Ep 1. There is No Line

There is No Line is the first episode of the comedy-drama television series Hacks. The show tells the story of Ava Daniels, a young comedy writer whose career is on the line after making an ill-advised joke during a stand-up act. In an effort to save her job, Ava accepts an offer to write for an aging Las Vegas comic named Deborah Vance. But while Ava struggles to find her footing in the high-stakes world of Las Vegas showbiz, Deborah is facing her own challenges.

The episode begins with Ava, played by Hannah Einbinder, bombing a stand-up gig in Los Angeles. Her joke about a school shooting draws groans from the audience and prompts a wave of backlash on social media. Her manager, Jimmy, advises her to lay low for a while, but Ava insists on taking another gig that same night. At the new venue, she meets with a prominent TV executive who offers her a job writing for comedian Deborah Vance, played by Jean Smart.

Ava is skeptical of the offer at first, but Jimmy convinces her that it could be a good opportunity. She packs her bags and heads to Las Vegas, where she meets with Deborah at her massive mansion. But the two women don't exactly hit it off. Deborah is guarded and dismissive of Ava's ideas, and Ava is resentful of being told what to do. She also quickly realizes that her job is not just writing jokes for Deborah's stand-up act, but also helping her craft a new show for the Vegas Strip.

Deborah, meanwhile, is dealing with her own problems. Her longtime agent, Marty, has just died, and she's struggling to come to terms with her own mortality. She's also at odds with her daughter, who runs the company that owns the casino where Deborah performs. The two women clash over everything from the show's budget to the set design, and Deborah is frustrated that her creative vision is being stifled.

As the episode progresses, Ava starts to get a feel for Deborah's style and begins to craft jokes that she thinks will work for her. She also starts to relax a bit and shows Deborah some of her more personal material, which Deborah responds to. But just as Ava is feeling more confident, she runs into trouble with the show's producer, who questions her ability to write for an older audience.

Meanwhile, Deborah takes matters into her own hands when she discovers that her daughter has hired a young comedian to perform in the casino's lounge. She confronts the comedian, who goes by the name DJ Fingablast, and tells him that he's stealing her audience. But when she sees that he's actually quite talented, she offers him a job writing for the show.

The episode ends with Ava and Deborah collaborating on a new bit for the show, and Ava realizing that she might be starting to like this new life after all.

Overall, There is No Line is a strong start to Hacks. The episode sets up the show's central conflict - between the young, edgy Ava and the older, more traditional Deborah - while also introducing some intriguing subplots. The acting is uniformly excellent, with both Smart and Einbinder shining in their respective roles. Fans of comedy and drama alike will find something to enjoy in this promising new series.