The end is coming for Deborah Vance. Well, the end of “Hacks,” the seminal HBO Max, then Max, then HBO, then HBO Max comedy, is coming at least. The trailer for the fifth and final season teases fans thinking the fictional comedienne has passed, much to her frustration. And once again, it’s all a stellar showcase for the talents of Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs, and Megan Stalter. You can watch the trailer embedded in this post or here.
READ MORE: “Hacks” Season 4 Review: The Wolves Are Coming For Deborah Vance
When we left Vance (Smart) and her writing partner Ava (Einbinder), the former made history, quitting her successful talk show after the network tried to silence her (how life imitates art). Creatively avoiding her non-compete clause by working in Singapore, season four ended with Vance and Ava determined to make things right back in the States. The official logline for season five is: “In the aftermath of mistaken and unflattering news reports that she passed away, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) return to Las Vegas more determined than ever to secure Deborah’s legacy as a comedian.”
Returning for season five are regulars Clemons-Hopkins, Mark Indelicato, and Rose Abdoo, alongside guest stars Robby Hoffman, Tony Goldwyn, Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald, Jane Adams, Lauren Weedman, Poppy Liu, Johnny Sibilly, Luenell, Angela E. Gibbs, and Caitlin Reilly. Guest star Christopher Briney also joins the cast this season.
Created and showrun by Lucia Aniello, Downs, and Jen Statsky, “Hacks” has won 12 Emmy Awards, earned a staggering 62 nominations, and took the Comedy Series Emmy in 2024 for season 3. With no new season of last year’s champ, “The Studio,” competing this time around, can “Hacks” end its reign with one more Comedy Series crown? It just might.
Over four seasons, “Hacks” has received a Peabody Award, won the PGA Award, two DGA Awards, five WGA Awards, the TCA Award for Comedy, and the Golden Globe for Musical or Comedy Series, among other accolades.
“Hacks” debuts on HBO and HBO Max on April 9
Follow Gregory Ellwood on Bluesky
Follow Gregory Ellwood on Threads
Follow Gregory Ellwood on Instagram
Follow Gregory Ellwood on TikTok
Sign Up For The Breakdown Newsletter
