From Jean Smart’s heart surgery to a shocking gay episode: Hacks comes to an end, cementing its place as one of television’s greatest comedies
According to the CinemaDrame news agency, it is an early warm January morning in Las Vegas, and the entire Hacks team—cast, crew, and producers—has gathered at the Kyu sushi restaurant inside the Fontainebleau hotel. A busy day of filming lies ahead, with three different locations across the city.
Still, a sense of melancholy hangs over the production. After five seasons on HBO Max, this is the final day of filming in the United States for Hacks, and for most of the team, it also marks a farewell.
Hannah Einbinder says: “I’m not going to be energetic or funny today.” When Jean Smart approaches and the significance of the moment is discussed, she immediately tears up. “We really became best friends and family, and… it’s very hard,” she says.
Hours later, near midnight, the production moves to the Orleans Arena, where everything culminates in a quiet and emotional scene: a conversation between Deborah Vance, the legendary comedian played by Smart, and her creative partner and confidant Ava Daniels, played by Einbinder.
The hallway where the scene is filmed is vast, with dozens of crew members watching in complete silence. After a major setback, Deborah walks in silence, with Ava by her side trying to comfort her. Few words are exchanged; the bond built over five seasons has brought them closer than ever.
Einbinder later says: “The entire crew was standing behind the camera watching us, which is not usual. The atmosphere was strange, sad, beautiful, and familial. It’s something I’ll remember forever.”
And then, it’s over. A producer announces: “After six incredible years, this is the end of filming in the United States for Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart.”
Despite exhaustion, the crowd keeps applauding. Smart wraps her arm around Einbinder, who kisses her co-star on the cheek. Both have red eyes. Then Einbinder asks everyone to come closer, and a long group hug follows. She says: “I want to have semi-regular park meetups. Just letting you know—I’ll send a message!”
That was only the end of filming in the United States. Without revealing plot details, the team traveled to Paris to film the final episode, even shooting inside the Louvre. With only about 12 people on set, the final take was much more intimate.
Smart says: “We told each other we loved each other and cried. We were lying on a bench in a large hall with high ceilings, looking up at the ceiling under massive Dutch paintings. We were improvising and saying strange things. It was a very interesting ending.”
Hacks, created by Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky, and Paul W. Downs, begins its final season on April 9, with the final episode airing on May 28. The series is regarded as one of the defining comedies of the decade and will remain a landmark in television comedy history.
The show initially struggled to get made. In 2019, almost every network passed on it until HBO Max, then newly launched, picked it up. With Hacks, the debate over HBO versus HBO Max prestige effectively disappeared, and Deborah Vance’s character joined the ranks of figures like Larry Sanders, Carrie Bradshaw, and Selina Meyer.
The series became an unexpected success: a story about a generational gap between two women who grow by finding each other. It also proved that a successful series could center on a woman in her seventies.
Smart, previously recognized for work in Watchmen, Fargo, and Mare of Easttown, starred alongside Einbinder, a young comedian with no major acting background.
Hacks also stood out for its authentic representation of LGBTQ+ communities and its exploration of entertainment industry dynamics, women’s relationships, and aging.
The show quickly became a critical favorite, winning numerous awards, including multiple Emmy Awards for Smart and Einbinder. In 2024, it was named Best Comedy Series.
In the final season, the story focuses on solidifying Deborah’s legacy, with her relationship with Ava reaching full alignment. Smart recalls one episode in which the characters are forced to play a couple: “It was so funny I couldn’t say my line.”
Throughout production, the team faced many challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to personal hardships among cast members. Smart’s husband, Richard Gilliland, unexpectedly passed away in 2021, yet she continued filming.
In 2023, it was also revealed that Smart required triple bypass heart surgery. Despite discomfort, she initially continued working until doctors insisted she go to the hospital immediately. The surgery was successful, and she returned to work.
Despite all these challenges, the creators believe the show’s completion is something of a miracle.
Ultimately, the decision was made to end the series with its fifth season. Downs says: “It is in Deborah Vance’s nature to leave the audience wanting more, while still laughing. You shouldn’t stay too long, and we were very fortunate to be embraced.”
