I’m a “Hackinista” – obsessed with the show “Hacks”.

I’m not the only Hackinista.

Hacks has won 12 Emmys and earned 62 nominations across its five seasons on Max. The show’s historic run includes multiple wins for Outstanding Comedy Series and a four-time streak for Jean Smart as Outstanding Lead Actress.

It follows Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a stand-up comedian, and her comedy writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), as they navigate the evolving dynamics of their professional partnership and personal lives within the contemporary comedy industry.

Smart Lessons on Rock Star Communicating

🎤  Find the humor

🎭  “Hacks” was funny, which is Job 1 for a show about funny people.

✅ For You  ➡  How can you take life’s daily absurdities and find the humor? Look for it. Share the funny stuff. Laugh more.

🎤  Embrace intergenerational relationships

🎭 “Hacks” was astute about its millennial vs. boomer culture clash. Deborah initially sees Ava as a sensitive snowflake; Ava sees Deborah as, well, a sellout hack.

🎭  Jean Smart’s portrayal of the ruthlessly ambitious Deborah avoids easy stereotypes, and Hannah Einbinder shines as her tenacious millennial counterpart.

🎭  The two slowly bond as Ava pushes her new boss to take more risks and Deborah, in turn, helps Ava start to work through her personal problems.

✅ For You  ➡  No matter what generation you are, learn from those in other age groups.  Embrace creative partnerships.

🎤  Stay obsessed with your craft

🎭  To its last moments, “Hacks” is a show about the love of craft. For people like Deborah and Ava, the satisfaction of doing a thing well makes life worth living.

🎭  Both women endure misery, failure, and industry misogyny. Yet, they find their ultimate joy and validation in writing the perfect joke or delivering a knockout show.

✅ For You  ➡ You’re already good at what you do.  Whatever your craft is, find ways to stay obsessed with it.

🎤  Curtain Call

🎭  The final season elegantly wrapped up the series, with The New York Times declaring the finale a perfect return to the show’s core: the romance of creative partnership and the saving power of laughs.

✅ For You  ➡  You gotta laugh.

sources: The New York Times, wikipedia, binge-watching Karen

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