“Hacks” is back — but for one last time. HBO Max confirmed Monday morning that the upcoming season of its Emmy-winning comedy “Hacks” will be the show’s farewell. Season 5 of “Hacks,” which will also serve as the final season of the hit Jean Smart/Hannah Einbinder laffer, will premiere on Thursday, April 9 at 9 p.m. ET.
Per HBO Max, the “Hacks” send-off will consist of ten episodes, with new episodes every week (except April 30 and May 7, which will drop two episodes) leading to the series finale on Thursday, May 28.
“Hacks” screens on Stan in Australia.
News that “Hacks” would end after Season 5 isn’t a complete surprise; the producers and stars have hinted at such a likelihood for some time. On the Emmys red carpet last September — right before she won the award for outstanding comedy supporting actress — Einbinder told E! Entertainment TV that “knowing it’s the last season is really bittersweet. But I think it’s right, you know? It’s nice to do something as many times as it should be done. Not overstay your welcome. Rip it and do it and laugh and cry.”
Executive producers and creators Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs have often mentioned that they had mapped out storylines that would fit a five-season series. “We are now breaking up Season 5, and we have to see how many episodes it will take us to get to where we know we’re going to go,” Downs said last May, directly after the Season 4 finale. “The final scene of the final episode has been in our minds since 2015, and we’re excited to get there. But that may take more episodes than we can fit in the season. So the truth is that we don’t know.”
Season 4 ended with Deborah Vance (Smart) and Ava Daniels (Einbinder) in Singapore, where they find a loophole that allows Deborah to perform on stage despite a non-compete clause that’s enforced after her untimely exit from her late night talk show. But then, TMZ falsely reports her death.
Here’s the Season 5 logline: “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.”
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“Hacks,” which first launched on HBO Max in May 2021, will have produced 47 episodes through its five seasons. The show has been a critical and awards smash, landing four Emmys for Smart in lead comedy actress (for every year she’s been eligible), as well as the win for Einbinder, two comedy writing Emmys for Aniello, Downs and Statsky (in 2024 and 2021) as well as outstanding comedy directing (2021) for Aniello. “Hacks” also won outstanding comedy series in 2024, and has picked up several other Emmys. At the Golden Globes, Smart has won three times, and the show has been named best comedy series twice. “Hacks” has also won multiple SAG/Actor, WGA and DGA awards, a Peabody and multiple other honors.
The Season 5 cast includes regulars Smart, Einbinder, Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Mark Indelicato and Rose Abdoo. Joining the cast is guest star Christopher Briney, while also back as guests are Robby Hoffman, Tony Goldwyn, Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald, Jane Adams, Lauren Weedman, Poppy Liu, Johnny Sibilly, Luenell, Angela E. Gibbs and Caitlin Reilly.
“Hacks” comes from creators and showrunners Downs, Aniello and Statsky. Executive producers are Downs and Aniello via their Paulilu banner, Statsky via First Thought Productions, as well as Michael Schur via Fremulon, David Miner for 3 Arts Entertainment, Morgan Sackett, Joe Mande, Aisha Muharrar, Nate Young and Ashley Glazier. The show comes from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Here’s a first look at the new season:
And here is the key art for Season 5 of “Hacks”:
From Variety US