Hacks Recap: The Heart of the Matter

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I adore seeing a collection of individuals diligently working, not just for show like on reality TV. It’s incredibly gratifying! Ava spends her time shuffling index cards filled with jokes and sketches (my favorite is “Desert Island DILFS”), and she squeezes her stress ball so vigorously that it bursts, covering her hand in its gooey blue contents. (I must admit, I found this rather alarming; I never imagined what was inside a stress ball.) Deborah’s preparations consist of constant weigh-ins, eating miniature Polly Pocket meals at each sitting, and engaging in intense exercise routines that involve pulling on ropes forcefully until they vibrate. (Have any of you ever attempted this? Is it the secret to toned arms I’ve been missing?) I may not be an expert, but I believe she might need more protein if she wants her workouts to yield results.

– The wigs are prepared, but is Deborah herself ready? Backstage during rehearsal, she suffered a panic attack. A quick-thinking medic rushed in, and fortunately for everyone involved, Stacy was also present. As Deborah lies flat on the couch, seemingly embarrassed, Stacy, who’s in charge according to the network, looks on. Trying to comfort her boss is Ava. Deborah insists she doesn’t have stage fright, not even after she performed in front of Saddam Hussein, which was no small feat following his advances. Living a life as rich and eventful as Deborah’s is something Alexis Rose could only aspire to.

Additionally, Merrill Markoe has joined us. Known as a late-night TV legend (she even invented “Stupid Pet Tricks”!), Ava feels it might be odd that she, Ava, is relatively young yet holds the leadership position. However, Merrill couldn’t care less. She considers Ava’s role to be “suitable for a madcap.” Merrill seems to have life mastered: enjoying three-day weekends on both ends and bringing her dogs to work whenever she’s present. I can’t wait to learn from her, and so can everyone else.

In the core of ‘Hacks’, there’s a significant query: Is it necessary to be isolated when you’re successful? Contrary to popular belief, the private world of ‘Hacks’ demonstrates that success doesn’t invariably require sacrificing your most cherished relationships (as you might already know, the show is run by married couple Paul Downs and Lucia Aniello, along with their best friend/wedding officiant Jen Statsky). However, the characters portrayed in this series struggle to believe that love and triumph can coexist harmoniously.

Deborah has spent her life embracing loneliness as a necessary price for reaching the pinnacle. She’s hesitant to trust intimacy enough to be open for an extended period, viewing her misery as a part of her job description. Meanwhile, as Deborah’s fame grows, everyone around her encounters smaller-scale versions of this predicament. For instance, Jimmy feels too popular to dine with anyone else, while Ava’s writers feign excitement at the prospect of dinner with their manager; Deborah anticipates dining with Winnie and Randy Newman (an intriguing choice, suggesting they’re in tune with the times), but ends up eating alone, only to be rescued from solitude by Damien, the only person she can coerce and who doesn’t have anything more important to do.

Let me not jump the gun! First, let’s talk about Winnie’s instructions: Deborah is visiting that rather touchy cardiologist. In the waiting room, oh my, t In the realm of “Hacks”, Carol and Deborah crossed paths at the opening of Planet Hollywood. Deborah presents Carol with flowers and confesses her struggle with stage fright for the first time in her career. Carol offers this wise counsel: Focus on one person in the audience and perform as if it’s just for them. I was truly moved by this scene! Carol also made a witty remark about Deborah’s ’80s Lifetime movie on her way out. What a true icon!

Get ready, everyone! Josefina is about to sense that Ava yearns for physical affection, through a warm embrace from Ava. Kayla has arrived to demonstrate her new position by putting her subordinates through their paces. Jimmy won’t get another dinner invitation tonight as Ava already has plans. I appreciate Jimmy suggesting women authors like Didion and Babitz to Kayla, but I’m not sure if that would be her preference… perhaps “Sex and Rage” would appeal more? Feel free to share your book suggestions for Kayla in the comments!

Deborah’s opening-night ensemble shines brightly and glitters. She appears as if she’s a victor. She’s unable to process anything happening around her – advice from psychic Diana about starting with the left foot, or Jimmy’s words that his father in heaven is proud of her – as she stands on the brink of another panic attack. It would be unfortunate, to say the least, if this were to happen to her. (Emphasis added for dramatic effect: sooo)

The crowd is incredibly welcoming, and for a change, Deborah appeared genuinely touched. On the brink of losing composure once more, she drew strength from Carol Burnett’s wisdom and focused squarely on her cunning blackmailer. What a heartwarming scene of Ava all by herself in the studio. Everything went smoothly; join us next time for Shaboozey and Nancy Pelosi!

However, Deborah’s good mood takes a dive when neither of her dining partners show up; Randy abstains from eating in public since 1988, and Winnie’s child vomited 100 gummy bears (“He’s such a nuisance”). Ava’s night also turns sour, as her tired staff members only prefer the espresso component of the espresso martinis if they must be out at all.

In the beginning, my nights with Ava and Deborah appeared to be shaping up quite delightfully: Ava struck up a rapport with a charming couple at a sex shop when she bought an emergency dildo to prevent her car from being towed. Unfortunately, it turned out to be ineffective, but wasn’t the true adventure about the memorable people we encounter on our journey? Deborah’s dinner conversation took an unexpected turn when she remarked, “That’s how Hitler knew he lost,” but things took a fascinating twist once she discovered that Damien was unfamiliar with alcohol. Under the influence, he shared his insights into the competitive world of gay dating in Los Angeles. The standards are sky-high! He found out that the trend these days is for a partner to have a massive derriere and all the body hair he had lasered off in his twenties removed.

Deborah seems to crave admiration, making it simple for Damien to persuade her to visit a popular gay club (although his intentions are clearly self-serving). Contrary to my concerns about the potential negative consequences of being in the public eye, things take an unexpectedly comical turn: Deborah, while dancing in a cage, mistakenly uses poppers, bumps her head against the bars, and ends up needing medical attention at a hospital.

Since Deborah hadn’t provided an updated emergency contact – perhaps unconsciously? – Ava was called to Cedars-Sinai Hospital. Meanwhile, as Deborah’s TV in her room wasn’t working, Ava took her to the waiting room so they could enjoy a show together. This also gave us the chance to hear more of the amusing monologue, including the quip about how if her mother were still alive, she would say, “You’re wearing that?” Moreover, it allowed us to witness Deborah connecting with a fan who interestingly enough, believed the devil was residing within him. Exciting!

Deborah wept as she watched the segment of her monologue where she inspired young girls to someday host late-night shows, and when the closing title card honoring the victims and first responders of the wildfires appeared, I felt deeply moved too! (The place where Deborah’s mansion, filmed in Altadena, now stands was consumed by the Eaton fire.) If you’d like to support the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, here’s where you can contribute.

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2025-04-25 06:57