One of HBO’s All-Time Greatest Comedies Is Quietly Ending After 5 Years

In the world of television, the worst thing you can do is overstay your welcome. Over the years, many shows have lost fans because they’ve gone on for way too many seasons. Series such as How I Met Your Mother, Dexter, The Walking Dead, and Glee have all been criticized for not knowing when to call it quits. Luckily, one of the most beloved comedies on television has just confirmed that it won’t be falling into this trap.

What Is ‘Hacks’ About?

Hacks debuted on HBO Max back in 2021 and quickly won over both critics and viewers. The dark comedy follows a famous stand-up comedian named Deborah Vance (Jean Smart, in a career-defining role) who realizes she needs to jump-start her act after being fired from her Las Vegas residency. She hires a young, sarcastic Gen Z comedy writer named Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) to help with her revamp, and the two become classic frenemies. As Hacks explores their complicated relationship, the first four seasons have been jam-packed with both heartbreak and countless laughs. Deborah has gone from rebuilding her stand-up career and status as a legend to landing her dream gig as a late-night talk show host. That level of success has not come easily, as both Deborah and Ava prove that they’ll do anything to reach the top.

Hacks has earned four consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series, winning the award for its third season. Several cast members have earned critical acclaim, with Einbinder netting four Emmy nominations and securing a win in 2025. Smart has earned the most accolades for her work as Deborah with an impressive four consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy. Now, in the wake of all this success, the team behind Hacks has announced that the series will end after its fifth season, set to premiere on April 9.

‘Hacks’ Is Incredibly Smart To End on a High Note

At first, it might seem odd that Hacks would end when the show is still riding a high. However, there’s no better way to close out the story of Deborah and Ava than by doing it smartly and intentionally. The Season 4 finale of Hacks, which aired in May 2025, sees Deborah at an extremely low point. She’s unable to perform comedy in the U.S. because she broke her talk show contract, and an erroneous notice of her death appears in the press, even though she’s still very much alive. Her relationship with Ava is as fraught as ever, and once again, Deborah will need to claw her way back to relevancy, just like we’ve seen her do so many times. This turn of events offers plenty of opportunities for hilarious plotlines and appearances by Deborah’s agents (played by the consistently hilarious Paul W. Downs and Meg Stalter). Hacks can conveniently bring back the whole gang one more time and finally give Deborah and Ava the happy endings that they deserve.

If the Hacks team had decided to keep the show going even after a fifth season, the whole premise for the show would’ve started to feel worn out. How many times could Deborah reinvent herself and struggle to reach her dreams before it felt stale? There’s not much more bickering with Ava that fans could take if the pair were never able to fully embrace their bond. By ending the show after Season 5, viewers can still hold these characters close and appreciate them for the laughs and lessons they’ve provided. Wrapping up their story now allows the show to end organically, still relying on the brilliant and hilarious writing it’s always consisted of.

In an exclusive interview with Collider, Einbinder promised that the fifth season will go out on a high, saying, “It’s the Hacks special, baby. You’re going to laugh. You’re going to cry. There’s going to be wigs, and the girls are there. It’s going to be great.” We have no doubt that the writing and acting will be impeccable as always, and the whole series will ensure that the old adage, “Always leave them wanting more,” will be very much at play.

Seasons 1-4 of Hacks are available to stream on HBO Max in the US. Season 5 will premiere on Thursday, April 9.