Hit US TV show renewed for FIFTH season – before fourth even finishes
A HIT US TV show has been renewed for a fifth season, before the fourth series even came to an end.
The black-comedy series has won critical acclaim and dozens of awards.
5
Bosses have commissioned Hacks for another season
Credit: Alamy
5
Jean Smart will reprise her role as legendary comedian Deborah Vance
Credit: Alamy
Hacks focuses on Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) who is a legendary Las Vegas-based stand-up comedian.
However, her act has not aged well as she needs to avoid losing her long-running gigs.
So she hires young comedy writer Ava Daniels (
She also has a reputation for being self-centred and arrogant, but Jean hires her to liven up the act as her new head writer.
The pair develop a close bond as Ava pushes her boss to take more risks and Deborah helps the young employee through a personal journey.
So far, the show has been a smash hit, winning four Golden Globe Awards and nine Primetime Emmy Awards.
The fourth season only had its premiere last month as the duo attempted to get their late-night show off the ground.
They also attempted to make
history
in the process but they have come to blows behind the scenes.
Most read in News TV
The last episode of the current season will make its way onto TV screens on May 29th.
But Jean and Hannah are set to reprise their roles once again as HBO has already given the green light for yet another instalment.
Legendary Emmy-winning actress looks unrecognisable as she speaks about life-saving role
In a statement, Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Programming at Max couldn't help but gush about the show as she said: "Yes! More!
"We congratulate Hacks' singularly talented cast and crew and our great partners at Universal Television."
Erin Underhill is President of Universal Television and she also lauded the talented cast and crew,
She explained: "Like Deborah Vance herself, Hacks only gets bolder, sharper, and more iconic with time.
"We're beyond thrilled to keep the laughter rolling with Jen, Paul, Lucia, our extraordinary cast and crew, and our partners at Max."
5
The series focuses on an aging comedian who hires an arrogant young writer to liven up her act
Credit: HBO
5
Jean Smart stars in the show alongside Hannah Einbinder who plays her aide
Credit: HBO/Karen Ballard
5
In the fourth season of the hit comedy series, the pair come to blows as they attempt to get their talk show off the ground
Credit: AP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
Quiz: How well do you know Liam Neeson's very particular set of skills?
TODAY IS THE birthday of our very own Liam Neeson, who has turned 73-years-old. Known for his roles in critically acclaimed films such as the Taken series, Schindler's List, Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, and his guest appearance on Channel 4′s Derry Girls, the actor has secured three Golden Globes and two Tony Awards, as well as a BAFTA. Advertisement To honour the acting legend's birthday, we're quizzing you on his very particular set of skills… (or his catalogue of work). In the film Taken, Neeson's character makes a famous speech over the phone to his daughter's kidnapper: "I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom I can tell you I don't have money, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills..." What is the next line? Alamy "Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you." "Skills I have acquired over a very long career." "Skills that mean I can kill you very easily." "Skills that will let me find you and I will kill you." Neeson made a guest appearance on an episode of Derry Girls playing Chief Inspector Byers questioning the girls after which incident? Alamy They had accidentally circulated cannabis scones at a wake Uncle Colm had his van stolen by paramilitaries They had stolen the advert board from Fionnula's chipper They had unintentionally helped burglars stealing from their school In the 2008 film The Other Man, was Neeson the other man or the husband? Alamy The other man The husband In which of these films did Liam Neeson NOT play a gunman? Alamy In the Land of Saints and Sinners Cold Pursuit The Marksman Memory Non-Stop Absolution Run All Night He plays a gunman in all of these films How many Taken films are there? Alamy Two Three Four Neeson is from which county? Alamy Co Antrim Co Derry Co Down Co Fermanagh How many fully-animated films has he featured in? None One Five Six Which Irish revolutionary did Neeson portray in a 1996 film? Alamy Michael Collins Alamy James Connolly Alamy Eamon de Valera Alamy Padraig Pearse Neeson briefly attended Queen's University Belfast before dropping out. What did he study? Alamy Speech and language therapy Business English and Drama Physics and computer science The rhetorical skills of which politician, according to Neeson, inspired him to become an actor? Alamy Gerry Adams Alamy Ian Paisley Alamy Jack Lynch Alamy Bertie Ahern Answer all the questions to see your result! Alamy You scored out of ! Bryan Mills You have a very particular set of skills Share your result: Share Tweet Alamy You scored out of ! Oskar Schindler A hero Share your result: Share Tweet Alamy You scored out of ! Aslan The King of Beasts Share your result: Share Tweet Alamy You scored out of ! Bad Cop You are Liam Neeson's evil Lego character Share your result: Share Tweet Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Diddy would be released in DAYS after Trump pardon but a ‘free ride' out of jail will not help his future, lawyer warns
SEAN 'Diddy' Combs would be a free man within days if Donald Trump decides to pardon him but it would not bode well for his future, a lawyer has warned. Trump surprised reporters by commenting on 5 Sean "Diddy" Combs with Donald Trump and Melania Trump before he became President of the US Credit: Getty 5 US President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC Credit: AFP 5 A sketch of Sean 'Diddy' Combs during his sex trafficking trial in New York on June 4, 2025 Credit: Reuters Asked if he would consider pardoning him, Trump said, "Nobody's asked. But I know people are thinking about it. I think some people have been very close to asking." He said he felt the former music mogul used to like him "a lot" but wasn't his biggest fan after he went into politics. Despite this, Trump said, "I would certainly look at the facts. If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don't like me, it wouldn't have any impact on me." Sean Combs The U.S. Sun spoke to Los Angeles-based trial attorney He said, "The pardoning power is one of the ultimate powers of the President. It's virtually unchecked, and he can do it. 'He doesn't even have to wait for the conviction. He can do it at any time after somebody's charged, even after the crime occurs. "So the second that President Trump determines that he's gonna pardon him [Diddy]. It happens immediately. Most read in Celebrity QUICK RELEASE "They basically sign the pardon, it would be sent to Diddy, and assuming he accepted, which obviously he would, then that's that." Lovell said if he had already been convicted there would be an administrative process through the Federal Bureau of Prisons to arrange his release and transportation but it wouldn't be long before he was out. Diddy 'gave hotel guard $100k in paper bag to bury Cassie beating video' "There may be a few hours, maybe one or two days sometimes that they can take time just because of the bureaucracy," he said. Combs, 55, is currently on trial in New York after pleading not guilty to five counts of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He is facing up to life in prison if convicted. The jury has heard from several witnesses in the case so far, including Combs' ex-girlfriend, Diddy locked eyes with us as he entered the courtroom - inside the trial of the decade By Israel S-Rodriguez, Senior News Reporter at The U.S. Sun: The federal sex trafficking trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs began with jury selection on May 5. Combs is standing trial at the Southern District of New York Courthouse in Lower Manhattan - an intimidating federal courthouse where the cases of Ghislaine Maxwell, Donald Trump, and Bernard Madoff, among others, were tried. Once a powerful founder of a music and business empire, Combs has been reduced to a defendant, inmate 37452-054, stripped of his mogul status, and now standing trial on five federal charges with the full wrath of the United States government against him. When I attended Day 3 of jury selection at the federal courthouse on May 7, the buzz around the start of the trial was palpable. Hours before the courthouse opened its doors, more than a dozen reporters and members of the public stood in line in hopes of securing a seat in the gallery for the high-profile trial. As you walk through the glass door entrance of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse, you are met by bulletproof vest-clad court officers. All visitors must separate their electronic devices from their personal belongings, which are passed through a metal detector. Visitors walk through a metal detector before a court officer hands them a poker chip. The courthouse uses a poker chip system to sort the number of electronic devices visitors are in possession of. Electronic devices, such as Bluetooth-powered headphones, voice recorders, laptops, cellphones, and smart watches, are confiscated before you're allowed to enter the courthouse's main hallway. As about a half-dozen reporters and I waited in the gallery for jury selection, we witnessed how Combs entered the courtroom shackle-free. Combs entered with his hands pressed together, greeted his defense team before he examined the gallery, and locked eyes with reporters and potential jurors. The 55-year-old disgraced Bad Boy Records executive was attentive and engaged with his counsel as they grilled dozens of potential jurors. As jury selection wrapped up for the day, Combs embraced each of his female defense attorneys before he mouthed "thank you" to a handful of supporters in the gallery. I attended trial again as opening statements got underway on May 12 and the world media waited anxiously outside the federal courthouse before the sun rose in Lower Manhattan. A line stretched down the block from the federal courthouse as some members of the media and from the public camped out overnight to try to obtain a coveted seat inside the gallery. At least three overflow rooms were made available for reporters and the public, who are eager to witness the prosecutions case against the music mogul. At least half a dozen members of Combs' family arrived at the courthouse as spectators filed in single order to enter the federal building to turn over all their electronic devices. Combs' trial is being held on the 26th floor in Judge Arun Subramanian's courtroom and is expected to last for eight weeks. We'll bring it all to you on The U.S. Sun. He said it wouldn't make sense for Trump to pardon him halfway into the prosecution's case when the jury hasn't yet heard all of the facts, adding that it would be "premature" to act now. "I was very surprised that Trump is considering pardoning Diddy, especially in light of the fact the trial is ongoing now,' he said. "We are hearing witness after witness after witness testify to some horrible things. 'It would be a slap in the face to the witnesses, to the victims, to a lot of people to just pardon him, you know. People will think he got a free ride and beat the system." Attorney Tre Lovell on a possible pardon for Diddy "It would seem that he would want to wait until the trial is over, and if there's not a conviction then there's no need for him to get involved.' He went on to say, "There's one thing that Americans stand for … it's accountability, and if he were pardoned in light of what's been happening, these allegations and this testimony, there would be a sense of loss and lack of accountability. "And so I don't know how that would sit with most Americans with respect to President Trump." But Lovell said he doesn't think anybody would be surprised if Trump pardoned Diddy. "He's pardoned a lot of people that people take umbrage [with]. And he's not worried about a re-election, so I don't really think it would affect him. "He may have some more detractors, but I don't think he really cares, and his conduct thus far shows he's going to do what he wants to do." Lovell feels if Diddy is acquitted it would be a sense of victory and it would be easier to acclimate to society because he will have been vindicated in court. However, if he's convicted and pardoned by Trump it would have more of a negative impact on him. "It'll be a little tougher because people will think he got a free ride and beat the system," he said. But regardless, Lovell feels "Diddy's reputation has been irreparably harmed" and he will never be the billionaire music mogul he was once admired by millions. It comes after... Cassie Ventura Ventura testified Combs Celebrities like Prince, Mike Myers, and Bill Gates have been mentioned throughout the trial Kid Cudi testified about how his Trump has pardoned several high-profile inmates in recent months, including reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley three years after they were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion. Combs' federal trial has been ongoing for more than three weeks and there are more witnesses set to testify. More and more damning accusations have emerged about the alleged violence he inflicted behind closed doors. The singer, 38, alleged Ventura, who said she did not want to engage in the sex acts, told the court her music career took a backseat due to the toll the orgies took on her day, testifying how she needed days at a time to recover. Prosecutors also released photos of the injuries Ventura allegedly suffered from Combs' years-long abuse, including a gash on her forehead that had become a permanent scar. Combs has remained mostly stone-faced in court as his lawyers insist he is innocent. The prosecution's case is slated to rest the week of June 9. If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) at 800-656-HOPE (4673). Diddy's charges explained by a lawyer Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani explained the set of charges Diddy is facing to The U.S. Sun: "Diddy is facing three charges, or three sets of charges. "The first is racketeering, which you typically see with organized crime enterprises - so the mob, cartels, street gangs -but we're seeing it a lot more in sex trafficking cases. "And you don't need an organization like the mob, as long as it's an enterprise, which is something that consists of two or more people, and they engage in two or more RICO predicate acts, that's enough for racketeering. "Racketeering is a powerful charge because it allows the government to bring in all sorts of evidence of criminal activity, as well as all sorts of people, into that racketeering conspiracy. "And anyone who's a co-conspirator, they're on the hook for any criminal acts committed in furtherance of the conspiracy. "The most serious charge, though, is sex trafficking. "What separates sex trafficking from normal sex? Adults, of course, can consent to any type of sex, no matter how freaky it is. But sex trafficking has one of three elements: force, fraud, or coercion. "And the government is saying that Diddy used force to force these men and women to participate in these freak-offs, and he coerced them by drugging them. "The least serious charge is the prostitution, sometimes called the Man Act, and that's engaging in prostitution using some sort of interstate commerce across state lines. That obviously is unlawful. "Typically, you don't see federal cases for prostitution only, which is why it's the least serious of the crimes." 5 Sean "Diddy" Combs attends the 2018 Fox Network Upfront at Wollman Rink, Central Park Credit: Getty 5 President Donald Trump has spoken of the possibility of pardoning Diddy who is on trial in New York Credit: AFP
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I won first Love Island but the fall out from my instant fame was so bad I've given up sex for good, says Jessica Hayes
BEAMING Jessica Hayes had the world at her feet when she was crowned Love Island's very first winner alongside hunky Max Morley. But a decade later, the twice-engaged star has now taken a vow of celibacy and given up on romance after repeatedly having her heart broken. 6 Jessica Hayes won the first Love Island but says reality TV sent her into a downward spiral Credit: Stewart Williams 6 Jess won alongside Max Morley in 2015 Credit: ITV 6 Jess and Max split just six weeks after leaving the villa Credit: ITV As the hit ITV show celebrates its ten-year anniversary this week, She told The Sun on Sunday: 'I'm so done with romance and dating. I don't miss sex or hugs or kisses. I don't miss men at all, to be honest Jess 'I don't want to fall in love. I just want peace and I'm down with being 'I don't miss sex or hugs or kisses. I don't miss men at all, to be honest. read more on love island 'Right now, I don't know what's wrong with me. I think I'm traumatised.' It was a very different story in 2015 when then-host Wearing a figure-hugging red dress, the former bank worker from The smitten couple, who chose to share the £50,000 prize, received the most votes from the public after famously Most read in Love Island The win was even more remarkable as Jess was drafted in at the last minute, having previously been told she had not made the cut. Jess Hayes Welcomes Baby Zenny: A New Chapter But just six weeks after their triumph, the winners dramatically split when Max was caught spending the night with Jess said: 'I had no idea what I was in for. 'It was chaotic. You forget there is an outside world and it's not normal to be locked in a confined space with a bunch of strangers for six weeks. 'I remember thinking, I wonder if anyone is watching this? "We didn't have a clue how big the show was going to be. 'To come out and find people running up to you in a shopping centre asking for a picture, it's bizarre. "Your life changes overnight. 'I had genuine 'I WAS HEARTBROKEN' 'The male Love Island stars would have girls literally throwing themselves at them in nightclubs, so it was never going to work. 'When he was photographed with Charlotte, I was genuinely upset. 'I know some relationships from the show have worked out, but I think they must have a different level of maturity. 'Max wasn't that kind of guy. "In my own way, I was heartbroken, and I don't take heartbreak very well. I never have.' Now a devoted single mum-of-two, Jess admits she got too caught up in the party lifestyle in her twenties. A big wake-up call came with the suicides of Love Island stars Jess said: 'It was awful what happened — just horrendous. This industry can be tough. "My rock bottom was three years after the show. 'I remember feeling very lost and thinking, what now? "You go out a lot and party a lot and sometimes it can be to excess and that's not good for you. "You come out of a show and you're a celebrity and no one says, 'This might only last five minutes'. 6 Jess said she had I 'no idea' what she was in for when she left the villa Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 Jess' Instagram post in 2023 announcing her miscarriage Credit: Instagram/jessicahayesx_ 'I didn't have good guidance or good management and that didn't help me take the right path. 'There were points where I thought, what the hell am I doing? 'It's late nights and drinking a lot. It's not a normal lifestyle. 'You haven't got a day job to go to and you're going to showbusiness parties and film premieres. 'It's a lot for a young person to handle and it's a slippery slope. "It's not a Love Island thing, it's just an issue of handling the fame.' Jess's love life has proven to be equally turbulent. After splitting with Max, she got The couple were overjoyed when she gave birth to their son Jess next found love with a property developer called Zeb — she declines to give his surname — and she suffered another miscarriage in April 2023 before their daughter I don't feel the need to get involved in relationships and I'm determined not to get back into bad old habits Jess Hayes Jess touchingly bounces her daughter on her knee during our interview. On being a single mum, she said: 'I couldn't ask for more from my children's dads. 'They are in their lives and they are good with them. Co-parenting is a bag of poop. "It's the worst thing ever. Over time, when you are a few years in, it's more of a breeze. 'But right now, while she's so little, I find it hard. "I need a break sometimes because I'm going crazy, but when she's not with me my anxiety goes through the roof.' Last week, Jess took part in ITV's Jess has become a successful social media influencer with 337,000 followers on Instagram, yet admits her fortunes have been more mixed. She said: 'I was so naive when I went on Love Island. 6 The Love Island 2015 line-up Credit: Rex "If I was watching the show now, I would say, 'No Jess, what are you doing?' I tolerated a lot in there. 'But I never think with my head and I've never made the right decisions in love. 'I've been really impulsive and I rush into things too quickly. It gets me nowhere and I get hurt. 'That's why I want to be independent and focus on me and making money — and things that are long-term for my kids. 'I don't feel the need to get involved in relationships and I'm determined not to get back into bad old habits. I'm not materialistic at all now and I think that having children, your priorities change Jess "I haven't made millions of pounds or amassed millions of followers from going on Love Island, but I will never regret my journey. "It's given me a steady income for ten years and that makes me one of the lucky ones. 'Part of me wishes I'd had a few more opportunities, whether that be in TV or whatever. 'But if you're handed a lot of money when you are young, you can be quite careless. 'I'm not materialistic at all now and I think that having children, your priorities change. 'And if my daughter tells me she wants to apply for the show in 20 years time I will tell her, 'No way — not unless I'm your manager'.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
