‘Hacks' is back, and asking big questions about what happens to a dream achieved
'
But the writers are also clearly aware that a late night show isn't what it was when Deborah first pursued this dream. The existing late night hosts are quite entrenched in their particular segments of that ecosystem, leaving Deborah to fight for good guests, and in the streaming era, it's a struggle to get people to tune in to traditional programming. Plus, network exec Winnie (Helen Hunt) keeps pestering her to come up with a spinoff to the tune of James Corden's 'Carpool Karaoke' to boost the show's prospects.
Advertisement
Hacks remains strongest when it delves into the prickly bond between Ava and Deborah, even if it's starting to feel like the writers are trying to find reasons to keep the two apart. The central thesis that two such different (and deeply flawed) people could come together and find a profound connection in the creative process remains a fascinating one to watch, bolstered as it is by Jean Smart's
Where it struggles is in building compelling narratives around them, and the season loses some momentum as it resolves its conflicts. Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins), the CEO of Deborah's company, and DJ (Kaitlin Olson), her daughter, both have limited arcs this season, while Jimmy (Paul W. Downs) and Kayla's (Megan Stalter) efforts to build up their talent firm are funny but less juicy than the Ava/Deborah plotline. In a bid to boost Deborah's ratings, they hire an influencer from Canada by the name of Dance Mom, whose aw shucks bumpkinism is swiftly debased by her time in LA. Mass. native Julianne Nicholson gives an all-out performance in the role, but the subplot doesn't exactly sizzle; it intersects minimally with the main plot, and the joke wears thin, despite Nicholson's best efforts.
Four seasons in, the central dynamic in 'Hacks' remains eminently watchable — it's heartening to watch a show that cares this much about what it means to make good art, and we're reaching 'would watch Jean Smart read a stereo manual' levels with her performance. If it can't quite hit the highs of its earliest seasons, there's still something to be said for a show that has such a strong engine built into it.
Advertisement
HACKS
Starring: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter
Lisa Weidenfeld can be reached at
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Will Season 5 of 'Hacks' Be the Last?
Will Season 5 of 'Hacks' Be the Last? originally appeared on Parade. Hacks is officially coming back, but it's yet to be confirmed if it will be the show's curtain call. Max has renewed the Emmy-winning comedy for a fifth season, continuing the story of legendary comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and her relationship with young comedy writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder). While most seasons have seen the dynamic duo at odds, the pair found themselves on the same page by the end of Season 4. While an official premiere date hasn't been announced, Hacks has consistently returned each spring, with previous seasons debuting in April or May. Season 5 is expected to follow that pattern and arrive in spring 2026. Though there have been rumors that the show was designed with a five-season arc, the press release did not mention this being the final season. Here's everything you need to know. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Yes, the show was renewed for another season by HBO Max. While the show's creators have spoken about a five-season plan for Hacks, there was no mention of Season 5 being the last in the renewal announcement. Traditionally when show's are coming to an end, the last season is announced as the end from the jump, so it seems likely that we'll get at least a Season 6 of Hacks, but nothing has been announced officially. While a premiere date has not been made official, the comedy has consistently premiered every year in April or May. Expect Season 5 to premiere in spring 2026. Related: Of course, Hacks wouldn't be Hacks without Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder. Series regulars Paul W. Downs, Megan Statler, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Mark Indelicato and Rose Abdoo are all confirmed to return for Season 5. While the show will undoubtedly feature various cameos from Hollywood, according to the official Warner Bros. press release, guest stars for Season 5 include Dan Bucatinsky, Helen Hunt, Tony Goldwyn, Kaitlin Olson, Poppy Liu and Christopher McDonald. The show is available to stream on Max. It's most likely that there will be 10 episodes in Season 5. This is the same number there were in Season 1 and Season Season 5 of 'Hacks' Be the Last? first appeared on Parade on Jun 3, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
IBEW Touts 'Landmark' New Tentative Agreement With CBS
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the largest union representing CBS employees, has reached a new tentative agreement with the network that it calls a 'landmark' deal with 'one of the most significant wage packages in the nearly 90-year history of the relationship.' 'This tentative agreement reflects a new era of partnership and progress that recognizes the important contributions of IBEW-represented technicians while embracing the challenges and opportunities of the future,' IBEW International President Kenneth W. Cooper said in a statement Tuesday. More from Deadline Deal!: Will Smith Music Video Shoot IATSE Picket Over As Producers & Union Reach Agreement, With Oscar Winner's Help – Update 2025 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming How To Watch The 2025 American Music Awards 'From news and sports to streaming and operations, IBEW members are the engine behind CBS's continued success, just like they have been since 1939. We believe this agreement not only speaks to CBS's commitment to national and local broadcasting, it also reinforces the value of skilled union labor and reflects a shared vision for adapting to the fast-evolving media landscape,' Cooper's statement continued. Specific details of the deal have not been disclosed, given that members still need to vote to ratify it. In addition to wage increases, the IBEW says the agreement establishes a framework for conversations between the union and CBS on artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, particularly impacting broadcast. Added George Cheeks, Co-CEO, Paramount Global and President & CEO of CBS: 'The skilled technicians and valued employees represented by IBEW have been a bedrock of CBS's success since the early days of television, and that continues as we chart our future together. I want to thank IBEW leaders Kenneth Cooper and Robert Prunn for setting the tone in a collaborative, forward-looking negotiation that worked through issues together and delivered value for all our stakeholders.' Best of Deadline 'Hacks' Season 4 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? Everything We Know About 'Hacks' Season 4 So Far 'The Last Of Us': Differences Between HBO Series & Video Game Across Seasons 1 And 2 Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Watch: Natasha Lyonne & Hannah Einbinder joke about scissoring & talk realistic queer sex scenes
Gay fave Natasha Lyonne and bisexual Hacks actress Hannah Einbinder just made the Hollywood Reporter's latest actor's roundtable delightfully queer with a hilarious scissoring joke, and just in time for Pride Month, too! Lyonne and Einbinder joined fellow stars Kathryn Hahn (Agatha All Along), Jessica Williams (Shrinking), Kristen Bell (The Good Place), and Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex) to talk about their careers and personal lives when the conversation veered toward LGBTQ+ representation in media. When asked what the actors have pushed for 'because it was something you needed to see at some point in your life,' Einbinder chimed in about her own experience being a bi actor after calling Lyonne her 'freaking queer icon.' Einbinder, who plays Ava Daniels on Hacks, credited the show with giving 'vivid life and a reality' to the bisexual character. 'We know that when people write to their own experience, something is just far more lived-in,' Einbinder said. 'And as a queer actor myself playing a queer character, I can add my, you know, zest. So, this season, there's a polyamory arc that is not the butt of a joke.' See on Instagram She said that there were queer shows and movie that paved the way for Hacks, but she's proud of the realistic representation the show provides. 'It warms my heart when I get messages from people who feel like this is an in-depth and non-fetishized representation of bisexuality,' Einbinder revealed. Then, Lyonne asked, 'Do you feel like this kind of a queer component is something that you've slowly laid in track for, or was it always embedded?' 'Oh, it's always been there. A lot of our writers room are writing to their own experiences. Everyone who's telling a story has an incredibly talented comedy writer to represent that lived experience,' Einbinder answered. The 30-year-old actress explained because of her own lived experience as a queer person she's able to point out places in the script that seem realistic. 'And it's this great symbiosis where, because I live a queer existence, I'm able to lend various [ideas], like, 'Well, I don't know if they would be, like, coming at the same time in the shower. Perhaps, like, one person is topping.'' Not one to let a good joke pass her by, while Einbinder said 'one person is topping,' the But I'm a Cheerleader star made the universal hand gesture for scissoring by making peace signs with both hands and then sliding them together. Trust Lyonne to always make the perfect sapphic joke!
