Last Call: Jean Smart & Hannah Einbinder To Play Their 'Hacks' Characters One More Time For Live FYC Event As Series Ends With No Spinoffs Planned
Deadline
•Tue, 11 Aug 2026 20:00:34 +0000
📰 What Happened
Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder will play their Hacks characters one more time at a sold-out live FYC event on Friday, produced to support the show’s record 24 Emmy nominations. No spinoffs are planned, with HBO said to be closing out the characters’ stories with the fifth-season finale. The creators are moving on to new projects.
🔍 The Backstory
Hacks ran for five seasons, becoming a critical darling and Emmy favorite about the friendship between an aging comedian and a young writer. It built a devoted cult following around characters like manager Jimmy and his chaotic assistant Kayla, who fuelled spinoff rumours.
🎯 Why It Matters
Show finales and the choice not to spin off matter because they decide how beloved stories end. For Hacks fans, it settles whether the universe continues and marks a rare chance to see the characters live on stage.
Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder will play their Hacks characters one more time at a sold-out live FYC event on Friday, produced to support the show’s record 24 Emmy nominations. No spinoffs are planned, with HBO said to be closing out the characters’ stories with the fifth-season finale. The creators are moving on to new projects.
Hacks ran for five seasons, becoming a critical darling and Emmy favorite about the friendship between an aging comedian and a young writer. It built a devoted cult following around characters like manager Jimmy and his chaotic assistant Kayla, who fuelled spinoff rumours.
Show finales and the choice not to spin off matter because they decide how beloved stories end. For Hacks fans, it settles whether the universe continues and marks a rare chance to see the characters live on stage.