Hacks – A Slippery Slope

Our favourite Queen of Comedy has accomplished it: Deborah Vance is formally the primary late-night host within the nation. And in true Hacks vogue, Episode 9 kicks off with none aside from Katie Couric interviewing her in a shiny, high-profile section. Because that’s what you do if you’ve clawed your approach to the highest of the leisure business. The second is large, triumphant, and well-earned.

But earlier than we will even end celebrating, a well-recognized shadow creeps in: Bob Lipka. With Winnie gone, the top of the community all of the sudden has time to linger on set. He assures Deborah he gained’t intrude – after all of the present is a success, they clearly have all the pieces beneath management – after which instantly interferes by demanding she invite actor Ethan Summers on her present.

Summers, whereas undeniably well-known, can also be wrapped in a package deal of scandal: erratic habits, home violence accusations, and allegations of sexting underage women. Deborah and Ava had agreed early on that they don’t need him on the present. But Deborah is aware of she’s cornered. Bob removed Winnie for her (not that she requested for such drastic measures), and that is clearly a part of the unstated commerce.

Ava is, unsurprisingly, horrified however doesn’t battle it. Not as a result of she is okay with it, however as a result of she has grown. She’s nonetheless an anxious, self-righteous mess however apparently, she doesn’t blow up each time one thing crosses an ethical line. And Deborah? She’s grown too. Sure, she principally performs together with Summers’ redemption tour, however she will’t assist sliding in slightly joke about his secret Snapchat account which he presumably makes use of to attach with underage women. It’s daring. It’s dangerous. But it’s the suitable factor to do. One might name it “The Ava Effect”.

Meanwhile, in a subplot straight out of chaos comedy heaven, Kayla and Jimmy are on a mission to Dance Mom. She has been lacking for a number of hours, and she or he is scheduled to carry out on Deborah’s present in like half an hour.

They discover her handed out and deeply hungover on the Desperate Housewives set. She shouldn’t be performing in her state however Rob, the everlasting showrunner, insists the present should go on, even when the dancer in query can barely stand. When chilly water doesn’t revive her, Jimmy, on the finish of his rope, lets her snort slightly cocaine to get via the quantity. The scene is a catastrophe, completely chaotic and messy. But in a great way. It’s additionally extremely entertaining and nothing wanting good.

“A Slippery Slope” – HACKS. Pictured: Paul W. Downs as Jimmy LuSaque, Julianne Nicholson as Dance Mom & Megan Stalter as Kayla Schaeffer. Photo: Jake Giles Netter/Max ©2025 HBO Max, Inc. All Rights Reserved

After the taping, Deborah is requested to chop her jab at Summers from the interview. His staff desires it gone. She’s not thrilled however agrees. Ava, alternatively, is livid. She calls it what it’s: censorship.

And as a result of that is Ava Daniels we’re speaking about, the second she runs into her previous colleague Louis from On the Contrary, you already know she goes to mess up. Naïve as she typically may be, she casually vents in regards to the community reducing Deborah’s joke. Predictably, Louis makes use of that info for a success piece on Summers, particularly highlighting the truth that the studio tried to cowl up his misconduct.

Ava instantly owns as much as her mistake, telling Deborah what occurred. And in a surprising twist Deborah doesn’t yell. She listens. She processes. She desires to determine it out collectively. Growth!

The two girls wish to speak to Jimmy however he has apparently disappeared. Kayla, normally comedian reduction, turns into the voice of reality: Jimmy has been holding all the pieces collectively behind the scenes, and none of them, herself included, ever actually stopped to say thanks. For as soon as, there’s no punchline. Just honesty. And it lands. Deborah and Ava are left standing there, referred to as out and confronted with the very actual proven fact that Jimmy’s loyalty, endurance, and work have been quietly holding their chaotic world collectively.

It doesn’t take lengthy for phrase to get again to Bob Lipka. Someone talked, and it doesn’t take a genius, or perhaps a mildly competent govt, to determine who it was. Ava virtually gift-wrapped the leak for Louis, and now Lipka’s livid. His community has been dragged right into a scandal (lol), and there’s just one identify on his chopping block: Ava.

Lipka: “Fire her, or the show’s done.” 

Deborah, to her credit score, refuses, at the least for now.

She visits Jimmy, who – based on Kayla – had mysteriously disappeared when he actually was simply at dwelling, stewing in his emotions and ignoring everybody. Turns out, when nobody notices your efforts, hiding in plain sight appears like the one transfer. Deborah lastly tells him what he’s been dying to listen to: that she sees what he does for her, that she appreciates him. And then, she tells him about her plan: “It’s something I really don’t want to do. But I think I have to.”

What follows is a probably devastating betrayal. Shortly earlier than Deborah begins taping their Oscar particular which will likely be airing stay, she sends Ava on to the Oscars to do a section for the present. But when Ava arrives, she discovers she and her crew had been by no means added to the credential checklist. At the identical time, she runs into Winnie, who bitterly tells her the reality: It’s Deborah’s fault she received fired. She needed her gone and so Bob made it occur. Ava defends Deborah, at first, however one can see the doubt creeping in.

Ava rushes again to the studio, determined for solutions. When she arrives on the lot, she discovers her badge now not works. The safety guard tells her she is outwardly now not with the present. Ava is shocked. What the hell was occurring?

Together with the safety girl she watches the stay broadcast, on some stage anticipating the worst. But what occurs subsequent is something however.

Deborah begins the stay Oscars particular with a thanks. To the viewers, to her staff. And then to Ava.

“I’ve been asked to fire her by the head of this company. But I won’t do that… I refuse to fire her. Not just because she’s my creative partner, but because it’s a slippery slope. A few days ago I agreed to cut a joke I made to protect Ethan Summers and the studios interests. And now I have been asked to fire someone I love who did nothing wrong. So, what will they ask of me next? Where’s the line? And for me it’s here, right now. Which is why tonight will be my last show.”

“A Slippery Slope” – HACKS. Pictured: Jean Smart as Deborah Vance, Photo: Max ©2025 HBO Max, Inc. All Rights Reserved

It’s a mic-drop monologue for the ages. Deborah admits she performed the sport, reduce the joke, performed good. But sufficient is sufficient. She gained’t hold compromising simply to make shareholders completely happy. “This was my dream. And I’m so happy I got it. But the dream changed… and so did I.” 

And with that, she quits. On air. Live.

Bob Lipka storms the management room, screaming for them to chop the feed. Jimmy isn’t having any of it and blocks him from interfering with the printed. A full-on bodily battle breaks out between them, as Deborah’s phrases beam out to the world. The reality stays on air.

Ava watches Deborah’s speech, tears streaming down her face. The safety guard lastly lets her via. She runs via the lot, finds Deborah, and collapses into her arms.

“Why did you do that!? You should have fired me and kept the show!”

“There’s no show without you.”

That’s not only a line. It’s the thesis of your entire sequence.

“A Slippery Slope” – HACKS. Pictured: Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels & Jean Smart as Deborah Vance, Photo: Max ©2025 HBO Max, Inc. All Rights Reserved

But simply if you assume it’s over, Lipka reappears, throwing one final punch. Deborah can’t work anyplace else. There’s a non-compete clause in her contract. If she performs anyplace within the subsequent 18 months, he’ll sue her.

The look on Deborah’s face? That’s the value of integrity.

And but… she did it and she or he doesn’t appear to remorse it. She protected Ava. She stood for one thing. And in a world that consistently calls for compromise, Deborah Vance walked away on her personal phrases.

It takes a sure type of affect to make somebody stroll away from all the pieces they’ve constructed.

Ava didn’t simply make Deborah’s jokes higher – she made her higher. She opened her eyes to issues she used to disregard, helped her acknowledge injustice the place Deborah as soon as rolled her eyes, and confirmed her that success means little or no if it comes at the price of integrity.

The episode was filled with a lot emotional weight, character progress, and razor-sharp comedy that it felt longer than regular – in the absolute best manner. Every second felt intentional, each beat earned. It was messy. It was courageous. It was trustworthy. And it reminded us precisely why we care so deeply about these characters and why this present continues to be considered one of TV’s most interesting.

Are you continue to recovering from that mic-drop monologue too? Same! Let’s speak!