The Reel Review
After landing the coveted spot as the first female late-night TV talk show host, comedian Deborah Vance and her writer Ava must bury the hatchet over a recent feud and figure out a way to make their new show a success. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder star in this 4th season of the award-winning HBO Max comedy series.
After a more serious first couple of episodes, the show again finds its comic footing with some hilarious and clever moments as the two patch up their friendship. Julianne Nicholson (Mare of Easttown) is a terrific addition as the “dance mom” who – surprise, surprise! – isn’t even a mother but rather, a nutjob with a drinking problem, with Helen Hunt back as network executive Winnie Landell and Michaela Watkins (Suze, Transparent) as Stacey, the HR representative assigned to keep the peace between Deborah and Ava. Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter find themselves with expanded roles as agents Jimmy and Kayla.
Season 4 really shines in its last few episodes, which in addition to having lots of fun celebrity cameos, cleverly pays homage to several big moments in American TV talk show history with some clever, funny and really sweet moments. The twisty ending, about corporate greed, packs quite a punch, especially in today’s times.
REEL FACTS
• Hacks has been an Emmy darling, nominated for Best Comedy Series for all four seasons and winning for Season 3, with Jean Smart winning Best Actress four consecutive times. Hannah Einbinder won for Season 4 after three prior nominations, as did Julianne Nicholson for Best Guest Actress on a Comedy Series.
• Jean Smart and Helen Hunt appeared together in the 1987 Matthew Broderick film Project X, with Smart playing a small supporting role as the professor of Hunt’s character.
• The 2025 decision by CBS to end Late Night with Stephen Colbert following complaints from President Donald Trump has drawn eerie parallels to the later part of Season 4 of Hacks.
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