There Is No Line

My spousal unit recommended this show to me so I loaded it up on my pirate stick. And did the recommendation every pay off.

Jean Smart is an aging - ahem, legendary - comedian doing 100 nights of standup a year in Vegas. Let's cut to the chase here: she's playing a version of Roseanne.

The casino mogul wants to cut her Friday and Saturday shows so he can book some shyytty generic musical act that will appeal to millennials. No, not Justin Bieber.

Enter Hannah Einbindfer, once an up-and-coming comedy writer with a show in development. But she wrote a joke about a U. S. Senator with pull and now she's toxic.

They're both managed by Paul Downs, who inherited his dad's shop. Out of desperation to keep both clients happy, he sets up a meeting.

Hilarity ensues.

Most shows can't keep up the quality of their pilot. But this is a very good start.

Hacks kicks off with a bang in its pilot episode, "There Is No Line," blending sharp wit, generational clashes, and heartfelt moments that immediately draw you in.

Jean Smart shines as Deborah Vance, a Vegas comedy icon fighting to stay relevant amid threats to her residency, delivering lines with impeccable timing and vulnerability. Hannah Einbinder holds her own as Ava, the canceled millennial writer thrust into Deborah's world, creating electric chemistry that's equal parts hilarious and tense.

The writing masterfully explores themes of reinvention, cancel culture, and mentorship without feeling preachy, while the Vegas glamour adds a fun backdrop.

From the opening stand-up routine to the awkward first meeting, the pacing keeps you engaged, building to a cliffhanger that screams for more.

Supporting turns from Carl Clemons-Hopkins as the no-nonsense Marcus and Paul W. Downs as the scheming agent add layers of humor. It's not perfect - some jokes land harder than others - but the smart dialogue and character depth make it a standout.

This episode got me hooked instantly; I plan to binge the rest of the season. Solid 8/10 for a fresh take on comedy with real emotional punch.

Only one episode in so far and will watch the next shortly. I definitely think I am going to like this new series. Cast in all unfamiliar to me other than Jean which I like ... no past judgements.

Jean Smart is quite in demand lately .... three series in a row. Love her in Mare of Easttown playing a totally different role than this one.

I imagine Jean Smart -- who STARS as Deborah Vance -- is #1 on the call sheet and should be #1 on the cast listing of each episode of Hacks. That being said, I enjoyed the heck out of this premiere episode. Try it, you'll like it!

Also, Hannah Einbinder co-stars as Ava the young, once rising internet star -- now out of work and out of luck and trapped by her agent into writing jokes for the prickly Deborah Vance.

Here's hoping imdb gets the credits right soon for this new hit show.

There's so much TV available. I am overwhelmed and can't afford every streaming service. That said, I saw that this show won the Emmy and so I took a shot. I can tell from the excellent writing and Jean Smart's great character, I'm going to be watching every episode available. It's so cool to have someone who is so abrasive, but still amazingly successful, put back on her heels because of the demands of a younger crowd. Along comes Ava Daniels. She has been blackballed because of her nasty treatment and an obscene joke about a congressman. She is pathetic. She finally meets Deborah Vance (Smart) and the two clash like crazy. But that is what breathes life into this. By the way, I loved when she threw her iPad into the swimming pool after watching a video of Pentatonix.