WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Hacks season 4, episode 4.
If you enjoyed Carol Burnett’s surprise guest appearance inHacksseason 4, episode 4, “I Love LA”, this underrated Apple comedy series starring Kristen Wiig is worth checking out. Burnett, a legendary comedian, actor, and variety show host, is one of the variousguest stars inHacksseason 4, showing up just in time to give Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance some keen advice about starting her first late-night show. This advice ends up helping Deborah overcome her anxieties and get through her first taping in front of a live audience.
The inclusion of both Burnett and Emmy-winning Late Night with David Letterman head writerMerrill Markoe inHacksseason 4, episode 4, honors two female titans in TV history. While Deborah and her head writer, Ava Daniels, are fictional characters, bothBurnett and Markoe emerged as rare leaders in their fieldduring a time plagued by sexism.Deborah reveals she was also a victim of sexism inHacks, which reflects the real-world conditions that both Burnett and Markoe had to overcome to cement their respective legacies.
Carol Burnett’s TV Legacy Continues With Her Role On Apple TV+’s Palm Royale
Burnett Plays Norma Dellacorte In A Stellar Ensemble Cast
InHacksseason 4, Deborah talks to Burnett about watching her on TV back in the 60s, and Burnett’s TV presence is still alive and well 60 years later. She’s currently starring in theApple comedy seriesPalm Royale, which has already been renewed for season 2.
Palm Royalestars Burnett, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Bibb, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Kaia Gerber, Josh Lucas, and Ricky Martin. All 10 episodes ofPalm Royale’sfirst season are streaming exclusively on Apple TV+.
Viewers ofHackswould also likePalm Royalebecause it’s a sharp comedy that is set in a luxurious, exclusive inner world, much like the Emmy-winning HBO comedy series.Palm Royale’simpressive cast of award winners is enough of a reason to try it out, andits immersive, sun-soaked location in 1969 Palm Beach, Florida, should entice viewers to stay for a while. There are already ten season 1 episodes for viewers to sink their teeth into, making it a great companion piece to fill time during the weekly releases of Hacks season 4.
Why Palm Royale’s Reviews Are So Divisive
Palm Royale Only Earned A 56% On Rotten Tomatoes
The biggest difference betweenHacksandPalm Royaleon paper is their critical reception.Hackshas accrued a 98% overall score onRotten Tomatoesacross its four seasons, with its first two seasons earning perfect 100% marks from critics.Palm Royale, on the other hand, didn’t even slide into the “Fresh” categoryonRotten Tomatoeswith a score of 56%. Cristina Escobar ofRogerEbert.comwrites, “Palm Royaleseems unsure if it’s trying to lampoon or celebrate the upper classes it’s depicting.”
Hacks and Palm Royale are not necessarily on the same level at this time but Palm Royale has enough promise to mature and enhance in its upcoming second season.
Positive reviews forPalm Royaleapplaud it for being enjoyable despite not having much purpose. Matthew Gilbert of theBoston Globewrites, “At times, there doesn’t seem to be enough story line to fuel 10 hourlong episodes. Still, it’s an enjoyable, if forgettable, romp.“HacksandPalm Royaleare not necessarily on the same level at this time but Palm Royale has enough promise to mature and enhance in its upcoming second season.
