S04.E02: Cover Girls

[Night Cheese]

Airing April 10, 2025

Cover Girls (2025)

After their magazine feature is published, Ava feels even more stymied at work, while Deborah finds herself at odds with everything and everyone. Meanwhile, Kayla and Jimmy struggle with opening their new management company.

[slowpoked]

Hacks is back!!! And we’re only two episodes in, but I can say it’s better than ever. There were a lot of LOL moments for me in the two episodes.

I must say, that even though most likely this feud will come to an end - they’re on a truce right now - I’m on Ava’s side of this one. Deborah mentored her to be ruthless and tough, and she did her dirty with the lie about the head writer job after offering it to her. I’m also glad there was a scene with Bob Lipka directly telling Deborah that their one night should be a secret and no one should ever know. I think that will still come up this season at an opportune time.
 

Deborah has seen the error of her ways with Marcus - maybe she’ll see it with Ava soon enough.

I love that Winnie sat them both down and essentially said figure it out, both of you. And that she didn’t treat Deborah with kid gloves by telling her, you’re in the big leagues now, so act like it. 

The writing in the first two episodes has been top-notch, continuing the threads from the last few eps of S3 and not leaving much behind, with the signature Hacks humor. Hopefully we get even better episodes! 

[astrohip]

7 hours ago, slowpoked said:

I’m also glad there was a scene with Bob Lipka directly telling Deborah that their one night should be a secret and no one should ever know. I think that will still come up this season at an opportune time.

Ava has it ready to send in an email. Didn't we have an episode way back about this very event? Ava accidentally sending an email?

It's inevitable it will happen again.

[slowpoked]

1 hour ago, astrohip said:

Ava has it ready to send in an email. Didn't we have an episode way back about this very event? Ava accidentally sending an email?

Yes, she emailed those two British writers all her stories about how horrible Deborah is. But she wasn’t able to take the email back, and that was essentially the impetus that drove S2.

[catsitter]

I wouldn't miss Kayla for one minute if she left. The bits with her in seem like a different show.

[txhorns79]

I appreciated Helen Hunt telling Ava and Deborah that their public feuding has real consequences for their show and they need to get their acts together quickly.  They needed a respected third party to call them both out on their BS.   

The inside the episode after show, showing how they filmed the coyote with Deborah in her bedroom was pretty funny once they showed the outtake where the coyote started going down on the doll they had standing in for Deborah.    

[iMonrey]

I'm glad they dropped the first two episodes because the first one really had me disliking Deborah, and I don't think that's what they're going for. This one really humanized her more and made me feel it could be OK going forward. I don't really want to see Deborah and Ava at each other's throats. It's too much of a bummer. 

5 hours ago, catsitter said:

I wouldn't miss Kayla for one minute if she left. The bits with her in seem like a different show.

Yeah, this is really starting to feel disconnected. 

Also? I'm not sure how I feel about Robby Hoffman as the new assistant. I've seen her on @AfterMidnight and she's kind of annoying. 

[aghst]

17 hours ago, catsitter said:

I wouldn't miss Kayla for one minute if she left. The bits with her in seem like a different show.

The three show creators and runners are fans of the actress.  I am too.  Obviously the cast likes playing off Kayla's over the top performance, especially Jimmy.

I didn't know Americana was a thing, an outdoor shopping mall with apartments above them for people who don't want to cook or make coffee for themselves.

They also are fans of the comic who now plays their new assistant.  We will see on that one.

14 hours ago, txhorns79 said:

I appreciated Helen Hunt telling Ava and Deborah that their public feuding has real consequences for their show and they need to get their acts together quickly.  They needed a respected third party to call them both out on their BS.   

The inside the episode after show, showing how they filmed the coyote with Deborah in her bedroom was pretty funny once they showed the outtake where the coyote started going down on the doll they had standing in for Deborah.    

Wow Winnie's home.

Yeah the coyote is suppose to represent Ava to Deb.  Coyote wouldn't budge and Deb had to back up and turn around -- though it looked like that road was wide enough for her to drive around it.

 

[chaifan]

On 4/12/2025 at 12:18 AM, iMonrey said:

I'm glad they dropped the first two episodes because the first one really had me disliking Deborah, and I don't think that's what they're going for.

I sort of think that *was* what they were going for, with a quick redemption in Ep 2.  

I agree that they've kept the high standard for writing this season.  I like that they're not turning on a dime to get Ava and Deborah back in good graces, but not letting that feud take over the season, either.  I do put most of the feud on Deborah.  I'm glad they let her explain why she did what she did, but it was still shitty.  I don't blame Ava for blackmailing her for the position.  The Las Vegas writers retreat is going to be hilarious!  

I'm really glad they're giving Helen Hunt a bigger role this season.  I love her in this role.   And yes, please film all of her scenes in that house.  Wow!  I do wish they'd tone down Kayla just a few notches, but I also see what they're going for.  I don't know how Jimmy will deal with Kayla AND the new assistant.  They are A LOT.  x2.  

The coyote scenes were wild.  Those poor little corgis!  

On 4/11/2025 at 9:13 AM, slowpoked said:

I’m also glad there was a scene with Bob Lipka directly telling Deborah that their one night should be a secret and no one should ever know. I think that will still come up this season at an opportune time.

I agree, I think it will come back up.  But I don't think it will be the email Ava has ready - that would be way too much like Season 1.  Here's how I'm hoping it will happen:  Someone else finds out - Bob blabs or something.  It's thrown out as an accusation against Deborah, sleeping her way to the top.  (Of course the men are never to blame.)  Ava covers for her.  Says, nope, she was with me all night, we were writing a new act, were in the groove, stayed up all night.  Or somehow saves the day.  To show Deborah that yep, I just threw away my ace card to save your ass.  

On 4/12/2025 at 12:04 PM, aghst said:

I didn't know Americana was a thing, an outdoor shopping mall with apartments above them for people who don't want to cook or make coffee for themselves.

Yep, we've got 3 of them in our area (not named Americana), about 10-15 minutes apart.  One was built almost 20 years ago, so this isn't a new thing.  The other two are newer.  Higher end retail shops, bars/restaurants, one has a movie theater.  They're built like little towns.  The space above/around the shops are a combo of offices and apartments.  I wouldn't want to live there, but I can see the appeal for some people.  For me, the mystery is why inside malls are dead but these are thriving.  I can see it in warmer climates, but I'm mid-west, and the weather is not conducive to outdoor shopping at least 1/2 the year.  Yet here they are, and more are popping up.

 

 

[aghst]

39 minutes ago, chaifan said:

I sort of think that *was* what they were going for, with a quick redemption in Ep 2.  

I agree that they've kept the high standard for writing this season.  I like that they're not turning on a dime to get Ava and Deborah back in good graces, but not letting that feud take over the season, either.  I do put most of the feud on Deborah.  I'm glad they let her explain why she did what she did, but it was still shitty.  I don't blame Ava for blackmailing her for the position.  The Las Vegas writers retreat is going to be hilarious!  

Yep, we've got 3 of them in our area (not named Americana), about 10-15 minutes apart.  One was built almost 20 years ago, so this isn't a new thing.  The other two are newer.  Higher end retail shops, bars/restaurants, one has a movie theater.  They're built like little towns.  The space above/around the shops are a combo of offices and apartments.  I wouldn't want to live there, but I can see the appeal for some people.  For me, the mystery is why inside malls are dead but these are thriving.  I can see it in warmer climates, but I'm mid-west, and the weather is not conducive to outdoor shopping at least 1/2 the year.  Yet here they are, and more are popping up.

 

 

I don't know that they're back in each other's good graces yet.  They are calling a truce now because they need to deliver a hit.

But the hard feelings may not be fully squelched and could arise again.

 

I was specifically talking about Americana the brand itself.  Near where I live there are places like that, luxury arts on top of retail, except these don't have many lower-priced food and drink options or a place where Kayla would be able to get her tits pierced.

[Blakeston]

I feel like at the end of each season they want us to think that Kayla has matured, and then the next season begins with her being as annoying and chaotic as ever.

[chaifan]

11 hours ago, aghst said:

I don't know that they're back in each other's good graces yet.  They are calling a truce now because they need to deliver a hit.

Right.  I was saying it was a process, not that they're there yet.  They both realize their jobs (and reputations) are at risk, and they need to work together.  I really liked the scene with Ava and Deborah at the end.  Deborah gets it, she's only hurting herself with this feud.  

What we really need is a bonus web series, 5-10 minutes per week, that is just Ava and Deborah in couples counseling.  😁

[SnarkAttack]

Such a good show!  That is all.

[roughing it]

I can do without Jimmy and Kayla - so not funny.  At all.  They add nothing to this show.  And so far, I'm not liking this season either.  What the hell happened to Deborah?  She is over the top awful this season so far.  I may be out...

[ItCouldBeWorse]

On 4/22/2025 at 2:22 PM, roughing it said:

I can do without Jimmy and Kayla - so not funny.  At all.  They add nothing to this show.

I love Jimmy! He's the sane guy reacting to crazy situations. But a little Kayla goes a long way.

Does Robby get paid double to assist both Jimmy and Kayla?

[heatherchandler]

On 4/11/2025 at 5:17 PM, catsitter said:

I wouldn't miss Kayla for one minute if she left. The bits with her in seem like a different show.

I love Kayla.  I know I’m in the minority, but I think she’s so funny.  Love Jimmy playing off her.

[LuvMyShows]

So I don't know coyotes or LA, but why on earth would Deborah get out of her car and approach the coyote? Are they that tame in LA? And yes, as someone said above, there was plenty of room for her to drive her car around it. I couldn't get past her stopping her car in the middle of the road, at night, without hazard lights or something like that. I kept expecting a car to come up and smash right into her car, and then her.

On 4/11/2025 at 8:59 PM, txhorns79 said:

I appreciated Helen Hunt telling Ava and Deborah that their public feuding has real consequences for their show and they need to get their acts together quickly.  They needed a respected third party to call them both out on their BS.   

Again, I just cannot conceive of someone as long-lived and smart as Deborah, allowing the feud to interfere so publicly with this opportunity that she has basically waited a lifetime for.

[chaifan]

4 hours ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

Does Robby get paid double to assist both Jimmy and Kayla?

Only if she's making 1/2 salary to begin with, as there's not a lot for her to do for either one at this point.  😆

[Miss Bones]

On 4/13/2025 at 9:06 PM, aghst said:

I don't know that they're back in each other's good graces yet.  They are calling a truce now because they need to deliver a hit.

But the hard feelings may not be fully squelched and could arise again.

 

I was specifically talking about Americana the brand itself.  Near where I live there are places like that, luxury arts on top of retail, except these don't have many lower-priced food and drink options or a place where Kayla would be able to get her tits pierced.

Well, Kayla wasn't going to be able to get her tits pierced at Claire's anyway (that is where she said she wanted to go), since they only do ear piercing, and-- apparently from what I see on their website--nose piercing.

[peachmangosteen]

On 4/25/2025 at 7:21 PM, heatherchandler said:

I love Kayla.  I know I’m in the minority, but I think she’s so funny.  Love Jimmy playing off her.

They are the funniest part of the show to me.

[Quickbeam]

So much better than the dreadful first episode. Lots of snap! I also kind of love the Kayla character because part of me thinks there are a lot of Kaylas in that world. The new assistant is interesting, didn’t see that coming.