WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Hacks season 4 & The Studio.
Two of the best modern self-reflexive showbiz shows,HacksandThe Studio, are currently airing at the same time, with both offering authentic insights into Hollywood’s real-life chaotic and dysfunctional behind-the-scenes world. WhileHacksis like the hardworking assistant who finally landed a promotion after three grueling years of “paying dues,“The Studiois more of an anthology straight from the top of a “not-so-fictional” movie studio, inspired by some of co-creator Seth Rogen’s life experiences.Hacksis still riding high off itsEmmy win for Outstanding Comedy Series after dethroningThe Bear, butThe Studiomay be giving it a run for its money.
Hackshas historically followed Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance, a veteran stand-up comedian and entertainer, who finally gets the break of a lifetime in season 4 during the twilight of her career by becoming the first-ever female host of a mainstream late-night show. Similarly,Seth Rogen’s film-loving Matt Remick earns a promotion as the new head of Continental Studiosafter shamelessly agreeing to makeaKool-Aidmovie, riding on the coattails ofBarbie’smassive success. BothThe StudioandHacksalso feature dozens of guest starsand cameos to add authenticity to their A-list Hollywood vibe.
Hacks Reflects More Of The Realistic Day-To-Day Struggles Of Keeping A Late-Night Show Afloat
Season 4 Takes A Deep Dive Into The Fast-Paced World Of Late-Night Television
Hacksseason 4 has taken a departure from previous seasons by changing its primary setting to Los Angeles instead of Las Vegas. This change came about based on Deborah’s career development in theHacksseason 3 finale, in which she finally earned a coveted late-night posting gig. Rather than skimming over the day-to-day realities of such a challenging job in entertainment,Hacksseason 4 dives right into a realistic depiction of a modern-day TV network workspace. Creative conflicts between the head writer, Ava, and star host Deborah only scratch the surface of the BTS drama inHacksseason 4.
Creative conflicts between the head writer, Ava, and star host Deborah only scratch the surface of the BTS drama inHacksseason 4.
Hacksseason 4 offers authentic depictions of both common and extreme Hollywood workplace scenarios, which, for Deborah and Ava, have required frequent intervention from the network’s busy HR department. On top of all this is the trickle-down pressure on Deborah and Ava to deliver quality shows day in and day out, constantly feeling the pervasive executive oversight from Helen Hunt’s character Winnie, who oversees all premium programming on the network. In previous seasons ofHacks, Ava and Deborah were their own self-sufficient comedic team. Now, in season 4, they must represent the interests and meet the expectations of their parent network.
The Studio Highlights Some Of The Real “Stranger Than Fiction” Happenings At A Movie Studio
Many Of The Situations In The Studio Seem Hyperbolic But Are Based On Hollywood Insider Tales
Some of the events inThe Studiomay seem outrageous, particularly Matt Remick himself, who appears to be way too naive to be a legitimate studio head. Surprisingly enough,there is a degree of absurdist authenticity throughout the entirety ofThe Studio, which brings to life some of Hollywood’s more “stranger than fiction” elements to reveal how the dishes are really made. For example, Martin Scorsese, who appeared in the first episode ofThe Studio, admitted that he’s actually experienced something similar to his fictional “Jonestown” cult movie being purchased and intentionally buried by a studio to prevent him from making it.
Rogen recently sat down withStephen Colbert onThe Late Showto discuss his real-life inspiration for The Studio season 1, episode 8, “The Golden Globes.“Rogen’s character, Matt, was so concerned about getting thanked during an acceptance speechfor a movie that he greenlit but wouldn’t get any of the public credit for.
“Years ago, we made a film that won a Golden Globe and at the afterparty, we saw one of the executives crying, and we assumed they were crying because we won and they were happy. We went over and we’re like, ‘We won! Is that why you’re crying?’ And they said, ‘No, they forgot to thank me during the speech.'”
Scenarios like this are riddled all overThe Studioand are what make the series so entertaining. While many of them are inspired directly by Rogen’s career experiences, there is still a stark element ofheightened satire to ensure thatThe Studiois more than an exaggerated recreation.
Characters In Hacks & The Studio Are Influenced By Real Hollywood Legends
Women TV Legends Helped Form Deborah, While Several Real-Life Execs Inspired A Few Studio Characters
Jean Smart’sHackscharacter is loosely inspired by Joan Rivers and also acts as an umbrella for several pioneering women in television. This is evidenced byHacksseason 4 featuring guest appearances from the likes of Carol Burnett, Merrill Markoe, and Rosie O’Donnell. Hacks co-creator Paul W. Downs toldThe Wrapback in 2021 that Deborah Vance is “an amalgamation of a lot of people.” He added, “There’s Elaine May in there. [Deborah] had a famous sitcom and then very public divorce, not unlike Lucille Ball. We also threw on Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers and Elayne Boosler and Rita Rudner and Paula Poundstone.”
As forThe Studio,Catherine O’Hara’s character is based on Amy Pascal, a prominent former Sony Pictures executiveand mentor for Seth Rogen and frequent collaborator Evan Goldberg. Rogen revealed toThe Wrap, “Amy is someone who was a huge mentor to me and Evan. We really came up at Sony under her leadership, and she was someone who taught us a ton about the industry and who was a really inspirational figure to us in a lot of ways.” Additionally, Bryan Cranston’s exec character Griffin Mill is somewhat inspired by David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Hacks Represents The Evolving Hollywood Landscape While The Studio Honors Its Legacy
Hacks Pushes Industry Boundaries & The Studio Revels In Its Glory Days
Although bothHacksandThe Studiofeature real-life Hollywood inspiration and incredible ensemble casts of A-listers playing themselves, the two prestige showbiz comedy shows are distinct in one major way.Hacksfeels very modern, especially with Ava’s progressive stances and ambitions as a young late-night host trying to shake things up, whileThe Studiois full of classic movie homages and is more stylized, like the classic Hollywood-centric movieThe Player. Ultimately, the key difference betweenHacksandThe Studiois their individual tones, one focused on a brighter future and the other drenched in nostalgia.
The key difference betweenHacksandThe Studiois their individual tones, one focused on a brighter future and the other drenched in nostalgia.
The biggest similarity betweenHacksandThe Studiois the chaos that fuels each of their plots and characters. The stakes in each series are also driven by a timeless “art vs. commerce” debate asstudio heads and late-night writing staffs alike try to figure out how to maintain a balancebetween entertainment and innovation.
Both Ava and Matt may be a bit more unprofessional than the average real-world head writer or studio head, but their flaws are part of what makes their characters interesting and funny.HacksandThe Studioboth capture the tumultuous tides of a rapidly changing industry forced to maintain relevancy and revenue in a shifting technological landscape that is increasingly dominated by Internet-driven content. In this way,both shows represent the resiliency of a Hollywood that’s been beaten down over the last decadeor so, but still pours itself into its work based on its unfaltering love of classic staples of entertainment in film and television.
