Spoilers ahead for Hacks season 3, episode 2, “Better Late.”
In Hacks season 3, episode 2, legendary comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) realizes she doesn’t have any new material in her Rolodex of jokes that’s late-night show worthy. Instead, she decides to make a story that’s worthy of her highly anticipated guest appearance by pulling a prank on fellow Las Vegas-based comedian Carrot Top. Known for his self-deprecation, prop comedy, and satire, the stand-up comedian hit it big in the ’90s, which led to his 2005 residency at Las Vegas’ Luxor Hotel. But Carrot Top’s celebrity cameo in Hacks season 3 is more than funny.
While viewers may not immediately realize it, the Carrot Top cameo is actually a deep-cut reference to a Hacks season 2 episode‘s seemingly throwaway line. This connection certainly casts Deborah’s prank in a new light. In the Hacks season 3, episode 2 sequence, fake city contractors approach “Mr. Top” and inform him that his sprawling Las Vegas mansion wasn’t properly zoned. As a result, they need him to pack his belongings in a trash bag and vacate the house before it’s demolished. Shocked and upset, Carrot Top is even more surprised when Deborah Vance rolls up with a camcorder.
In Hacks season 2’s premiere, “There Will Be Blood,” Deborah Vance returns to Las Vegas with a renewed sense of excitement. Since her last show was a flop, Deborah finally has the motivation she needs to plan a sweeping tour. While home, Deborah finds her daughter, DJ (Kaitlin Olson) — that is, Deborah Vance Jr. — tearfully eating a pot pie. According to Deborah, that means something’s deeply wrong. The last time DJ requested estate manager Josefina’s (Rose Abdoo) chicken pot pie at 10am was when celebrity comedian Carrot Top ghosted her.
While DJ tells her mother not to psychoanalyze her pot pie eating, she bitterly adds that Carrot Top should have at least had an adult conversation with her if he wasn’t interested in seriously dating anyone. Deborah sighs and reminds her daughter that the Carrot Top incident is precisely why DJ should never date a comedian. “Plus, you were way out of his league,” Deborah adds, prompting DJ to heatedly agree. Hacks has always been clever and consistent, but the Carrot Top cameo in Hacks season 3 is a solid reminder of what makes the comedy series so sharp and thoughtful.
To put it lightly, Deborah and DJ have a complicated, often-fraught relationship. The mother-daughter duo hardly see eye-to-eye. Deborah’s personality and career made DJ’s life difficult, and it’s clear that the comedian still feels guilty. Meanwhile, DJ both resents her mother and desperately seeks her approval. As far as Hacks‘ character dynamics, it’s one of the most compelling — and wrenching. The celebrity cameo in Hacks season 3 could have featured just about anyone, but Deborah’s decision to mess with Carrot Top feels personal. While it isn’t a direct means of reconciling with DJ, it’s exactly the kind of cutting thing Deborah would do to prove her love.