Hacks: A Masterclass in Comedy and Commentary on Modern Media

Lauren Weedman appears in a lot of films, but her career is definitely worth exploring. I started watching every Alison Brie film, which led to watching all of Jeff Baena's filmography, which led to more broadly exploring low-budget ensemble indie films that I hadn’t seen before. And wow, Weedman is in a lot of them! She has had a really interesting and underrated career!

The casting on Hacks is so good. It’d be so easy for the series to coast by on the strengths of legend Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, whose talents have rocketed into the limelight thanks to this show. But Hacks’ longevity relies on a fleshed out ensemble, and the series plays to all of these other actors’ strengths so well.

I doubt, for example, any other show would know how to actually use Megan Stalter as well as she’s used here. Robby Hoffman, too. (Favorite quote of the episode: “She told me she’s a triple Scorpio, and I had to pretend I know what that means. I mean, I’m gay, but I’m no lesbian.”)

Ava proposes something different: Deborah should interview Mayor Jo on air in order to do something different and less hack than the rest of the jokes hosts are firing off. On a side note, I’ve been watching a lot of films Lauren Weedman appears in.

The Show’s Commentary on Modern Media

Ava proposes that they tape the show the day before it airs and release teaser clips on social media leading up to the episode. It’s a great idea, but again, it hits close to home for anyone who works in a creative field that relies on engagement.

If I may step back and talk about myself and the website you’re reading this on for a moment: Nothing is more frustrating when we have a post pop off on social media but it doesn’t translate to people actually clicking on and reading the piece. So often, we’re forced to strategize around algorithms and restraints that don’t come from readers themselves but from the ways social media have retrained people to consume content.

Deborah and Ava are contending with that on a much larger scale than our little gay website, but it’s all the same challenges and a lot of the same enemies, especially when it comes to AI, Google search algorithms, and social media. I don’t know what my point here is exactly except maybe: 1. Hacks deeply understands the harsh realities of being a creative/artist under capitalism and of working in media today and 2. There has never been a better time to become a paid member of Autostraddle. Shameless plug? Absolutely.

The strategy does work for them. They hit number one. It’s an especially sweet victory given that it follows Deborah and Ava making up and resolving to make the show they actually want to make.

The episode does drive the smallest of wedges back between Ava and Deborah though, as Ava looks suspiciously on at Deborah while taping the episode celebrating her number one spot. She’s right to be suspicious. Deborah had a direct hand in getting Winnie Landell fired.

And even though Winnie wasn’t exactly an ally of Ava’s, if Ava does connect the dots here, it could make her distrust Deborah again, just another example of Deborah taking out petty personal gripes on others and treating other people as dispensable. It doesn’t matter that Winnie would have done the same.

Ava’s Trust Issues

Ava wants to see Deborah is capable of change and that it’s possible to make it in this business without that approach.

Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya is the managing editor of Autostraddle and a lesbian writer of essays, fiction, and pop culture criticism living in Orlando. She is the former managing editor of TriQuarterly, and her short stories appear in McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, Joyland, Catapult, The Offing, The Rumpus, Cake Zine, and more.

Some of her pop culture writing can be found at The A.V. Club, Vulture, The Cut, and others. When she is not writing, editing, or reading, she is probably playing tennis.

About the Author

Laura is a writer who has worked in various fields including entertainment, media, and social justice. Her work focuses on highlighting issues that affect marginalized communities and promoting diversity and inclusion in the arts.

Follow her on Twitter: @Laura