Deborah Vance finally returned to the stage in the final season of “Hacks” and now she will in real-life too — sorta. In a first for “Hacks” and stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, the stars (and their castmates) will appear on stage in public, playing their characters in front of an audience. This is the first time Smart and Einbinder have appeared in-character outside of the Emmy-winning HBO Max comedy.
Timed to the start of Emmy Phase 2 voting, the “Hacks” cast and creators have put together a one-night-only production, to be held at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, set inside the world of “Hacks.”
Dubbed “Deborah Vance & Friends & Enemies Live!,” the event will feature Smart as Deborah Vance, Hannah Einbinder as Ava, and more cast members playing their characters. The show will take place on Friday, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the one-hour program starting at around 7:30 p.m. Fans will be served drinks, pizza, soft pretzels and popcorn beforehand. (The event is already sold out.)
“Hacks” earned 24 Emmy nominations for its fifth and final season, making it the most nominated season of a comedy ever. (The record was previously held by “The Bear” and then “The Studio,” which nabbed 23 noms for its freshman season just last year.) “Hacks” is the incumbent outstanding comedy series winner at the Emmys, having won the top prize in 2025.
