy’s attempts to maintain civility are frequently hilarious, as thoughtful solutions are often ignored. This puts even more pressure on Kayla, who is still adjusting to the new responsibilities that she is tasked with. Thankfully (for the most part), Kayla’s hiring of the eccentric assistant Randi (Robby Hoffman) proves to be not only incredibly helpful in holding down the fort, but also injectsJimmy and Kayla’s brilliant dynamicwith another unexpected jolt of chaos.
Jimmy and Kayla are forced to deal with Deborah’s most erratic recurring guest, a TikTok sensation known as “Dance Mom,” played byJulianne Nicholson, who Kayla convinced Jimmy to hire so they could get more eyes onLate Night. While Deborah sees her as a means of getting more viral content, Ava feels that she represents everything that is wrong with modern comedy. However,it is Jimmy and Kayla who have to constantly monitor Dance Mom, who becomes impossible to control once she begins indulging in all the drugs and excess that she finds in Los Angeles. Between having to wake her up with a snort of cocaine and essentially dragging her to the stage, Jimmy’s uncomfortable experiences with Dance Mom provided some of the biggest laughs of the season.
“Keep the Fan Edits Coming”: Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs Talk About Their ‘Hacks’ Characters' Shocking Moment
“I don’t see them as a couple, but I understand why their relationship is so romantic.”
Kayla finally has the opportunity to stand up for Jimmyduring the controversial booking of Ethan Sommers (Eric Balfour), a major action star for the network who has been accused of misconduct. Although the network has pushed for Ethan to be on the show, Ava disagrees, sparking a feud with Deborah. They seek out Jimmy as a way of solving the problem, despite the fact that he has been overworked. Kayla finally gets the chance to stand up for her boss by lashing out at both Ava and Deborah, as she recognizes that Jimmy is “too nice” to ever stand up for himself. This results in one ofHacksSeason 4’s most emotional moments, in which a humbled Deborah meets with Jimmy and apologizes.
‘Hacks’ Season 5 Can’t Repeat Ava and Deborah’s Past Mistakes
Although “A Slippery Slope” sees Deborah standing upon Ava’s behalf for the first time when she criticizes Bob Lipka (Tony Goldwyn) live on air,Jimmy has his most heroic moment when he attempts to save the feed.Deborah’s actions may threaten his career, but Jimmy has always maintained his integrity, as he tries to fistfight Bob in order to prevent him from cutting the segment from airing. It’s a hilarious moment considering Downs’ diminutive physicality in comparison to Goldwyn, but it’s also an indication of Jimmy’s increased belligerence. Jimmy has spent the past four seasons trying to placate people and not step on anyone’s toes, but he finally draws a line in the sand and stands up for something that he believes in. It’s a silly scene that becomes quite emotional, especially when Kayla comes to offer him support.
Hacks’ biggest issue is its repetition,as the relationship between Deborah and Ava has become very predictable. Even though it’s always hinted that the two might find a compromise, their dueling ambitions always prevent any peace from emerging. In the Season 4 finale, Deborah decides to exit her retreat to Singapore after learning that she was pronounced dead, and did not receive the posthumous praise that she had expected from TMZ. Of course,it’s Jimmy who informs Ava about the crisis. Ava and Deborah may have returned to their old squabbles, but Jimmy has been looking towards a possible future for them both; he even makes a reference toGreta Gerwig’s revamp ofCatcher in the Ryein one of the show’s funniest one-liners.
As great asSmart and Einbinder are onHacks, the showworks best when it understands that it is an ensemble show, with the most recent season benefitting from the expanded parts given to Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins), Josefina (Rose Abdoo), and Damien (Mark Indelicato). Jimmy and Kayla get into some of the strangest shenanigans and misadventures on the show, but they’re also capable of delivering heartfelt moments without being saccharine.HacksSeason 4 basically hit the reset buttonon the series, so let’s hope Kayla and Jimmy are more central to the narrative in Season 5.
Explores a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedian, and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old.
