I'm obsessed with the TV show "Hacks."
If you've been living in a cave, or if you don't have HBO, Hacks is a recent comedy-drama series that follows the relationship between legendary Las Vegas stand-up comedian Deborah Vance, played by Jean Smart, and a young comedy writer, Ava Daniels, played by Hannah Einbinder.
It works a lot of familiar tropes about the generational and personal differences between the two; isn't the young person so entitled and out of touch, isn't the old person so closed minded and out of touch, etc.
However, the joy comes from how brilliantly the writers bring nuance and complexity to those tropes, and how Smart and Einbinder, along with a supporting cast that has no visible weak links, take that material and create real, fleshed out human beings. Their standout performances shine and make all the comedy and all the pathos a amazing experience to watch.
The bonus element is that the soundtrack is a pitch-perfect blend of old school classics and new, insightful music that is the sublime compliment to Deborah's and Ava's clashing personalities and perspectives on life and comedy.
I'd sling Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp all day if it meant I could come home to watch this series again and again. Enjoy.
