Deborah Vance is a powerhouse performer in ‘Hacks.’ She might be in her 70s, but she has never known how to slow down – be it her looks, her lifestyle, or her legendary brand of comedy. She has been entertaining fans for more than five decades, and her partnership with the young and brash Ava Daniels has put a modern spin on Deborah’s standup acts.
In Season 4, our Las Vegas comedian finally secures her lifelong dream of hosting the Late Night show. She is finally on television after losing the gig back in the 1970s. But why did that contract fall apart? And what has kept Deb from shining on screen in all these years? The culprit was a very private struggle that turned into a public controversy.
Why Deborah Vance’s Original Late-Night Gig Was Canceled In The 1970s
Deborah Vance is too talented not to have given tough competition to her male counterparts. Late Night has been a field dominated by men. But once in the 70s, Deb got a chance to shine on TV, not just in a sitcom, but with her own talk show. However, the public scandal of her divorce marred her chances.
It’s a running gag that she burnt down her husband Frank’s house after his affair, that too, with her sister Kathy. Deb herself made jokes out of it and used the incident to crank up her comedy sets. Unbeknownst to Deborah at the time, the fiasco cost her the Late Night gig in the long run.
Related: ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’: Is The Icon For Women In Comedy A Feminist Hero?
Everyone believed she had committed the arson, considering the house went up in flames the same night she discovered Frank’s betrayal. But the truth remains that the fault lay with a dryer fire. Although Frank and everyone blamed Deborah. Not to worry, she took all the jabs in stride and turned them around in her favor. But she couldn’t save the Late Night offer despite having filmed a pilot. This was a time when trailblazing women had to keep their composure and not be associated with such a big controversy.
But why would Frank harm his wife after he cheated on her? The reason is quite simple. He was jealous of her success. So, he tarnished her reputation and made her a pariah in Hollywood. As Deborah explained to Ava, “He made me the crazy woman who burned down the house.”
Deborah Vance’s Glorious Career In Comedy
In the aftermath of her biggest heartbreak – both personal and professional – Deborah Vance licked her wounds and tried to manage her debilitating wealth and assets with her go-getter attitude. She knew people would rather laugh at her than accept her truth. So, she hustled and reinvented herself. That’s what she does best, right? She eventually became a star with her Vegas Residency. Stand-ups, tours, QVC, brand deals, advertisements…she said “bring it on” to all. From her broke days, this lady became a rich personality.
In case you missed it: ‘Mid-Century Modern’: Matt Bomer’s Old-Fashioned Sitcom Is The Hearty Gay Time We Deserve
When push comes to shove, Deb is fearless. She isn’t one to forget the past. She might scream at the memories, but she learns from her failures. She rewatches her unaired pilot to prepare for a hosting gig in Season 3. Now, that’s a sign of a true artiste. And her partnership with Ava massively revamped her material, bringing her closer to her ambitions. She might be a bully and the most difficult person in most moments, but that’s because she has clawed her way through the comedy business, and she will never apologize for her history.
Now, decades after her plan of fighting sexism in the Late-Night realm got crushed, Deborah got what she deserved. She knows that the show isn’t about the format or the jokes, it’s about the person. Finally, Deborah Vance is the glittering Late-Night comedian we had been missing, one who is experienced and brimming with vivacious energy.
