Not too long ago, there were two prestige TV series vaguely inspired by the life of Joan Rivers. Now we have none. The first, Prime Video’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, wrapped in the spring of 2023; the second, HBO Max/Just Plain Max/HBO Max Again’s Hacks, aired its series finale last night. In this Joan enthusiast’s eyes, the latter’s conclusion was a lot more successful than the former’s—even if I also think Hacks would have gone out on a stronger note if it hadn’t pulled its final punch. But as series creators Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky tell VF’s Joy Press, they’ve always been working toward this exact ending. Read on to learn about all the sly easter eggs they’ve been sneaking into the show since the very beginning. Isn’t it nice when TV creators are given an opportunity to think ahead?
Elsewhere, Chris Murphy chats with Jamie Bell about the end of another HBO Max series, Half Man, which is as queer-coded as Hacks but a hell of a lot darker; Kenneal Patterson runs through everything we know about the second season of another current hit, Off Campus; and Keke Palmer plays the hits—including her instant classic of an answer when confronted with a photo of Dick Cheney. |
HILLARY BUSIS,
SENIOR EDITOR |
Cocreators Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky break down the beloved comedy’s last episode, from why Deborah didn’t go through with her plan to the sneaky way they foreshadowed the ending. |
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After that shocking series finale, the actor chats with Vanity Fair about Richard Gadd, the manosphere, and straight actors playing queer characters. |
The hit hockey drama has been renewed for a second season—and they’re bringing more heat. |
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The Emmy-winning actor reflects on major moments from her decades-long career, including Akeelah and the Bee, True Jackson, VP, Hustlers, Nope, One of Them Days, and her unforgettable, meme-immortalized appearance on Vanity Fair’s Lie Detector: “Sorry to this man!”
Baby, this is Keke Palmer—roll the tape! |
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