From 'Letterman' to 'Hacks,' Merrill Markoe Breaks Down 40 Years of Late Night

"Hacks" Season 4 may have been about Deborah Vance's groundbreaking ascent into late night TV, but she was joined by a real-life late night pioneer on-screen in co-star Merrill Markoe. After being a consultant on the Max comedy series for years, the Emmy-winning writer effectively plays herself in the show within the show's writers' room, bringing with her more than 40 years' worth of industry knowledge. "I wanted to write on Season 4. I just thought, 'Wow, I really relate to the tension between the head writer and the star.' It's great to have it be two women. I relate to . . .