The Midlife

I fell into a one and a half-day binge watch of Hacks. Have you seen this? Now in its second season, Hacks spotlights a female comedienne of a certain wonderful age as she ends her years’ long Vegas residency. She is tricked into hiring a down-on-her-luck twenty-something TV writer after a scandal sidelines her own career. I rented season one from the library and am hooked on the tone of this dark comedy with vibes similar to Barry with a splash of Entourage. Not since Modern Family have I felt an ensemble cast’s ability to set itself apart. And while this is most definitely Jean Smart’s (from Designing Women and a million other things) show, her ensemble cast can go toe-to-toe with her because the acting and sharp writing make this dark comedy (on HBO Max) a must-watch. Hannah Einbinder, who plays writer Ava, is fairly new to show business, but you would never have any indication of this when watching her scenes with Jean Smart.

What really hit home for me reality check-wise is how women – particularly middle-aged women and elder women – can feel invisible. It starts around the time when younger people refer to you as Ma’am. May I help you, Ma’am? This way, Ma’am! All so polite and offensive, at the same time. I can’t help but wonder if my mother is standing behind me when someone calls me Ma’am. I stand there in a split second of disbelief. Oh, they’re talking to me.

I remember vividly at age 23 thinking a woman of 40 was old. My, how the tables turn! Now, a woman with lines on her face and smile crinkles around her eyes screams sexy to me. Seasoned, smart, and sexy, I say. Yes, ma’am, indeed.