Hacks has been renewed for season 4.
The highly popular comedy series starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder will return to MAX, it was announced on Thursday.
The news came just hours after a dramatic season 3 finale on the Warner Bros. streaming service. Discovery appeared.
The series has also been a success among critics, as Jean — who recently opened up about the shocking death of her husband Richard Gilliland — has earned two Primetime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series categories for seasons one and two.
Hacks has been renewed for season 4, as announced Thursday, as the highly popular comedy series starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder returns to MAX
Hacks follows a dark mentorship that forms between a legendary Las Vegas comedian named Deborah Vance, played by Jean, and an outcast comedy writer named Ava Daniels, played by 29-year-old Hannah.
The series also stars Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Megan Stalter, Paul W. Downs, Rose Abdoo, Mark Indelicato and Kaitlin Olson
Hacks was created by the aforementioned Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky.
Earlier this month, Jean reflected on the shocking death of her husband Richard Gilliland – three years after he died from a heart condition.
The actress, who was married to Gilliland for 34 years before he passed away in March 2021 at the age of 71, said losing the love of her life was “the worst thing” and that she will “never get over it.”
In an excerpt from the May 17 episode of Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? obtained by PeopleSmart said she initially believed her husband had COVID when he developed chest pains.
She said: ‘Because it was such a shock. It was so unexpected. And you know, I thought he had COVID or something. The places I took him to get him tested. I didn’t do anything except get a COVID test.
Smart said she “went back to one of those places” to talk to the person responsible after her husband’s death.
The series was also a success among critics, as Jean earned two Primetime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series categories for seasons one and two.
Hacks follows a dark mentorship that forms between a legendary Las Vegas comedian named Deborah Vance, played by Jean, and a comedy writer outcast named Ava Daniels, played by 29-year-old Hannah.
“I said, ‘Let me ask you something. I said if I brought my 71-year-old husband here, who was complaining of pain when you take a deep breath, and I said, ‘What would you do for him?’ “Well, [the] The first thing we do is an AKG.” I said, “He died last week. Why didn’t you do that?”
Smart – who shared sons Connor, 34, and Forrest, 15, with Gilliland – said she had struggled to accept that Gilliland was really gone.
She said: ‘I have lost a brother or sister. That’s a different, very different experience. Losing your partner of 35 years. I mean, literally half my life living with him is just indescribable.
“And you just go through a period where you think it’s just not real. It’s just not real. You know? This just doesn’t make any sense.”
The couple, who met on the set of Designing Women in the 1980s, had been married for almost 34 years.
Gilliland died just as Smart was filming the final week of season one of Hacks, the comedy-drama series for which the actress has since received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series.
She talked about working after Richard’s death during a conversation with The New Yorker in 2022.
“I still had a week of Hacks to do,” she said. ‘That was hard. I had to do a funeral scene. I was a wreck, but it actually turned out to be really funny.”
Jean recently reflected on the shocking death of her husband Richard Gilliland – three years after he died from a heart condition – pictured in 2020
The 72-year-old actress, who was married to Gilliland for 34 years before he passed away aged 71 in March 2021, said losing the love of her life was ‘the worst’ and she will ‘never get over it’ – photo 2017
Their collaboration included TV films such as Audrey’s Rain and Just My Imagination, as well as the play It Had To Be You.
Smart – shared sons Connor, 34, and Forrest, 15 (photo 2021) with Gilliland
Hacks stars Smart and Hannah Einbinder, with Smart playing iconic Las Vegas comic Deborah Vance alongside Einbinder’s Ava
She continued, “I was a wreck, but it actually turned out to be really funny. But he was one of those actors who never got the chance to really show what he could do. He did that a few times on stage.
‘But he really sacrificed his career for me to take advantage of my opportunities. Without him I wouldn’t have any of this.’
They met when Gilliland landed the recurring role of J.D. Shackelford, the boyfriend of Annie Potts’ character, Mary Jo Shively, on Designing Women (1986–1991).
His acting resume dates back to 1974 with a guest role on the popular crime drama series The Streets of San Francisco. The Los Angeles native also made notable appearances over the years in McMillan & Wife (1976-77) The Waltons (1981), The Love Boat (1985), Matlock (1991, 1993, 1995), Party Of Five (1998) , 24 (2006) and Dexter (2009), as well as the television miniseries Little Women (1978).
Smart played the role of Floyd Gerhardt in the black comedy crime drama series Fargo (2016), for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series.
She also received the same Outstanding Supporting Actress nomination for her role as Agent Laurie Blake in Watchmen (2019).
In addition to Designing Women (1986-1991), her television career highlights include two Primetime Emmy Awards for Frasier (2000-2001) and another for Samantha Who? (2007-2009).
She also starred in notable films such as Sweet Home Alabama (2002), Garden State (2004), I Heart Huckabees (2004), Youth in Revolt (2009), The Accountant (2016) and A Simple Favor (2018).
