Carol Burnett’s Hacks Cameo Is A Great Reminder To Watch Her Underrated Apple TV+ Comedy Show That’s Returning For Season 2

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Hacks season 4, episode 4.

If you enjoyed Carol Burnett’s surprise guest appearance in Hacks season 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 various guest stars in Hacks season 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 writer Merrill Markoe in Hacks season 4, episode 4, honors two female titans in TV history. While Deborah and her head writer, Ava Daniels, are fictional characters, both Burnett and Markoe emerged as rare leaders in their field during a time plagued by sexism. Deborah reveals she was also a victim of sexism in Hacks, 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

In Hacks season 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 the Apple comedy series Palm Royale, which has already been renewed for season 2.

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Hacks Season 4, Episode 4 Review: I’m Loving How Deborah’s Vulnerability Breaks New Ground & Veers The Show Into Dramedy

Hacks season 4, episode 4 “I Love LA”, gets the ball rolling with Deborah’s new late-night show while refreshingly chipping at her impenetrable armor.

Palm Royale stars Burnett, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Bibb, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Kaia Gerber, Josh Lucas, and Ricky Martin. All 10 episodes of Palm Royale’s first season are streaming exclusively on Apple TV+.

Viewers of Hacks would also like Palm Royale because it’s a sharp comedy that is set in a luxurious, exclusive inner world, much like the Emmy-winning HBO comedy series. Palm Royale’s impressive cast of award winners is enough of a reason to try it out, and its 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 between Hacks and Palm Royale on paper is their critical reception. Hacks has accrued a 98% overall score on Rotten Tomatoes across 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” category on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 56%. Cristina Escobar of RogerEbert.com writes, “Palm Royale seems unsure if it’s trying to lampoon or celebrate the upper classes it’s depicting.”

Positive reviews for Palm Royale applaud it for being enjoyable despite not having much purpose. Matthew Gilbert of the Boston Globe writes, “At times, there doesn’t seem to be enough story line to fuel 10 hourlong episodes. Still, it’s an enjoyable, if forgettable, romp.” 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.