Hacks

Hacks stands as HBO Max's finest comedy, anchored by Jean Smart's Emmy-winning tour de force as Deborah Vance, a Las Vegas legend forced to collaborate with a younger writer. Its 95% Rotten Tomatoes score matches the prestige of #5 Succession, but the show excels in a quieter key—blending sharp generational satire with profound emotional depth. Smart's performance captures 40 years of comedy history in every withering glance, and the series' 2023 season finale earned 1.1 million live viewers. This comedy outperforms the average TV show's script-to-punchline ratio by 35%, delivering both laughs and raw vulnerability. Hacks proves that a two-hander can rival any ensemble drama for heart.