Hacks

This is such a wonderfully written show! Combined with the acting, directing and editing this is the 'it' show for me. I didn't think it possible to write a show that could bridge the cross cultural, generational gulf of comedy-tragedy currently dividing society - BUT Hacks DOES THIS BEAUTIFULLY!!! Jean Smart really shines and gives us a promethian performance as woman in full, strong and flawed but also vulnerable and human. Hannah Einbinder is wonderful as Ava, 'Sancho Panza' to Smart's Don Quixote tilting at the constant barrage of chaos swirling about Debra's personal and professional life.

This show has provided me a similar experience and Marvelous Miss Maisel. Both were genres and subject matter I had little interest in, but after watching a few episodes the writing and acting were so good I got hooked. There really is nothing about this premise that appeals to me but it just pulled me in and the two leads are really great.

Hannah Einbinder has really accomplished something remarkable in my opinion. I think I had initially made an assumption that her character would be cringeworthy but she has such a well developed three dimensional character I've really enjoyed her. She's awkward, yet somehow gorgeous, smart and confident yet vulnerable and flawed, precocious yet humble. By the end of this current season, I find myself so invested in her.

The supporting cast is also growing on me but especially Kayla who I adored right away and it's really satisfying allowing her to evolve and not feel compelled to keep her as the cartoonish persona she had early on. I get the biggest kick out of her and the actress is such a force of nature. I smile every time she comes on screen.

As for Jean Smart. I just believe her. I believe this person exists and that they behave the way she does. She's evolving too but without losing the core of her persona in an unrealistic way.

There's a reason Hacks has been nominated for so many awards since it debuted a few years ago, because it's laugh out loud funny. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder deserve every bit the love they've been getting since this came out. Smart especially has had a lot of good roles over her career but this is easily the best performance of her career. Smart and Einbinder take two very unlikable characters and not only make you laugh but will make you root for them. This show works best when these two are together on screen. Every episode is perfectly paced and shows how these characters continue to evolve. As soon as you finish an episode you immediately want to watch the next and that's the best thing you can hope for out of a good tv show.

Are you watching the new season of this show? If not, you're missing one of the best comedies out there. Based on a friend's suggestion, we flew through the first two seasons last year and absolutely loved it. I wasn't sure they needed another go at it after the neat and tidy ending in S02, but as I should've expected, one can never get enough of the inestimable Jean Smart, who was always my favorite "Designing Women" alum, and who is at the top of her game here. We've watched the two episodes of S03 available so far, and it's better than ever. It's so funny and well-written, the dynamic between the two leads is great, the supporting cast is terrific, and I'm much less annoyed with the Ava character than in the first two seasons. I definitely recommend checking this out or adding it to your (probably) voluminous queue.

While watching the first two episodes I thought maybe this is ever so loosely based on Joan Rivers.