Why Talk Show Legend Merrill Markoe Felt Right At Home On 'Hacks' After Years Of Real-Life Writing For 'Letterman' – Guest Column
Deadline
β’Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:22:47 +0000
π° What Happened
Merrill Markoe, the pioneering comedy writer who was head writer of The David Letterman Show and original head writer on Late Night with David Letterman, wrote a guest column recounting her experience playing a fictionalised version of herself in the HBO Max comedy Hacks. In the show, Jean Smart's character Deborah Vance finally achieves her dream of hosting a Late Night show in Season 4, and Markoe joined the on-screen writers' room. Hacks is in its fifth and final season, with a record-breaking 25 Emmy nominations.
π The Backstory
Markoe is a trailblazer who became the first head writer for Letterman in the late 1970s and early 1980s, helping define modern late-night comedy writing. Hacks, created by Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello, is a critically acclaimed comedy about a veteran comedian.
π― Why It Matters
The column offers insider reflection on how the show blurs real and fictional late-night comedy history and highlights Markoe's lasting legacy. It also coincides with Hacks' Emmy success and the conclusion of its celebrated run.
Merrill Markoe, the pioneering comedy writer who was head writer of The David Letterman Show and original head writer on Late Night with David Letterman, wrote a guest column recounting her experience playing a fictionalised version of herself in the HBO Max comedy Hacks. In the show, Jean Smart's character Deborah Vance finally achieves her dream of hosting a Late Night show in Season 4, and Markoe joined the on-screen writers' room. Hacks is in its fifth and final season, with a record-breaking 25 Emmy nominations.
Markoe is a trailblazer who became the first head writer for Letterman in the late 1970s and early 1980s, helping define modern late-night comedy writing. Hacks, created by Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello, is a critically acclaimed comedy about a veteran comedian.
The column offers insider reflection on how the show blurs real and fictional late-night comedy history and highlights Markoe's lasting legacy. It also coincides with Hacks' Emmy success and the conclusion of its celebrated run.