Page 2 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - June 23, 2021

2 HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK JUNE 23, 2021
Rotten
A Smart Choice For ‘Hacks’
BY CHRIS MCKINNEY
PAPAYAS
Over the last several years, actress Jean Smart has been
wo sh mo in be
comedies a number of episodes to get their legs under them. I remember early Seinfeld not being nearly as great as it be- came later on. I’d say the same about most of my favorites of all-time: Veep and Frasier (a show in which, coincidental- ly, Smart won two guest star prime-time Emmys). It takes time to build comedic chem- istry. It takes increasing confi- dence. So far, just in this first season alone, the episodes get better and better.
Hacks is high-level generational conflict comedy. Ava looks at Vance and sees a dinosaur telling the same old lame jokes. Vance looks at Ava and sees everything wrong with young people nowadays.
everywhere. The former Designing Women star has played supporting roles in Fargo, Legion, Watchmen and Mare of Easttown. It’s rare to see an actor, or anyone in any occupation really, ex- perience a career renaissance in their 60s. Smart is pulling it off in admirable fashion.
Jean Smart stars in HBO Max’s Hacks. PHOTO COURTESY RICHARD SHOTWELL/INVISION/AP
ic character, but Smart does so with skill. When Vance is in danger of losing Vegas show dates, there’s only one way she knows how to deal with turmoil: fight. It’s how she got to where she got, and it’s how she’s managed to maintain it. Vance reluc- tantly agrees to hire a young writer to punch up her jokes. Dour millennial Ava (played by Hannah Einbinder) enters Vance’s palatial world, and the two immediately despise what the other represents.
Hacks is high-level gen- erational conflict comedy. Ava looks at Vance and sees a dinosaur telling the same old lame jokes. Vance looks at Ava and sees everything wrong with young people nowadays.
never ends. And it doesn’t get better. It just gets hard- er. So don’t complain to me that I’m making your life hard. You don’t even know what that means.”
what it takes to be highest lev- el at anything. Vance goes on to leave Ava to deal with a flat tire while she flies off in a heli- copter. It’s such a great scene.
In her latest role, she plays a legendary stand-up comedi- an in HBO Max’s Hacks. A sort of fictionalized version of Joan Rivers, Smart’s Deborah Vance is a workaholic who’s fighting to maintain her popu- larity and relevance. In show business, the two are one in the same.
That beautifully sums up
The series is not perfect, nor should it be. It often takes
Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9. Each number can appear only once in each row, column, and 3x3 block. Use logic and process of elimination to solve the puzzle. The dif- ficulty level ranges from Bronze (easiest) to Silver to Gold (hardest). Answers are on page 7
RATING: GOLD
This half-hour come- dy puts Smart’s talents on full display. The character is irreverent. Unapologet- ic. Obsessive. And Smart’s comedic timing in playing Vance is perfect. It’s tough to make an obscenely rich and famous person a sympathet-
Initially, it’s really hard not to take Vance’s side. In a ter- rific scene in the second epi- sode, Vance and the self-pity- ing Ava find themselves stuck together in the middle of the desert.
Vance tells her that in this business: “Good is the min- imum. It’s the baseline. You have to be so much more than good. And even if you’re great and lucky, you still have to work really hard. And even that is not enough. You have to scratch and claw, and it
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You may be surprised to learn that homes all over theworlddependoncatchmentsystems.Thereport “Guidelines on Rainwater Catchment Systems for Hawaii”, estimated that in 2010, some 30-60,000 people in this State rely on catchment systems for their basic water needs. Time was, catchment systems were deemed inferior to “piped” public water. Inthepast.limitedinventorycoupledwith thedesireof(especially)off-islandpurchasersto
obtain respite from cramped housing spaces made the issue of catchment very much a “non-issue”. This is especiallytrueinEastHawaiiwhere rainfall amounts generally ensure tanks are kept generously full. While I don’tpretendtobeanexpertonthetechnicalities of catchment systems, there are a few practical considerations related to value to which I can speak with some authority. First, size matters. Smaller
CATCHMENT “101”
tanks may provide sufficient supply, but most insurancecompaniesrequireatankofatleast8000 gallons. Types, styles and filtration systems are personal preference. Doughboy tanks were common in the past. They are the least expensive and easiest to install. Galvanized tanks are considered an up- grade and tend to last longer. Other variations such ascement,hollowtile,fiberglassandplastictanks aregenerallyenclosedandfelttoprovidesuperior tasting water. Additionally, they seem to provide added protection against intrusion by leaves and rodents. The best systems include “screening” for theguttersystems,useparticulatein-linefilters, and provide additional purification or disinfection appliances. UVsystemshaveincreasedinpopularity overthepastfewyearsaspriceandfunctionality have become more user-friendly. And, by-the- way, cute little birds using the “pond” on the cover as a bird bath is not a good thing. Redwood tanks,
not in common use any longer, are found in some olderhomes. Mostwereinstalledpriorto1978so the possibility that lead-based paint was used on the interior exists. Several laboratories test water quality. These are listed in the phonebook (under Laboratories) or call the Dept of Health at 974-4000 ext 64258 for assistance. Most REALTORS® can explainthebasicsbutbetteryet,hireaprofessional homeinspectorwhowillexplainmaintenanceand function. Some will even perform basic analysis and testing. To view the complete and updated guidelines, visit www.ircsa.org/factsheets.htm or askyourREALTOR®foracopy. It’snotlikelyto showuponanybest-sellerlistbutitshouldcertainly be required reading for even the most catchment savvyhouseholds!HappyFather’sDay.Hopeyour day is relaxing and doesn’t include maintaining your tank...not today anyway!
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