Hacks Season 4 Episode 5 Review: Big Cameos, Hollywood Drama, and a Feud That Keeps Heating Up!

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WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Hacks season 4, episode 5.

In the 5th episode of “Hacks” season 4, titled “Clickable Face”, some of the most notable guest stars in the show’s entire run make an appearance. This episode also shifts Deborah and Ava’s longstanding dispute from a personal level to creative disagreements. Following a promising first week for Deborah’s late-night program, its ratings dropped significantly from the top spot to fourth place according to Nielsen Ratings. This decline inspires both the traditional Deborah and forward-thinking Ava to aim for a broader audience beyond Deborah’s usual demographic. However, this objective results in differences of opinion and strategy, as well as an intense struggle for power.

Following an unexpected turn in episode 3 of Hacks season 4, a required mediator named Stacey (portrayed by Michaela Watkins) is present during all interactions between Deborah and Ava in Hacks season 4, episode 4. Stacey adds humor as an outsider to their feud before suffering a fall in season 4, episode 5, bleeding from the mouth while reproaching both Ava for overemphasizing intellectual aspects of the show and Deborah for excessive focus on viewership statistics.

Among the guest stars in Season 4 of “Hacks” are Kristen Bell, Jimmy Kimmel, and Julianne Nicholson, who appear in Episode 5. Just like on the popular comedy series “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” their cameos serve a storyline purpose. As “Hacks” has moved to Los Angeles, it shares more similarities with “Entourage” now, as Hollywood influence is heavily felt throughout Season 4, almost making “Hacks” a contemporary version of “Entourage.” Although the show has always revolved around Ava and Deborah’s relationship, the impact of Hollywood in Season 4 is so significant that “Hacks” can be seen as a modern take on “Entourage.

Hacks Season 4’s Shift To LA Brilliantly Invites Self-Reflexive Hollywood Influence & A-List Cameos

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As Bell casually secures her spot on Deborah’s show inside a grocery store, Kimmel delivers a ruthlessly funny monologue, packed with wit and menace. Topics range from squabbles over studio parking spaces to claims of dibs on Kristen Bell, not forgetting to mention James Corden’s unlikely chimney-sweeping occupation in England. The moment he declares “You messed with the wrong Jimmy” left me in stitches, jaw firmly planted on the floor.

Julianne Nicholson, who’s been gaining recognition from the series “Paradise,” takes on a role as a fictional TikTok sensation called Dance Mom. At first, both Ava and Deborah object to her joining the show after an audition organized by Jimmy and Kayla. However, Dance Mom proves crucial for the show’s success, whipping up the crowd and even persuading Deborah onto the stage for an impromptu dance performance.

Dance Mom symbolizes a modern-day individual transforming into a celebrity, largely due to social media platforms. Moreover, she embodies content over skill, which explains Ava’s anger in the episode’s conclusion. Deborah demonstrates her flexibility by including Dance Mom on the show, indicating her readiness to set aside personal biases and excessive expectations for the sake of the program’s success. This is a hard truth for Ava to accept, as she yearns for every moment of the show to be flawless and purposeful. Nevertheless, Dance Mom proved to be a popular choice among viewers.

Deborah & Ava’s Ongoing Feud Still Prevents Them From Making Their Late-Night Show A Hit

Deborah & Ava’s Creative Differences Add Weight To Their Personal Dispute

By halfway through season 4 of Hacks, Deborah and Ava find themselves feeling quite distant from the close bond they had initially developed in season 1. I really admire how the show delves deep into their personal disagreements and creative clashes that feel genuine rather than contrived. Their discussions about which jokes should be included resonate with a broader debate on the current state of comedy. Deborah advocates for traditional humor while Ava aims to challenge conventions, nudging Deborah towards becoming a social commentator, which she seems reluctant to embrace.

In the latest episode of Hacks season 4, I found myself witnessing a less polished side of Ava as she navigates her role in a polyamorous relationship. This new facet of her character seems to be a mix of standing up for herself and indulging in a power play that’s starting to feel more self-serving than beneficial.

In this particular episode, Ava’s attempts to mold Deborah into something more akin to Colbert, despite her inherent Letterman-esque charm, felt like an abuse of the influence she holds over Deborah. Her decision to replace Deborah’s beloved “wine-o’clock” joke with her own Sweden gag appeared to be less about what was best for the show and more about asserting control in a way that doesn’t seem entirely fair or constructive.

Deborah hits rock bottom by publicly labeling Ava as a “manipulative and pitiful woman” during a live show, resulting in Stacey’s accident and withdrawal from the competition. The straightforward Winnie, who was missing from episode 5, might intervene in episode 6 to rectify the situation and potentially educate Ava on the consequences of playing with fire, a flame that had been burning intensely for years prior to her presence. Although Ava aspires to be a social reformer of sorts, her outbursts may appear more as disrespect rather than indignation.

After this episode, it’s clear that if I don’t feel comfortable promoting Deborah’s soap, I might need to consider a different show to contribute to. Deborah should have never manipulated me into taking on a staff role in the beginning, but I find myself getting too entangled in her power games.

In other words, it might be beneficial for Deborah to avoid implementing her traditional style of comedy in a way that could marginalize women. Actions like removing the front of her desk to expose her legs align with the old “sex sells” idea. Regardless of your preference between Ava and Deborah, Hacks season 4 has offered compelling drama with a mix of humor.

New episodes of Hacks are released every Thursday exclusively on HBO & MAX.

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2025-05-02 04:50