'Hacks' Season 2: 5 things you need to know about HBO Max comedy series

'Hacks', a comedy about the dark mentorship between two comedians, is returning for a second season
Jean Smart (L) and Hannah Enbinder (R) in 'Hacks' Season 2 ( HBO max)
Jean Smart (L) and Hannah Enbinder (R) in 'Hacks' Season 2 ( HBO max)

Emmy-winning series 'Hacks' will return to HBO Max this spring. 'Hacks' was among the most beloved series of summer 2021 when it premiered on HBO Max and received widespread critical acclaim. In the series, Jean Smart plays washed-up Vegas comic Deborah Vance as she struggles to connect with her new writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder), who has been canceled due to a bad tweet. Jean Smart won an Emmy, SAG, and Critics Choice Award for her portrayal of Deborah, while co-stars Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, and Jane Adams were all nominated for Emmys last year for their respective roles. 'Hacks' additionally won two more Emmys for writing and directing in a Comedy Series.

The show was renewed before the season 1 finale, which ended with a cliffhanger that saw Deborah leaving her Vegas residence and Ava sending details about the comic's life to producers developing a show about her. The new season will debut on Thursday, May 12 on HBO Max with two episodes. The eight-episode season continues with two new episodes a week, wrapping up on June 2, two days after the 2022 Emmy eligibility period ends. Here's all that we know about the show.

RELATED ARTICLES

HBO Max 'Kimi': 5 things you didn't know about Rita Wilson

'Warming Up to You': 5 things you need to know about Hallmark's upcoming rom-com

When will 'Hacks' Season 2 release and where to watch it?

HBO Max and Universal Television announced that Season 2 will premiere with two episodes on May 12, followed by two episodes per week, concluding on June 2.

What will Season 2 of 'Hacks' be about?

In season 2, the dark mentorship between legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) and her young, entitled writer Ava (Einbinder) continues to evolve as the two travel across the country workshopping Deborah’s new stand-up act.

Who stars in Season 2 of 'Hacks'?

Returning cast members include Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Christopher McDonald, Kaitlin Olson, Paul W. Downs, Poppy Liu, Rose Abdoo, Mark Indelicato, Meg Stalter, Angela E. Gibbs, Luenell, Johnny Sibilly, Joe Mande, Ally Maki, and Lorenza Izzo. New recurring guest stars include Laurie Metcalf, Martha Kelly, Ming-Na Wen, and Susie Essman, while Margaret Cho and Devon Sawa also appear in the new season.

Showrunners

‘Hacks’ is created by Emmy winners Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky. It is executive produced by Downs and Aniello via their Paulilu banner, Statsky via First Thought Productions, as well as Emmy winners Michael Schur via Fremulon, David Miner for 3 Arts Entertainment, and Morgan Sackett. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.

Trailer



 


 

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Druski brings his viral megachurch pastor to Netflix in a semi-scripted comedy co-starring Mike Epps as his deacon.
2026-11-02T17:09:22.000Z
HBO Max’s ‘Gilmore Girls’ documentary explores the show’s lasting appeal through cast interviews and never-before-seen footage.
2026-11-02T15:48:05.000Z
Emaline West is a new character who does not appear in the original Stephen King novel
2026-11-02T11:58:15.000Z
Dave Bautista, who looks unrecognizable, began weight training in September after being cast as the Norse god, following Ryan Hurst’s exit from the series
2026-11-02T09:31:15.000Z
Tovah Feldshuh addresses reports of tension on the set of ‘Nobody Wants This’ after Adam Brody’s comments on the Israel-Gaza conflict
2026-11-02T09:21:34.000Z
The HBO period drama brings two unexpected faces to its carefully recreated 1880s New York setting
2026-11-02T07:37:24.000Z
Russell, played by Jensen Ackles, left at the end of Season 3 for an undisclosed assignment
2026-11-02T06:27:59.000Z
Here's everything we know about the Christmas-meets-murder-mystery TV series
2026-11-02T06:21:38.000Z
Gladys welcomes a son in the Season 4 premiere, but a postpartum hemorrhage leads to an emergency hysterectomy that changes her future
2026-11-02T06:06:43.000Z
'Marshals' Season 2 Episode 5 is out now and it finally reveals whether Kayce survived the bomb blast after the previous cliffhanger ending
2026-11-02T04:52:10.000Z