How Hacks Ended After 5 Seasons With Final Twist Ahead of Emmys 2026
Paul W. Downs Reacts to Being Confronted By Andy Cohen About ‘Hacks’ Joke
The curtain hasn’t fully dropped on Hacks just yet.
After five seasons of characters Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) oscillating between tension and friendship, the fan-favorite series ended in May with a finale befitting of its hilarious, heartwarming and Emmy-winning run.
However, the HBO Max series is heading back to the Emmy Awards one last time on Sept. 14, having racked up a record-breaking 24 nominations this year—the most a comedy has ever scored.
But before finding out if Smart will make history by becoming the first woman to win for Best Lead Actress for every eligible season of a show—she previously won in 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025—read on to look back at how Hacks nailed its final episode.
After the episode began with Ava directing the pilot of her new comedy show and Deborah opening her new casino, the mood suddenly shifted to a more difficult conversation with Deborah revealing she has cancer that has spread.
Instead of seeking treatment, she reveals to Ava that she plans to visit an assisted suicide clinic in Europe. Ava—with an emotional performance—spends the entire episode attempting to dissuade her boss-turned-best-friend from her decision.
Of course, Deborah and Ava have their standard banter, too, which lays the groundwork for the episode’s final twist: Just as they’re about to board their last train to the treatment facility, Deborah changes her mind after realizing Ava makes her joke-writing better.
“I may not have 30 years,” Deborah tells her outside the train station, “but I think I have another hour. Will you help me write it?”
After Ava agrees to help with her next comedy special, the pair are seen walking down the streets of Las Vegas as Judy Garland and her daughter Liza Minnelli sing their mashup of “Get Happy” and “Happy Days Are Here Again.”
HBO Max
And don’t worry, Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter got some love, too, as Jimmy and Kayla corner her dad into handing the reins of Latitude Management over to them.
While the series’ last episode was satisfying—and emotional—for fans, the entire final season seemed to give viewers exactly what they wanted. Indeed, after Ava was hired in season one by a deceptive Deborah to be a comedy writer, the internet was filled with fan-fiction of the duo evolving from enemies to lovers.
So, series creators Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky and Paul wrote an episode where Deborah and Ava made out while pretending to be girlfriends on a trip with Leslie Bibb and Cherry Jones.
HBO Max
“It was so funny,” Hannah told USA Today in a May interview. “I thought they handled it beautifully. I thought it was true to the reality of the characters while also delivering what [fans] wanted.”
Meanwhile, Megan spent the season delivering instantly-iconic lines, like telling a respected actress, “You’re acting’s ass and you’re being outperformed by a dead corpse, mama!”
Plus, fans were treated to incredible guest stars like Jesse McCartney, Christopher Briney, Billy Baldwin, Trisha Paytas, Ann Dowd and Bob Mackie.
But while the cast has been vocal about the laughter they’ve shared during the six years of creating the show, Hannah—who won the Emmy last year for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series—has admitted how difficult it was to end it.
HBO Max
“I became ill,” Hannah told USA Today in April about filming her final scenes. “The second I walked out of where we were shooting, and I was doubled over. My body was shutting down.”
But the bond she built with Jean carried her through. As she put it, “Jean is such a loving, caring person who really does cherish the people around her, and we all get to feel that warmth.”
And the feeling is mutual for Jean, who said she could “always lean on” Hannah. Plus, she added, “She'll always tell you the truth.”
Read on to see other shows that recently said farewell.
Netflix
CANCELED: Ransom Canyon
The romance between Josh Duhamel's Staten and Minka Kelly's Quinn will end with season two as Netflix has canceled the drama, Deadline confirmed.
Apple TV
RENEWED & ENDING: Silo
The Apple TV sci-fi thriller will return with a fourth and final season in 2027.
Jason Bell/Paramount+
RENEWED: MobLand
Tom Hardy is reportedly set to return for season three of the Paramount+ drama.
Scott Everett White/NBC
RENEWED: American Ninja Warrior
The NBC competition series will challenge more hopefuls with new and insane obstable courses during seasons 19 and 20.
Hulu/Disney
RENEWED: Furious
The new thriller starring Emmy Rossum will return for season two.
Art Streiber/Peacock via Getty Images
RENEWED: Love Island USA
The Bombshells will be back.
Because Peacock's hit reality dating competition series will return for season nine with host Ariana Madix.
Disney
CANCELED: Not Suitable for Work
The Mindy Kaling-created series was not greenlit by Hulu for a second season after its June premiere.
Netflix
RENEWED: The Gentlemen
Guy Ritchie's Neflix drama was renewed for a third season ahead of its season two premiere Sept. 3.
Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME
ENDING: Yellowjackets
The Showtime drama's upcoming fourth season, premiering Nov. 20, will be it's last.
Sabrina Lantos/Prime
RENEWED: Sterling Point
Fans are headed back to Muskoka because Prime Video has renewed the teen drama for season two.
Netflix
RENEWED: America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Consider this renewal news something to cheer about.
The Netflix reality series will return for a fourth season.
Colin Remas Brown/HBO Max
RENEWED: Stuart Fails to Save the Universe
Bazinga! The Big Bang Theory spinoff will return with more time-traveling antics in season two on HBO Max.
Brooke Palmer/HBO
RENEWED: IT: Welcome to Derry
The HBO series based on Stephen King's terrifying clown killer will cause more nightmares when season two debuts.
Samsung TV Plus
RENEWED: Hooligans: The ARCH Racing Project
Samsung TV Plus greenlit a season two of the high-octane series, which follows Keanu Reeves and Gard Hollinger, riders Corey Alexander and Jeremy McWilliams, and their team as they rev up from building world-class machines to competing in the high-stakes world of professional racing in MotoAmerica, America’s premier motorcycle road racing series.
Starz
RENEWED: S.W.A.T. Exiles
Star Shemar Moore announced the S.W.A.T. spinoff was renewed for season two ahead of its season one premiere on Starz.
Fred Hayes/Disney via Getty Images
RENEWED: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
MomTok survives to dance another day.
The hit Hulu reality series will be back for season six following a drama-plagued fifth season.
Peacock
RENEWED: The Five Star Weekend
The Peacock series based on Elin Hilderbrand's novel is booking another stay with news of a season two renewal.
Disney
RENEWED & ENDING: The Artful Dodger
The Australian drama will return for its third and final season on Hulu in 2027.
Paramount+
CANCELED: Colin From Accounts
The Paramount+ comedy returns for its third and final season Sept. 10.
Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images
RENEWED: American Idol
The search for America's next music superstar continues when season 25 premieres next year.
AppleTV
ENDING: The Morning Show
Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston’s Apple TV series is officially coming to an end with its fifth season, set to premiere in 2027, the stars confirmed in a press release July 23.
“From the beginning, Apple has supported our vision for The Morning Show, and we feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to tell stories that reflect what’s happening in the world around us with a twist of dark humor,” Aniston, who plays Alex Levy, said. “It’s been such a privilege to work with this insanely talented cast, and our extraordinary writers, producers, and crew.”
Peacock
RENEWED: Love Island: Beyond the Villa
Follow Love Island USA's hottest Bombshells from season eight as they transition from the Villa back to real life on season three of Peacock's reality TV spinoff.
Justine Yeung/Prime Video
RENEWED: Every Year After
The Prime Video television series based on Carley Fortune's Barry's Bay universe will return for a sophomore season.
Emerson Miller/Paramount+
RENEWED: Dutton Ranch
Paramount+'s Yellowstone spinoff is saying giddyup to season two.
Netflix
CANCELED: The Boroughs
The Duffer Brothers' post-Stranger Things sci-fi series is done after just one season, Deadline reported.
Apple TV
RENEWED: The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy's travel series will continue globe-trotting on season four.
Apple TV
RENEWED: Widow's Bay
The spooky series starring Matthew Rhys as the mayor of a haunted New England island will be back for season two.
Netflix
ENDING: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
Netflix announced the small screen adaptation of Holly Jackson's bestselling book trilogy will conclude with the upcoming third season. This final chapter will bring Pip's ultimate investigation to its gripping conclusion.
Ralph Bavaro/NBC
CANCELED: The Hunting Party
The NBC drama is done after just two seasons, according to Deadline.
Eddy Chen/HBO
ENDING: Euphoria
Following the May 31 finale of Euphoria—which saw a heartbreaking end for Zendaya’s Rue—creator Sam Levinson confirmed the third season is the HBO show’s last.
“In terms of the story that we set out to tell,” he said during an appearance on the New York Times’ Popcast, “which is a story about addiction and its consequences, this feels like the end to me. Looking back, you know, on the last eight years, I think it was such a kind of fulfilling journey in terms of this cast, the crew, what we were able to accomplish.”
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