‘Hacks’ Plots Season Three Return After Two Year Wait

Jon Blistein
·2 min read
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Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart as Ava and Deb in 'Hacks.' - Credit: Courtesy of Max
Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart as Ava and Deb in 'Hacks.' - Credit: Courtesy of Max

Hacks, the excellent dramedy about comedy, is finally set to return for its third season, out May 2, on Max.

The new run of episodes will pick up one year after the end of Season Two when (spoiler alert), comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) graciously fired her writing partner Ava (Hannah Einbinder) so Hannah could start building a career of her own. Obviously, the two parties were never meant to stay apart for long, and the new teaser opens with an unexpected reunion in a hotel elevator.

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The rest of the clip doesn’t offer much in the way of Season Three plot points, just a montage of clips set to Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing.”

Along with Smart and Einbinder, Hacks stars Carl Clemons-Hopkins as Deb’s manager and advisor, Marcus, Paul Downs as her agent, Jimmy, and Meg Stalter as Jimmy’s hilariously delusional assistant Kayla (Downs and Stalter were both promoted to series regulars for Season Three). Kaitlin Olson also has a recording role as Deb’s daughter, while other featured players include Christopher McDonald, Mark Indelicato, Rose Abdoo, and Lorenza Izzo.

Season Three of Hacks — which arrives two years after Season Two — will also feature a handful of guest stars, including Helen Hunt, Christina Hendricks, Christopher Lloyd, George Wallace, Tony Goldwyn, and Dan Bucatinsky. Following its two-episode premiere on May 2, two additional episodes will drop each week up until the series finale on May 30.

Hacks’ first two seasons have earned rave reviews, as well as a plethora of awards. Smart has picked up two Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, while co-creators Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky have picked up prizes for writing and directing.

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