TV is bidding one of its best comedies adieu as Hacks concludes its five-season run on HBO Max on May 28, and the stars and creatives behind the Emmy-winning series are looking back on their most memorable moments from filming.
Kicking off in 2021, Hacks began as a series about a fallen-from-grace young comedy writer, Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), who is forced to team up with Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), an ageing and grasping-for-relevance comedian who happens to be repped by the same manager, Jimmy (Paul W. Downs).
But Hacks has always been about more than just the laughs, as star Kaitlin Olson, who plays Deborah’s daughter DJ, explains, “Paul and Jen [Statsky] and Lucia [Aniello] are such incredible writers because it is very challenging to write a show with these two tones, crammed together: It’s very funny and it’s very raw and emotional… If you don’t set up that well in the beginning, you can’t cram it in later.”
(Credit: HBO Max)
Over the seasons, Hacks has explored familial dynamics as well as platonic and occasionally non-platonic workplace relationships, bridged the gap between generations, shone a light on climate change, and highlighted the dangers of AI and the all-too-prescient issue of censorship in a time when telling the truth and having conviction is more important than ever.
Just as difficult as it will be to say goodbye to Deborah Vance, Ava Daniels, and their eclectic crew, including Jimmy, Kayla (Meg Stalter), DJ, Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins), Damien (Mark Indelicato), Josefina (Rose Abdoo), and Randi (Robby Hoffman), among others, it’s just as tough for the team who are getting real about their behind-the-scenes experiences and sharing memories about moments from the first to the fifth and final season.
Among some of the highlights are Ava and Deborah’s first meeting, juxtaposing hotel room scenes for Kayla and Jimmy, and a hilarious club scene for Marcus. Watch the stars and showrunners get candid about their favorite memories from Hacks in the video above, and don’t miss the conclusion to the series when it drops on HBO Max.
Hacks, Season 5 finale, Thursday, May 28, 9/8c, HBO Max