Hacks (TV series)
American dark comedy drama
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hacks is an American dark comedy drama television series created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky that premiered on May 13, 2021, on HBO Max. It follows Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a stand-up comedian, and her comedy writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), as they navigate the evolving dynamics of their professional partnership and personal lives within the contemporary comedy industry. The series has been renewed for a fifth and final season, set to debut on April 9, 2026.[4]
Created by
Showrunners
- Lucia Aniello
- Paul W. Downs
- Jen Statsky
| Hacks | |
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| Created by | |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 37 |
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| Cinematography | Adam Bricker |
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| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 26–38 minutes |
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| Original release | |
| Network | HBO Max |
| Release | May 13, 2021 – June 2, 2022 |
| Network | Max |
| Release | May 2, 2024 – May 29, 2025 |
| Network | HBO Max |
Hacks received critical acclaim and won a number of major awards, including four consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, winning that award for its third season. Its first and third seasons won the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Comedy Series and the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy, and its third season won the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy.
Smart's performance won her four consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, four Critics' Choice Awards, two Television Critics Association Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards. Einbinder received four consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning in 2025. Other members of the cast who received Emmy nominations include Paul W. Downs (one nomination) and Carl Clemons-Hopkins (one nomination).
Premise
Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas-based stand-up comedian, needs to reinvent her aging act to avoid losing her residency at the Palmetto Casino. Ava Daniels is a young comedy writer who is unable to find work due to an insensitive tweet and her reputation for being self-centered and arrogant. When Ava's agent sends her to work as Deborah's new head writer, the two slowly bond as Ava pushes her new boss to take more risks and Deborah, in turn, helps Ava start to work through her personal problems.
Cast and characters
Main
- Jean Smart as Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas stand-up comedian
- Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels, a down-on-her-luck comedy writer
- Carl Clemons-Hopkins as Marcus Vaughan, COO (season 1) and later as CEO (season 2–present) of Deborah's management company and her closest advisor
- Megan Stalter as Kayla Schaefer, who works as Jimmy's assistant and later his co-manager (seasons 3–5; recurring seasons 1–2)
- Paul W. Downs as Jimmy LuSaque Jr., Deborah and Ava's manager (seasons 3–5; recurring seasons 1–2)
- Rose Abdoo as Josefina, Deborah's estate manager (seasons 3–5;[a] recurring seasons 1–2)
- Mark Indelicato as Damien Asada Agosto, Deborah's personal assistant (seasons 3–5;[a] recurring seasons 1–2)
Recurring
- Kaitlin Olson as Deborah "DJ" Vance Jr., Deborah's daughter
- Christopher McDonald as Marty Ghilain, CEO of the Palmetto Casino
- Poppy Liu as Kiki Loas, Deborah's personal blackjack dealer
- Johnny Sibilly as Wilson, a water inspector who gets entangled with Marcus
- Angela E. Gibbs as Robin, Marcus' mother
- Jane Adams as Nina Daniels, Ava's mother
- Lorenza Izzo as Ruby, an actress and Ava's girlfriend
- Luenell as Miss Loretta, Robin's best friend[5]
- Joe Mande as Ray, a hotel clerk for the Palmetto (season 1–3)
- Lauren Weedman as Jo Pezzimenti, the mayor of Las Vegas (seasons 1 and 3; guest seasons 2 and 4)
- Helen Hunt as Winnie Landell, a network executive (season 3–present)
- Dan Bucatinsky as Rob, the executive producer of Late Night with Deborah Vance (season 3–present)
- Michaela Watkins as Stacey, the HR representative at the TV studio (season 4)
- Robby Hoffman as Randi, the new assistant for Jimmy and Kayla (season 4)
Guest
- Jefferson Mays as T.L. Gurley, an antique dealer who holds a grudge against Deborah (season 1)
- Brent Sexton (season 1) and W. Earl Brown (seasons 2–4) as Michael, Jimmy's boss and Kayla's father
- Jeff Ward as George, a man Ava meets and bonds with (season 1)
- Paul Felder as Aidan Paladecki, DJ's mixed martial artist husband.
- Louis Herthum as Dennis Daniels, Ava's father (season 1)
- Anna Maria Horsford as Francine, a veteran comedian who is an old friend of Deborah (season 1)
- Linda Purl (season 1) and J. Smith-Cameron (season 3) as Kathy Vance, Deborah's estranged sister
- Chris Geere and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Jesse and Daisy, two British TV producers who interview Ava (season 1)
- Amanda Payton as Jackie (season 1)
- Martha Kelly as Barbara, a human resources representative (season 2)
- Ming-Na Wen as Janet Stone, a talent agent and Jimmy's rival (season 2)
- Laurie Metcalf as "Weed" / Alice, an eccentric tour manager (season 2)
- Harriet Sansom Harris as Susan, an old friend of Deborah (season 2)
- Susie Essman as Elaine Carter, a director and an old friend of Deborah (season 2)
- Kyle Gass as Axel (season 2)
- Devon Sawa as Jason, a man who has a one-night stand with Deborah (season 2)
- Jessica Chaffin as Jill, Ava's pro bono legal advisor (season 2)
- Paula Andrea Placido as Ava’s Tenant Rian (season 2)
- Michael Garza as Silas (season 3)
- Dylan Gelula and Jordan Gavaris as Mirya and Logan, Deborah's new writers (season 3)
- Matt Bush as Clive, a comedian with a serious cancer diagnosis (seasons 3–4)
- Aristotle Athari as Lewis, a television host and Ava's new boss (seasons 3–4)
- Rachael Taylor as Alexis, Deborah's stylist (season 3)
- Luke Macfarlane as Brad (season 3)
- Guy Branum as Ezekiel, a man selling unlicensed Deborah Vance merchandise (season 3)
- J. D. Walsh as Steve (season 3)
- Ely Henry as Lance (season 3)
- Dolly Wells as Laurie, a member of DJ's NA group (season 3)
- Luke Cook as Jack Danby, a younger comedian competing with Deborah to host Late Night (season 3)
- Stephen Tobolowsky as Henry Weeks (season 3)
- Joel Brooks as Terry Bernstein (season 3)
- Gregg Daniel as Cliff Calhoun (season 3)
- Hank Chen as Lawrence (season 3)
- Christina Hendricks as Megan,[6] an executive Ava encounters at a golf tournament (season 3)
- Tony Goldwyn as Bob Lipka, a top executive of the conglomerate that owns Late Night (season 3–present)
- Christopher Lloyd as Larry Arbuckle, grandson of silent film actor Fatty Arbuckle (season 3)
- Deidre Hall as herself, Jimmy's mother (season 3)
- Tim Bagley as Reggie (season 3)
- Hal Linden as Biff Cliff, a retired network executive (season 3)
- Kathryn Newton as Bella Donaldson, an up-and-coming actress (season 3)
- Bresha Webb as Cece Heaumeaux, a PR executive (season 4)
- Jake Shane as Deborah’s social media manager (season 4)
- Julianne Nicholson as Mary Alice a.k.a. Dance Mom,[7] a social media star (season 4)
- Eric Balfour as Ethan Sommers, a movie star facing accusations of sexual misconduct (season 4)
Cameos
A number of comedians and celebrities guest-star or make cameo appearances as themselves throughout the series:
- Wayne Newton (season 2)
- Margaret Cho (season 2)
- George Wallace (season 3)
- Carrot Top (season 3)
- Mario Cantone (season 3)
- Naomi Ekperigin (season 3)
- Natasha Leggero (season 3)
- Andy Kindler (season 3)
- Steph Tolev (season 3)
- Patton Oswalt (season 3)
- Mario Lopez (season 3)
- The cast of The View (Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines and Alyssa Farah Griffin) (season 3)
- Carol Burnett (season 4)
- Randy Newman (season 4)
- Merrill Markoe (season 4)
- Kristen Bell (season 4)
- Jimmy Kimmel (season 4)
- Antoni Porowski (season 4)
- Rosie O'Donnell (season 4)
- Seth Rogen (season 4)
- Kaia Gerber (season 4)
- Melissa Etheridge (season 4)
- Katie Couric (season 4)
Episodes
Season 1 (2021)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "There Is No Line" | Lucia Aniello | Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky | May 13, 2021 |
| 2 | 2 | "Primm" | Lucia Aniello | Paul W. Downs | May 13, 2021 |
| 3 | 3 | "A Gig's a Gig" | Lucia Aniello | Lucia Aniello | May 20, 2021 |
| 4 | 4 | "D'Jewelry" | Desiree Akhavan | Joanna Calo | May 20, 2021 |
| 5 | 5 | "Falling" | Paul W. Downs | Andrew Law | May 27, 2021 |
| 6 | 6 | "New Eyes" | Lucia Aniello | Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky | May 27, 2021 |
| 7 | 7 | "Tunnel of Love" | Desiree Akhavan | Katherine Kearns | June 3, 2021 |
| 8 | 8 | "1.69 Million" | Paul W. Downs | Pat Regan | June 3, 2021 |
| 9 | 9 | "Interview" | Lucia Aniello | Samantha Riley | June 10, 2021 |
| 10 | 10 | "I Think She Will" | Lucia Aniello | Ariel Karlin & Jen Statsky | June 10, 2021 |
Season 2 (2022)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "There Will Be Blood" | Lucia Aniello | Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky | May 12, 2022 |
| 12 | 2 | "Quid Pro Quo" | Lucia Aniello | Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky | May 12, 2022 |
| 13 | 3 | "Trust the Process" | Lucia Aniello | Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky | May 19, 2022 |
| 14 | 4 | "The Captain's Wife" | Lucia Aniello | Ariel Karlin & Pat Regan | May 19, 2022 |
| 15 | 5 | "Retired" | Paul W. Downs | Andrew Law | May 26, 2022 |
| 16 | 6 | "The Click" | Paul W. Downs | Aisha Muharrar & Joe Mande | May 26, 2022 |
| 17 | 7 | "On the Market" | Lucia Aniello | Samantha Riley | June 2, 2022 |
| 18 | 8 | "The One, the Only" | Trent O'Donnell | Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky | June 2, 2022 |
Season 3 (2024)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 1 | "Just for Laughs" | Lucia Aniello | Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky | May 2, 2024 | |
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Ava has a writing job for a series in Los Angeles and has moved in with her ex-girlfriend, Ruby. Meanwhile, Deborah's stand-up special is bringing her increasing success, which culminates in an invitation to receive an award in Canada. Coincidentally, Ava is also in Canada to attend a panel. After bumping into each other, they go to Deborah's hotel room to catch up, their conversation starting on friendly terms. However, the mood shifts when Ava becomes upset about Deborah not replying to her messages or staying in touch. Deborah shows no remorse, explaining that she thought it was best for Ava to find her own path. Frustrated, Ava storms off. The next day, Ava attends her panel and is asked for advice on pursuing a career in TV writing despite repeated challenges. Initially answering the question with a generic response, Ava changes her mind and reaffirms that comedy writing is a difficult line of work and that persistence can lead to success. Later, as Deborah prepares to accept her award, Ava texts her a suggested ending for a joke in her speech. | ||||||
| 20 | 2 | "Better Late" | Lucia Aniello | Andrew Law | May 2, 2024 | |
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Ava and Deborah have made amends and begin to text regularly. Deborah is invited onto a late-night show to discuss her special, but when host Danny Collins falls ill, she steps in as guest host. Unhappy with the new material her writers provide, Deborah calls Ava, who comes to the studio to write for her and watch the taping. After the show goes successfully, Danny Collins tells Deborah that he will be leaving at the end of his contract. Sensing an opportunity, Deborah invites Ava back as her writer. Meanwhile, Ava finds a ring, leading her to think Ruby is about to propose. While discussing Deborah's offer, Ava tries to prompt the proposal, but Ruby awkwardly reveals the ring is just a prop from her show, "Wolf Girl." The couple argues over Ava's potential return to Deborah, with Ruby reminding her of the pain it caused before. Ruby suggests they take a break, so Ava leaves for Deborah's house. | ||||||
| 21 | 3 | "The Roast of Deborah Vance" | Jeff Rosenberg | Joe Mande | May 9, 2024 | |
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To position herself as a contender for Danny Collins' late-night hosting gig, Deborah organizes a celebrity roast for herself to showcase her comedic relevance. Comedians Patton Oswalt, Natasha Leggero, Andy Kindler, Steph Tolev, and Naomi Ekperigin perform, with Mario Cantone as host. Ava is conflicted about the roast format and is tasked with firing two new team members, testing her dynamic with Deborah. The evening takes a personal turn when Deborah's daughter, DJ, delivers a biting and revealing roast set that exposes unresolved tensions between them. | ||||||
| 22 | 4 | "Join the Club" | Jessica Brunetto | Guy Branum | May 9, 2024 | |
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Deborah receives an invitation to socialize with a group of elite comedians she has long admired, hoping to boost her chances at landing a late-night hosting gig. However, she soon realizes that their camaraderie is more exclusionary than supportive, causing her to question the value of their validation. Meanwhile, Jimmy arranges an important meeting with a network executive to further Deborah's prospects. Ava joins Marcus' trivia team, offering her a brief escape from workplace pressures. | ||||||
| 23 | 5 | "One Day" | Lucia Aniello | Carol Leifer & Carolyn Lipka | May 16, 2024 | |
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Deborah and Ava, grappling with their respective challenges, Deborah with writer's block and Ava with the emotional aftermath of a breakup, decide to take a hike in the woods to clear their heads. However, their excursion takes an unexpected turn as they become lost without a means of communication. | ||||||
| 24 | 6 | "Par for the Course" | Paul W. Downs | Ariel Karlin | May 16, 2024 | |
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Deborah Vance participates in a high-stakes charity golf tournament, aiming to impress network affiliates and executives who could influence her bid for a late-night hosting position. With Ava serving as her caddy, Deborah navigates the course, balancing strategic conversations with her performance on the green. The event features guest appearances by Tony Goldwyn as media CEO Bob Lipka and Christina Hendricks as a captivating attendee who catches Ava's attention. Meanwhile, Marcus faces a potential career shift when approached by QVC for a new opportunity. | ||||||
| 25 | 7 | "The Deborah Vance Christmas Spectacular" | Lucia Aniello | Pat Regan | May 23, 2024 | |
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Deborah throws a lavish Christmas party and invites her estranged sister Kathy, hoping to reconnect. Their reunion escalates into a tense confrontation. Ava's mother, Nina, shows up uninvited, complicating Ava's night. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Kayla try to convince Larry Arbuckle to greenlight a Fatty Arbuckle biopic in an effort to lure Jack Danby away from the late-night hosting job. | ||||||
| 26 | 8 | "Yes, And" | Paul W. Downs | Samantha Riley & Lucia Aniello & Jen Statsky & Paul W. Downs | May 23, 2024 | |
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Deborah travels to Berkeley to receive an honorary degree, but her plans are disrupted when a viral supercut of her past offensive jokes resurfaces online, leading to widespread backlash. Amid the controversy, a scheduling error results in her being double-booked, further complicating her situation. In an attempt to mitigate the fallout, Deborah performs at a college improv show, trying to connect with a younger audience. | ||||||
| 27 | 9 | "Bulletproof" | Lucia Aniello | Lucia Aniello & Jen Statsky & Paul W. Downs | May 30, 2024 | |
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After finally securing her dream job, host of a late night show, Deborah is preparing to move to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Deborah cuts short her planned visit with her sister Kathy and during the sisters' visit to the mausoleum where their parents are buried, Deborah coldly reveals that she had her parents moved to a plot in Las Vegas without telling Kathy. Kathy, upset and hurt, tells Deborah she cannot continue reconciling with her and leaves. Kayla quits as Jimmy's assistant after a meeting with prospective new representation goes awry. They eventually reconcile, and Jimmy promotes Kayla to co-manager. Deborah asks Ava to be her head writer for the new show, which Ava gladly accepts. Ava gets the exact same head writer offer from her previous TV show job but declines, choosing instead to stay with Deborah. However, Deborah later tells Ava that the network is requiring she keep the head writer who had been at the late night show for decades. Dejected, Ava runs into Winnie, one of the network executives, and begs her to consider promoting Ava to the head writer position instead only to find out that Deborah lied to Ava: the network never forced Deborah to keep the former head writer and Ava could have had the opportunity all along. Ava and Deborah have an angry confrontation where Deborah insists she cannot take any risks, implying Ava is the riskier choice for head writer, while Ava accuses Deborah of always prioritizing her own ambition at the expense of her personal relationships. The next morning, Deborah finds Ava waiting in the writer's room. Deborah is thrilled that Ava decided to stay on her writing staff, while Ava gives Deborah an ultimatum: make Ava head writer or Ava discloses publicly that Deborah slept with a network chairman right before securing the late-night host job. | ||||||
Season 4 (2025)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 1 | "Big, Brave Girl" | Lucia Aniello | Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky | April 10, 2025 | |
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Immediately following Ava's blackmail, Deborah retaliates and the tension between the two escalates, jeopardizing their professional partnership. At the show's first press conference, Deborah refuses to use Ava's material, resulting in poor responses to questions about ageism and sexism in the industry. Meanwhile, Marcus resigns due to conflicts between Deborah's QVC partnership and the new show. During a party at Bob Lipka's home, Ava confronts Deborah, threatening to leak Deborah's affair with Bob to The New Yorker if she doesn't admit Ava has "won." Jimmy intervenes, trying to manage their public dispute. To counter the negative reaction from the press conference, publicist Cece and exec Winnie arrange for a New York Times Magazine cover story. At the shoot, Deborah tells Ava she has won and broken her heart, and after the show ends, she will never speak to her again. Ava responds that Deborah broke Ava's heart first. | ||||||
| 29 | 2 | "Cover Girls" | Lucia Aniello | Samantha Riley | April 10, 2025 | |
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Following nightmares and a small animal carcass on her doorstep, Deborah hires her psychic, Diana, as a producer on the show. Deborah and Ava clash over who to hire as writers: Ava favors young, up-and-coming comedians while Deborah insists on experienced writers. During an argument while out scouting for talent, Ava accuses Deborah of disagreeing with her out of ego, but Deborah explains that Ava's comedy is too niche for a late-night audience of "mechanics and housewives". Jimmy struggles to maintain civility between the two, while Kayla hires assistant Randi and sells her first show. Meanwhile, Marcus inks an impressive deal for the sale of Deborah Vance Industries. Deborah and Ava go to dinner at Winnie's, who confronts the two about their working relationship and its effect on the show. She impresses on the two of the immense pressure they're facing from the network. Deborah ultimately compromises on the writers, and she and Ava call a truce for the sake of the show. | ||||||
| 30 | 3 | "What Happens in Vegas" | Lucia Aniello | Ariel Karlin | April 17, 2025 | |
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Deborah takes the writers to Vegas for a team building retreat. She and Ava quickly learn that their approaches are different: Deborah rushes into the work while Ava wants to take it slower so the writers can bond with each other. After some failed attempts to write the opening segment, Deborah concedes and lets the writers enjoy Vegas and bond, with race cars, a trip to the casino, and later a strip club after doing drugs provided by Deborah. Later that night, Deborah and Ava are pulled over by Vegas police for speeding. Deborah calls Mayor Jo, who saves them from being arrested if Deborah agrees to do a gig for a mayoral fundraising event. Back in L.A., Deborah and Ava receive multiple HR reports from the writers over the retreat, resulting in the network assigning HR chaperone Stacey to supervise the two. | ||||||
| 31 | 4 | "I Love L.A." | Paul W. Downs | Pat Regan | April 24, 2025 | |
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At the dress rehearsal for the premiere, Deborah has a panic attack. Insulted by suggestions of stage fright, she cruelly blames Ava's writing. Winnie sends Deborah to the cardiologist, where she meets Carol Burnett, and the two have an inspiring conversation. During the opening monologue of the premiere, Deborah gets over her panic by focusing on Ava. Jimmy tries to make plans with Deborah and Ava after the show's premiere, but they both blow him off: Deborah wants to mingle with guests and network execs, while Ava wants to support the writers. However, guest Randy Newman and Winnie decline Deborah's dinner invites, as do the writers to Ava. Deborah hits the town with Damien, who takes her to a gay bar, where she hits her head on a go-go cage after "non-consensually" taking poppers. Meanwhile, during a tow truck mix-up, Ava meets married couple Emily and Dev who ask her out. Soon after, she gets a call and meets Deborah at the hospital, where the two watch the premiere live in the lobby. | ||||||
| 32 | 5 | "Clickable Face" | Paul W. Downs | Aisha Muharrar | May 1, 2025 | |
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Despite initially good ratings, the show needs to boost its appeal to women 25–45, notably mothers. Deborah attempts to book Kristen Bell, who is already booked for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, but is stopped by Kimmel, who reveals the lengths he's taken to get good bookings. Kayla suggests bringing in TikTok star Dance Mom. Later, Deborah crashes a date Ava is on with Emily and Dev, where she learns Ava has been badmouthing the show. Deborah and Ava clash on the direction of the show: Ava wants to lean into a unique identity while Deborah is spooked by feedback from focus groups. When Ava adds a joke to the monologue that Deborah has expressly denied, the two clash in the studio, culminating in a last-minute, desperate choice to bring out Dance Mom to save the evening. | ||||||
| 33 | 6 | "Mrs. Table" | Paul W. Downs | Carolyn Lipka | May 8, 2025 | |
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The show books Ava's ex-girlfriend Ruby Rojas as a guest. Deborah accuses Ava of not being up to the task of refining a segment before taping, so she scraps the bit and uses the extra time to grill Ruby on Ava's mishap with the ring, humiliating Ava. That night, Emily and Dev break up with Ava, accusing her of refusing to open up. In the writers' room, when Ava realizes the writers are taking advantage of her (which Deborah had warned her about), she snaps and angrily quits. That night, Deborah attends a network-sponsored awards ceremony where she bumps into Rosie O'Donnell, who invigorates her about her show. Afterward, one of Deborah's corgis is non-fatally attacked by a coyote, which she perceives as a bad omen. Deborah, Jimmy, and Kayla realize Ava is missing. Deborah tracks her to the beach, going so far as to run into the ocean to save a woman she initially mistakes for Ava. The two make up, and Deborah concedes they need to take the show in a fresh direction. | ||||||
| 34 | 7 | "D'Christening" | Doron Max Hagay | Joe Mande | May 15, 2025 | |
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With the show slowly moving up the ratings, Dance Mom nabs a brand ambassadorship with Old Navy and the show gets higher-profile bookings. At AJ's christening, DJ asks Ava to be baby AJ's godmother, while Deborah mocks the Catholicism. An enraged DJ threatens to cut contact, causing Deborah to want to maintain good relationships with her family. Jimmy and Kayla struggle to keep Dance Mom under control as she spirals deeper into a partying lifestyle. When Old Navy threatens to revoke their deal, Dance Mom reveals she is not a mother. Despite the network's focus on booking high-profile guests, Deborah scouts an up-and-coming standup comic for the show. | ||||||
| 35 | 8 | "Witch of the Week" | Lucia Aniello | Andrew Law | May 15, 2025 | |
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Jimmy secretly arranges to have lunch with both Deborah and Ava to get them to make up, but he is both shocked and hurt to learn they already have and didn't tell him. Ava's mom comes to visit and pressures Ava about having children. Deborah is under pressure from Winnie to come up with a spin-off the network can capitalize on. Mayor Jo is arrested for having an orgy on a Zamboni, and Deborah visits her to convince her to appear on the show and revitalize her image. One of Jimmy's biggest clients, Clive, is poached by Latitude. In order to promote teaser clips, the network agrees to tape each show a day early, forgoing topical comedy for more strategic guests with viral potential. The show hits #1 in ratings, but Deborah is frustrated by Winnie's focus on a spin-off and calls Bob to complain. As a result, Bob fires Winnie. | ||||||
| 36 | 9 | "A Slippery Slope" | Lucia Aniello | Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky | May 22, 2025 | |
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In exchange for Bob firing Winnie, Deborah agrees to have movie star Ethan Sommers on as a guest. This deeply upsets Ava, who protests due to his many allegations of domestic violence and sexual misconduct. Jimmy and Kayla discover Dance Mom in nearly critical condition, ultimately feeding her excessive amounts of cocaine so she can perform, causing Jimmy to hit a breaking point. Ava runs into her former boss Lewis at a bar, where she vents her frustrations about the Ethan Sommers booking. Soon after, Deborah and Ava learn that Lewis' show is doing a hit piece on the network, alleging they have been covering up Sommers' behavior to protect their interests. Ava admits to Deborah she leaked the story. When the two seek out Jimmy, Kayla harshly scolds them both for always taking advantage of him. Deborah visits Jimmy at home and apologizes. Bob reveals to Deborah he knows it was Ava who leaked the story and insists she is fired. At the evening's show taping, Deborah sends Ava off to do a location piece, but it is simply to get Ava as far away from the studio as she can. During her opening monologue, Deborah reveals that the network is participating in a "slippery slope" of behavior. Instead of agreeing to problematic capitalistic systems trying to navigate the intersection between art and commerce, she quits on the air. Ava finally makes it back to the studio, and the two tearfully leave together. In the parking lot, Bob stops them, threatening to sue Deborah if she defies her 18-month non-compete contract. | ||||||
| 37 | 10 | "Heaven" | Lucia Aniello | Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky | May 29, 2025 | |
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Forced to accept the limitations of her non-compete contract and the sale of Deborah Vance Industries, Deborah struggles with the lack of fulfillment in her life. Marty convinces Deborah to go on a vacation, and she flies to Singapore with an unsuspecting Ava. At the local resort casino, Deborah reveals she can perform through a translator, exploiting a loophole in her non-compete. Deborah's shows go well enough that she begins a months-long residency, and though she initially spends time bonding with Ava, she quickly succumbs to the casino lifestyle: partying, drinking heavily, and neglecting her comedy writing. When Ava confronts her, an intoxicated Deborah insults Ava's meandering career and lack of friends. Ava decides to leave. The next morning, Ava discovers that tabloids have falsely reported that Deborah has died. Furious that her obituary states she is retired and that she killed the entire late night comedy genre, Deborah states that they are going to set their careers back on track. | ||||||
Production
In May 2020, HBO Max announced that it had picked up the series and that Jean Smart would star.[8] Additional casting was announced in February 2021.[9] Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, actors held table reads over Zoom, there were no cast parties during production, and stars Smart and Clemons-Hopkins did not even meet each other in person until minutes before the pilot was filmed.[10] In June 2021, HBO Max renewed the series for a second season,[11] and the cast added Laurie Metcalf, Martha Kelly, and Ming-Na Wen in recurring roles and Margaret Cho as a guest star.[12]
In June 2022, HBO Max renewed the series for a third season.[13] In September 2022, the showrunners revealed that a time jump would take place between the second and third season.[14] Production began for the third season in November 2022, but paused near the end of February 2023 for a few weeks before resuming in March due to Smart recovering from a "successful heart procedure".[15][16] Production shut down in May 2023 due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.[17] Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs were promoted to series regulars in the third season after having recurring roles since the first season.[18] In February 2024, it was announced Helen Hunt, Christina Hendricks, Christopher Lloyd, Dan Bucatinsky, George Wallace and Tony Goldwyn would guest star in the third season.[19] In March and April 2024, Aristotle Athari and J. Smith-Cameron were respectively announced to guest star in the third season.[20][21] In May 2024, Max renewed the series for a fourth season.[22] The fourth season began filming in October 2024 and wrapped in January 2025.[23] In May 2025, Max renewed the series for a fifth season, which was confirmed to be the final season at the 2025 Emmy Awards.[24][25]
Release
Hacks premiered on May 13, 2021, with a two-episode release.[26] Two episodes were released on a weekly basis through June 10, 2021, for the remainder of the 10-episode first season.[27] The second season premiered on May 12, 2022, with a two-episode release weekly.[28]
The second season of Hacks premiered on Amazon Prime Video in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2022.[29]
The third season premiered on May 2, 2024. Two episodes were released weekly through May 30.[30]
Reception
Critical response
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100% (74 reviews)[31] | 82 (25 reviews)[32] |
| 2 | 100% (54 reviews)[33] | 88 (24 reviews)[34] |
| 3 | 98% (50 reviews)[35] | 90 (22 reviews)[36] |
| 4 | 98% (42 reviews)[37] | 91 (20 reviews)[38] |
All four seasons of Hacks have received critical acclaim. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the overall series holds a 99% rating.[39] Meanwhile, on Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the overall series received a score of 87 out of 100.[40]
Season 1
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating for the first season of 100% based on 74 critic reviews. The website's critical consensus states, "A prickling debut that pulls few punches, Hacks deftly balances its sharp critiques of the comedy world with more intimate moments, all the while giving the incomparable Jean Smart a role worthy of her talents – and an excellent partner in Hannah Einbinder."[31] Metacritic calculated a weighted average score of 82 out of 100 based on 25 critics.[32]
Season 2
On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season also received an approval rating of 100% based on 54 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus states, "Hacks hits the road, but Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder remain very much at home with each other in a sterling sophomore season that finds novel ways to deepen the central pair's lovable friendship."[33] Metacritic calculated a weighted average score of 88 out of 100 based on 24 critics.[34]
Season 3
The third season received an approval rating of 98% based on 50 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. The website's critics consensus states, "Reuniting never felt so good – Hacks roars back with a fresh set and a persuasive argument for its own longevity."[35] Metacritic calculated a weighted average score of 90 out of 100 based on 22 critics.[36]
Season 4
The fourth season received an approval rating of 98% based on 42 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. The website's critics consensus states, "Pitting Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder's dynamic duo against each other on the mountaintop of success, Hacks finds fresh ways to mine comedic gold from one of television's most compelling relationships."[37] Metacritic calculated a weighted average score of 91 out of 100 based on 20 critics.[38]
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AACTA International Awards | 2022 | Best Comedy Series | Hacks | Nominated | [41] |
| Best Actress in a Series | Jean Smart | Nominated | |||
| 2023 | Best Comedy Series | Hacks | Nominated | [42] [43] | |
| Best Actress in a Series | Jean Smart | Nominated | |||
| 2025 | Best Comedy Series | Hacks | Nominated | [44] | |
| Best Actress in a Series | Jean Smart | Nominated | |||
| American Cinema Editors Awards | 2022 | Best Edited Comedy Series | Susan Vaill (for "1.69 Million") | Won | [45] |
| American Film Institute Awards | 2021 | Top 10 Programs of the Year | Hacks | Won | [46] |
| 2022 | Won | [47] | |||
| 2024 | Won | [48] | |||
| American Society of Cinematographers Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in an Episode of a Half-Hour Television Series | Adam Bricker (for "There is No Line") | Nominated | [49] |
| 2023 | Adam Bricker (for "The Click") | Nominated | [50] | ||
| 2025 | Adam Bricker (for "Just for Laughs") | Nominated | [51] | ||
| Art Directors Guild Awards | 2022 | Excellence in Production Design for a Half Hour Single-Camera Television Series | Jon Carlos (for "Primm") | Nominated | [52] |
| 2023 | Alec Contestabile (for "Trust the Process") | Nominated | [53] | ||
| 2025 | Daniel Novotny (for "Just For Laughs" and "Better Late") | Nominated | [54] | ||
| Artios Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Television Comedy Series | Jeanne McCarthy, Nicole Abellera Hallman, and Anna Mayworm | Nominated | [55] |
| 2023 | Jeanne McCarthy, Nicole Abellera Hallman, and Anna Mayworm | Won | [56] | ||
| 2025 | Nicole Abellera Hallman, Jeanne McCarthy, and Anna Mayworm | Won | [57] | ||
| Astra TV Awards[b] | 2021 | Best Streaming Series, Comedy | Hacks | Nominated | [58] [59] |
| Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Hannah Einbinder | Won[c] | |||
| Kaitlin Olson | Nominated | ||||
| 2022 | Best Streaming Series, Comedy | Hacks | Nominated | [60] | |
| Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Jean Smart | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Paul W. Downs | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Hannah Einbinder | Won | |||
| Best Directing in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Lucia Aniello (for "There Will Be Blood") | Won | |||
| Best Writing in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky (for "The One, The Only") | Won | |||
| 2024 | Best Streaming Series, Comedy | Hacks | Won | [61] | |
| Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Carl Clemons-Hopkins | Nominated | |||
| Paul W. Downs | Nominated | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Hannah Einbinder | Won | |||
| Meg Stalter | Nominated | ||||
| Best Guest Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Christopher Lloyd | Nominated | |||
| Christopher McDonald | Nominated | ||||
| Best Guest Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Christina Hendricks | Nominated | |||
| Kaitlin Olson | Nominated | ||||
| Best Directing in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Lucia Aniello (for "Bulletproof") | Nominated | |||
| Best Writing in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky (for "Bulletproof") | Won | |||
| Best Short Form | Hacks: Bit by Bit | Nominated | |||
| 2025 | Best Comedy Series | Hacks | Nominated | [62] | |
| Best Actress in a Comedy Series | Jean Smart | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Paul W. Downs | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Hannah Einbinder | Nominated | |||
| Meg Stalter | Nominated | ||||
| Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Christopher McDonald | Nominated | |||
| Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Kaitlin Olson | Nominated | |||
| Best Cast Ensemble in a Streaming Comedy Series | Hacks | Nominated | |||
| Best Directing in a Comedy Series | Lucia Aniello (for "A Slippery Slope") | Nominated | |||
| Best Writing in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky (for "A Slippery Slope") | Won | |||
| Cinema Audio Society Awards | 2025 | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Series – Half Hour | Jim Lakin, John W. Cook II, Ben Wilkins, Fernanda Domene, and Jacob McNaughton (for "Bulletproof") | Nominated | [63] [64] |
| Costume Designers Guild Awards | 2022 | Excellence in Contemporary Television | Kathleen Felix-Hager (for "There is No Line") | Nominated | [65] |
| 2023 | Kathleen Felix-Hager (for "The Captain's Wife") | Nominated | [66] | ||
| 2025 | Kathleen Felix-Hager (for "Just for Laughs") | Won | [67] | ||
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | 2022 | Best Comedy Series | Hacks | Nominated | [68] |
| Best Actress in a Comedy Series | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Hannah Einbinder | Nominated | |||
| 2023 | Best Comedy Series | Hacks | Nominated | [69] | |
| Best Actress in a Comedy Series | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| 2025 | Best Comedy Series | Hacks | Won | [70] | |
| Best Actress in a Comedy Series | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Paul W. Downs | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Hannah Einbinder | Won | |||
| Directors Guild of America Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series | Lucia Aniello (for "There Is No Line") | Won | [71] |
| 2025 | Lucia Aniello (for "Bulletproof") | Won | [72] | ||
| Dorian TV Awards | 2021 | Best TV Comedy | Hacks | Won | [73] |
| Best TV Performance | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| 2022 | Best TV Comedy | Hacks | Nominated | [74] | |
| Best LGBTQ TV Show | Nominated | ||||
| Best TV Performance | Jean Smart | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting TV Performance | Hannah Einbinder | Nominated | |||
| Best TV Musical Performance | Jean Smart (for "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman") | Nominated | |||
| 2024 | Best TV Comedy | Hacks | Won | [75] | |
| Best LGBTQ TV Show | Nominated | ||||
| Best Written TV Show | Won | ||||
| Best TV Performance – Comedy | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| Best Supporting TV Performance – Comedy | Hannah Einbinder | Won | |||
| Megan Stalter | Nominated | ||||
| 2025 | Best TV Comedy | Hacks | Won | [76][77] | |
| Best LGBTQ TV Show | Won | ||||
| Best Written TV Show | Won | ||||
| Best TV Performance – Comedy | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| Best Supporting TV Performance – Comedy | Hannah Einbinder | Won | |||
| Megan Stalter | Nominated | ||||
| GLAAD Media Awards | 2022 | Outstanding New TV Series | Hacks | Won | [78] |
| 2023 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Nominated | [79] | ||
| 2025 | Won | [80][81] | |||
| Golden Globe Awards | 2022 | Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Hacks | Won | [82] |
| Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Hannah Einbinder | Nominated | |||
| Jean Smart | Won | ||||
| 2023 | Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Hacks | Nominated | [83] | |
| Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Jean Smart | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series – Comedy/Musical or Drama | Hannah Einbinder | Nominated | |||
| 2025 | Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Hacks | Won | [84] | |
| Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actress – Television | Hannah Einbinder | Nominated | |||
| 2026 | Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Hacks | Nominated | [85] | |
| Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actress on Television | Hannah Einbinder | Nominated | |||
| Golden Reel Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – 1/2 Hour – Comedy or Drama | Brett Hinton, Marc Glassman, Ryne Gierke, Samuel Munoz, Noel Vought, and Jason Tregoe Newman (for "There Is No Line") | Nominated | [86] |
| Gotham Awards | 2021 | Breakthrough Series – Short Format | Hacks | Nominated | [87] |
| Outstanding Performance in a New Series | Jean Smart | Nominated | |||
| Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards | 2023 | Best Contemporary Make-Up in a Television Series, Television Limited or Miniseries or Television New Media Series | Bridget O'Neill | Nominated | [88] |
| 2025 | Debra Schrey, Erin Rosemann Good, Rachel Galey, Denise DellaValle, and Keith Sayer | Nominated | [89] | ||
| Best Contemporary Hair Styling in a Television Series, Television Limited or Miniseries or Television New Media Series | Aubrey Marie, Jennifer Bell, Becca Weber, and Portia Arikawe | Nominated | |||
| NAACP Image Awards | 2023 | Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series | Aisha Muharrar | Nominated | [90] |
| Peabody Awards | 2022 | Entertainment | Hacks | Won | [91] |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 2021 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, Michael Schur, David Miner, Morgan Sackett, Joanna Calo, Andrew Law, David Hyman, Joe Mande, and Jessica Chaffin | Nominated | [92] [93] |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Jean Smart (for "1.69 Million") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Carl Clemons-Hopkins (for "New Eyes") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Hannah Einbinder (for "I Think She Will") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series | Lucia Aniello (for "There Is No Line") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series | Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky (for "There Is No Line") | Won | |||
| 2022 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Michael Schur, David Miner, Morgan Sackett, Joe Mande, Andrew Law, Aisha Muharrar, Ashley Glazier, Samantha Riley, Seth Edelstein, and Jessica Chaffin | Nominated | [94] | |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Jean Smart (for "The Click") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Hannah Einbinder (for "The Captain's Wife") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series | Lucia Aniello (for "There Will Be Blood") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series | Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky (for "The One, the Only") | Nominated | |||
| 2024 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, Michael Schur, David Miner, Morgan Sackett, Guy Branum, Andrew Law, Carol Leifer, Joe Mande, Aisha Muharrar, Samantha Riley, Ashley Glazier, and Nate Young | Won | [95] | |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Jean Smart (for "Yes, And") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Hannah Einbinder (for "Bulletproof") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Paul W. Downs (for "Bulletproof") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series | Lucia Aniello (for "Bulletproof") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series | Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky (for "Bulletproof") | Won | |||
| 2025 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, Michael Schur, David Miner, Morgan Sackett, Joe Mande, Andrew Law, Samantha Riley, Aisha Muharrar, Pat Regan, Ashley Glazier, Jeff Rosenberg, Adam Bricker, and Nate Young | Nominated | [96] | |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Jean Smart (for "I Love L.A.") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Hannah Einbinder (for "Mrs. Table") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series | Lucia Aniello (for "A Slippery Slope") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series | Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky (for "A Slippery Slope") | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | 2021 | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Jane Adams (for "I Think She Will") | Nominated | [92] |
| Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series | Jeanne McCarthy and Nicole Abellera Hallman | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour) | Adam Bricker (for "Primm") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Contemporary Costumes | Kathleen Felix-Hager and Karen Bellamy (for "There Is No Line") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series | Susan Vaill (for "Primm") | Nominated | |||
| Jessica Brunetto (for "There Is No Line") | Nominated | ||||
| Ali Greer (for "Tunnel of Love") | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour) | Jon Carlos, James Bolenbaugh, and Ellen Reede Dorros (for "Primm") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation | John W. Cook II, Ben Wilkins, and Jim Lakin (for "Falling") | Nominated | |||
| 2022 | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Christopher McDonald (for "The One, the Only") | Nominated | [97] | |
| Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Jane Adams (for "The Click") | Nominated | |||
| Harriet Sansom Harris (for "Retired") | Nominated | ||||
| Laurie Metcalf (for "Trust the Process") | Won | ||||
| Kaitlin Olson (for "There Will Be Blood") | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series | Jeanne McCarthy and Nicole Abellera Hallman | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour) | Adam Bricker (for "The Click") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Contemporary Costumes | Kathleen Felix-Hager and Karen Bellamy (for "The Captain's Wife") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling | Jennifer Bell (for "The Captain's Wife") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour) | Alec Contestabile, Rob Tokarz, and Jennifer Lukehart (for "Trust the Process") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series | Jessica Brunetto (for "There Will Be Blood") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation | John W. Cook II, Ben Wilkins, and Jim Lakin (for "The Captain's Wife") | Nominated | |||
| 2024 | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Christopher Lloyd (for "The Deborah Vance Christmas Spectacular") | Nominated | [98] | |
| Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Kaitlin Olson (for "The Roast of Deborah Vance") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series | Jeanne McCarthy and Nicole Abellera Hallman | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series | Hacks: Bit by Bit | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour) | Adam Bricker (for "Just for Laughs") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Contemporary Costumes | Kathleen Felix-Hager, Karen Bellamy, and Rory Cunningham (for "Just for Laughs") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling | Jennifer Bell (for "Yes, And") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) | Keith Sayer (for "Yes, And") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour) | Rob Tokarz, Jeanine A. Ringer, and Jennifer Lukewart (for "Yes, And") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series | Jessica Brunetto (for "The Deborah Vance Christmas Spectacular") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation | John W. Cook II, Ben Wilkins, and Jim Lakin (for "Just for Laughs") | Nominated | |||
| 2025 | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Robby Hoffman (for "Cover Girls") | Nominated | [99] | |
| Julianne Nicholson (for "A Slippery Slope") | Won | ||||
| Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series | Linda Lowy and Morgan Smith | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour) | Adam Bricker (for "I Love LA") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Contemporary Costumes | Kathleen Felix-Hager, and Keely Crum (for "Heaven") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling | Aubrey Marie, Becca Weber, Marva Stokes, Alexis Sade Stafford, and Jennifer Bell (for "I Love LA") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Music Supervision | Matt Biffa (for "I Love LA") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour) | Rob Tokarz, Jeanine Ringer, and Jennifer Lukehart (for "A Slippery Slope") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series | Jessica Brunetto (for "I Love LA") | Nominated | |||
| Producers Guild of America Awards | 2022 | Best Episodic Comedy | Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, Michael Schur, David Miner, Morgan Sackett, Joanna Calo, Andrew Law, David Hyman, Joe Mande, and Jessica Chaffin | Nominated | [100] |
| 2023 | Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, Michael Schur, David Miner, Morgan Sackett, Joe Mande, Andrew Law, Aisha Muharrar, Ashley Glazier, Samantha Riley, Seth Edelstein, and Jessica Chaffin | Nominated | [101] | ||
| 2025 | Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, Michael Schur, David Miner, Morgan Sackett, Guy Branum, Andrew Law, Carol Leifer, Joe Mande, Aisha Muharrar, Samantha Riley, Ashley Glazier, and Nate Young | Won | [102] | ||
| Satellite Awards | 2022 | Best Comedy or Musical Series | Hacks | Nominated | [103] |
| Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical Series | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| 2023 | Best Comedy or Musical Series | Hacks | Nominated | [104] | |
| Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical Series | Jean Smart | Nominated | |||
| 2025 | Best Comedy or Musical Series | Hacks | Won | [105] | |
| Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical Series | Jean Smart | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries & Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television | Hannah Einbinder | Nominated | |||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Rose Abdoo, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Paul W. Downs, Hannah Einbinder, Mark Indelicato, Poppy Liu, Christopher McDonald, Jean Smart, and Megan Stalter | Nominated | [106] |
| Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| 2023 | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Paul W. Downs, Hannah Einbinder, Mark Indelicato, Jean Smart, and Megan Stalter | Nominated | [107] | |
| Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| 2025 | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Rose Abdoo, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Paul W. Downs, Hannah Einbinder, Mark Indelicato, Jean Smart, and Megan Stalter | Nominated | [108] | |
| Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| Set Decorators Society of America Awards | 2021 | Best Achievement in Decor/Design of a Half-Hour Single-Camera Series | Ellen Reede Dorros and Jonathan Carlos | Won | [109] |
| 2022 | Jennifer Lukehart and Alec Contestabile | Won | [110] | ||
| 2024 | Jennifer Lukehart and Rob Tokarz | Won | [111] | ||
| 2025 | Nominated | [112] | |||
| Television Critics Association Awards | 2021 | Program of the Year | Hacks | Nominated | [113] |
| Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding New Program | Nominated | ||||
| Individual Achievement in Comedy | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| 2022 | Program of the Year | Hacks | Nominated | [114] | |
| Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | Nominated | ||||
| Individual Achievement in Comedy | Jean Smart | Nominated | |||
| 2024 | Program of the Year | Hacks | Nominated | [115] | |
| Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | Won | ||||
| Individual Achievement in Comedy | Jean Smart | Won | |||
| 2025 | Program of the Year | Hacks | Nominated | [116] | |
| Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | Nominated | ||||
| Individual Achievement in Comedy | Hannah Einbinder | Nominated | |||
| Individual Achievement in Comedy | Jean Smart | Nominated | |||
| Writers Guild of America Awards | 2022 | Comedy Series | Lucia Aniello, Joanna Calo, Jessica Chaffin, Paul W. Downs, Cole Escola, Janis E. Hirsch, Ariel Karlin, Katherine Kearns, Andrew Law, Joe Mande, Pat Regan, Samantha Riley, Michael Schur, and Jen Statsky | Won | [117] |
| New Series | Won | ||||
| 2023 | Comedy Series | Lucia Aniello, Jessica Chaffin, Paul W. Downs, Ariel Karlin, Andrew Law, Joe Mande, Aisha Muharrar, Pat Regan, Samantha Riley, and Jen Statsky | Nominated | [118] | |
| Episodic Comedy | Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky (for "The One, The Only") | Won | |||
| 2025 | Comedy Series | Genevieve Aniello, Lucia Aniello, Guy Branum, Jessica Chaffin, Paul W. Downs, Jess Dweck, Ariel Karlin, Andrew Law, Carol Leifer, Carolyn Lipka, Joe Mande, Aisha Muharrar, Pat Regan, Samantha Riley, and Jen Statsky | Won | [119] | |
| Episodic Comedy | Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky (for "Bulletproof") | Won | |||
See also
Notes
- Credited as "starring" in a secondary billing block.
- Previously known as Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards.
- Tied with Hannah Waddingham for Ted Lasso
