Just recently, Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder each received Emmy awards for their roles as Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels, respectively. They will only have one more chance to take the honor for their portrayals as HACKS moves forward for its fifth and final season in 2026.
The news that the show had only one more season to go did not come from an official announcement but via an interview with E! When the microphone came towards Einbinder while on the red carpet before the ceremony, she offered this sound bite about what was ahead for the series –
“I think it will feel different. We’re going to start [filming] next week, and knowing it’s the last season is really bittersweet. But I think it’s right, you know? I think 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.”
The creative bodies (pictured), Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello, and Paul W. Downs, have always stated that there was a five-year story arc and a known ending to the series, but with the way shows are written & edited, plus how many episodes could roll out per season, it wasn’t a guarantee that the show would exactly end in that amunt of time. Now, with Einbinder’s little blurt, it seems to be so. This writer has not seen the interview, but the way it is described across media indicates that it didn’t feel like the actress was shocked, embarrassed, or would get in trouble for making the statement.
As stated, the creators have an endgame scenario in place for the 2026 season, which was renewed right before the Season Four finale. It makes you wonder what Deborah Vance will face going forward in light of what is happening in the real world with the removal of such players as Steve Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel. Will HACKS alter its trajectory in order to comment on the state of Freedom of Speech, or end it as they have planned it?
We have a while to wait, so in the meantime, repeat HACKS on HBO Max and enjoy the Emmy winner again.
