Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Hacks is an adult comedy-drama that lives firmly in the grown-up TV category. Think sharp dialogue, industry insider humor, and the kind of content you'd never want walking in on during family movie night.

The premise—a washed-up millennial comedy writer forced to work with a legendary Vegas comedian—has potential for exploring creativity, resilience, and generational clashes. The 7.4 TMDB rating suggests it's well-executed. But 'dark mentorship' is the key phrase here: expect cynicism, toxic workplace dynamics, and all the mature content that comes with HBO Max comedies about the Vegas entertainment scene.

For parents? This isn't on your radar unless you're looking for something to watch after the kids are in bed. It's not educational, it's not enriching for young minds, and it's definitely not safe for family viewing. If you're a parent of older teens (17+) who are into sophisticated comedy and industry stories, maybe it's a conversation piece about creative careers—but even then, you're looking at content designed for adults who can handle mature themes, language, and situations.

Bottom line: Great for grown-ups who love smart comedy about the entertainment world. Zero relevance for family media decisions.

Age Fit

This is strictly adult content (18+). The Vegas comedy world, mature themes, and sophisticated humor make it inappropriate for teens and completely off-limits for younger kids.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

55

As an adult comedy-drama about a 'dark mentorship,' this likely contains cynicism, adult relationship dynamics, and workplace conflict. The premise of an 'entitled, outcast' young woman paired with a 'legendary' comedian suggests character growth potential, but the 'dark' descriptor and comedy genre targeting adults means emotional tone is likely sarcastic, potentially mean-spirited, and not modeling healthy cooperation consistently. Without content rating data, assuming TV-MA or TV-14 level content.

Imaginative

72

The show explores the creative world of stand-up comedy and comedy writing, offering insight into the creative process behind entertainment. The generational clash between a Vegas legend and a millennial writer provides fresh perspective on comedy evolution. However, as a character-driven dramedy rather than fantasy or world-building content, it doesn't invite active creative participation from viewers—it's observational rather than participatory.

Safe

35

Without content ratings, but given it's an adult HBO Max comedy-drama about Las Vegas entertainment and described as a 'dark mentorship,' this almost certainly contains adult language, sexual content/references, alcohol use, and potentially drug references typical of the Vegas comedy scene. The 'dark' mentorship descriptor suggests emotional manipulation or toxic dynamics. Not appropriate for unexpected family viewing or children.

Enriching

68

TMDB rating of 7.4 suggests quality storytelling. The show explores mentorship, generational differences, women in comedy, career reinvention, and the entertainment industry. Likely offers insight into creative collaboration, resilience, and professional growth. The clash between old-school and new perspectives can spark discussions about changing culture and values. However, entertainment value is primary—this isn't educational content.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Explores the creative process of comedy writing and stand-up, offering behind-the-scenes insight into entertainment
Tackles generational differences, career reinvention, and women navigating a male-dominated industry with nuance
Strong TMDB rating (7.4) suggests quality writing and character development
Could spark conversations about mentorship, resilience, and how comedy reflects cultural change

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What to Watch For

This is adult content—expect strong language, sexual references, and mature themes about the Vegas entertainment scene
The 'dark mentorship' premise suggests potentially toxic dynamics and cynical humor
Not remotely family-friendly; this is sophisticated HBO Max fare for grown-ups
Without official ratings, assume TV-MA level content

Conversation Starters

"What do you think makes comedy 'work' for different generations?"
"How do you think social media has changed what's considered funny or offensive?"
"What would it be like to work with someone from a completely different generation?"
"Do you think mentors should be 'nice' or can tough criticism be valuable?"

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