Similar to an episode of Hacks, Tuesday’s advance screening of the series finale was a perfect mix of laughs and tears. The cast and co-creators gathered for a panel discussion following a screening of the final episode at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, to say their final goodbyes to the Emmy-winning HBO Max series. Co-creators Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky, were joined on stage by stars Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Robby Hoffman, and Kaitlin Olson to share tissues and memories from their five-season journey.
During an especially emotional moment of the evening, Smart reflected on the significance of a song played in the final episode—the iconic Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland duet, “Happy Days Are Here Again.”
“They told me shortly before they were going to do the finale that they were going to use that duet at the end. I was so excited because it’s such an incredible piece of music and it was perfect not that it was just that song but that it was a duet,” she said.
Upon hearing Smart speak about the emotional weight of the song, Einbinder playfully covered her face in tears before falling to the floor.
The acclaimed comedy, which follows the mentorship and friendship between aging Las Vegas stand-up legend Deborah Vance (Smart) and her young comedy writer Ava Daniels (Einbinder), has been a major award-show juggernaut, taking home 12 Emmys across its run, including Best Comedy Series in 2024.
Einbinder revealed that when she first read the script for the series finale, she was “pleasantly surprised,” noting that the show always delivers the unexpected.
“I can never predict where the show is going to go but I have such genuine faith in and trust in wherever it goes narratively. I always go in to reading scripts lovingly anticipating what I will say,” she said.
She added that this final episode beautifully encapsulated the heart of the entire series: “It is represented of the depth of their love and the depth of their connection.”
For Smart, who achieved the rare feat of winning an Emmy for every single season of the show, the ending was “absolutely perfect.” The legendary actress grew visibly choked up when discussing the finality of it all.
“The relationship between the two of them was always at the heart of the show surrounded by brilliance,” she said. “I hope people will always think of this as one of the funniest shows ever. A show that was able to do stories about serious things and didn’t sound like it was preaching.”
Smart also noted that the central dynamic between Deborah and Ava broke entirely new ground for television.
“To be able to help bring that to life it’s not like a role I have ever done. And to have this one as my partner has been incredible,” Smart said, turning to Einbinder. “To have an actress like this be the other half has just been an astonishing experience.”
Downs also fought back tears as he looked toward the broader cultural impact and legacy of the series.
“In a world where free speech is under attack and comedy is under attack and queer people are under attack. It’s about finding your people. I hope that is the legacy of the show.”
Hacks series finale airs May 28 on HBO Max.
