One of the greatest comedies of the 2020s, “Hacks,” has finally come to an end this year. The excellence of its fifth and final season has ensured that one of our most consistently hilarious shows ends on a glorious high. But while the writing for this show has always been impeccable, as has its ensemble, the main reasons “Hacks” has been so beloved by its fans are Emmy winners Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder. Their dynamic is the heart of the show, and watching Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels butt heads with each other, backstab each other, and become the dearest people in each other’s lives over the course of the show has been a delight.
However, as sentimental as “Hacks” fans may be about this show’s wonderful conclusion, will Emmy voters feel the same? For every final hurrah that juggernauts like “Succession” and “Schitt’s Creek” received, there are also complete shutouts for adored shows like “Better Call Saul” and “Veep.” “Hacks“ is coming off of perhaps its weakest winter awards haul yet, with Jean Smart losing the Actor Award for the very first time—though I doubt any actress could have won over the late, great Catherine O’Hara’s scene-stealing turn in “The Studio.“ There were also a handful of naysayers during the first half of the season, although this final season has largely received acclaim across the board. The raves have only intensified in the back half of the season, with episodes like “Montecito“ and the heartfelt series finale “Hacks“ going down as two of the show’s very best. “Hacks“ has undoubtedly stuck the landing with its final season, and critics and audiences alike clearly agree. Will that be enough for it to take home one last Outstanding Comedy Series prize?
Currently, “Hacks“ has a lot more momentum and buzz than its competitors… with the potential exception of one show. One series has emerged lately as a passion pick that even Apple didn’t see coming, as evidenced by the last three episodes airing outside this year’s eligibility period. But the outpouring of love for “Widow’s Bay“ from audiences and industry has been immense. Now, “Widow’s Bay“ is not even a lock to be nominated in Outstanding Comedy Series, as late breakers like this one rarely live up to their Emmy potential. But should this show manage an Outstanding Comedy Series nomination, the organic buzz does feel reminiscent of the rise of “The Pitt“ last year. I lean “Hacks“ for its own strong industry appeal and fantastic track record at the Emmys, but I do confidently believe that if this season loses, it will be to “Widow’s Bay.”
Speaking of track record, Jean Smart stands to make Emmy history as the first woman to win the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy for every single season of her show. The most recent example of someone who almost completed this feat is, of course, Julia Louis-Dreyfus for “Veep.“ Many have compared Smart to Louis-Dreyfus because of how dominant both actresses’ runs were on their respective shows: Louis-Dreyfus won an Emmy every season of “Veep“ until the show’s finale. Will Smart face the same fate? I suspect not, as Louis-Dreyfus was thwarted by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, whose show also managed to win Outstanding Comedy Series. As it stands, “Hacks“ is easily the strongest female-led series in contention. While Lisa Kudrow has a compelling narrative twenty years in the making for her comeback in “The Comeback“ season 3—and an extremely deserving performance to boot—I highly doubt she wins unless industry voters are so taken by the show’s anti-AI messaging that it leapfrogs “Hacks“ in the series race. Elle Fanning is excellent in “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,“ but the show’s buzz is a bit more muted than expected, and she is not hailed as the standout like Michelle Pfeiffer and Nick Offerman are. While I wouldn’t want to jinx her, I don’t see Smart losing the Emmy for her final season.
Hannah Einbinder is equally brilliant, but she is not quite as safe for a win as her costar. Despite being worthy of a win for practically every season of the show, her first Emmy win only happened last season. What’s worse is that, unlike for seasons 3 and 4, she does not quite have an undeniable Emmy tape—although she is heartbreaking in the show’s series finale. I do think that she could lose, but I struggle to see who would beat her. Michelle Pfeiffer is incredibly baity in “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,“ but she’s competing for a much weaker show, and the Television Academy is biased against movie stars. Janelle James beat Hannah Einbinder at the Critics’ Choice for “Abbott Elementary,“ but that show feels like it’s firmly in decline. Kate O’Flynn plays a fan-favorite character on “Widow’s Bay,“ but Einbinder has greater industry stature. I am not confident in Einbinder’s win for this final season of “Hacks,“ but so far, her competition is not quite compelling.
And finally, we have the writing and directing categories. Writing feels safer for “Hacks,” considering that the show has always appealed to writers for… well… being about writing. The finale is also ridiculously acclaimed and brings the show full circle. As long as it’s winning Outstanding Comedy Series, it has this category in the bag. And while the direction of “Hacks“ as a whole is not quite as flashy as its writing, its self-titled final episode features several inspired visual choices that directors may take note of. It is a two-time DGA-winning show, after all! Seeing as this category always goes to a show that is top two in Outstanding Comedy Series, I think the race is firmly between “Hacks“ and “Widow’s Bay“ at this point. I’d lean toward the latter because of how praised its style is, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see “Hacks“ take home this award as well.
Ultimately, I think “Hacks“ has the potential to deliver its best-ever Emmy performance, given how strong it is across so many categories. While there is always the possibility that Jean Smart gets Julia Louis Dreyfus’d, I just don’t see why the show would suddenly prove weak at the Emmys after how consistent it’s been every season. The fact that its worst Emmys haul includes wins for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series feels very telling. Its critical reception is stronger than its competitors’, the outpouring of love for its excellent conclusion is immense, and it has always snagged at least 2 significant Emmy wins per season. Barring a shock overperformance from “Widow’s Bay“ or another competitor, I think “Hacks“ has probably got the series win—along with several others—in the bag.
Do you think “Hacks” will win in the major categories at this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards? Have you seen the final episode yet? If so, what did you think of it? Please let us know in the comments section below and on Next Best Picture’s X account and check out our latest Emmy predictions here. Please also be sure to subscribe to the Next Best Series Podcast, where we are conducting a number of interviews with Emmy contenders throughout the awards season and discussing the race over the next couple of months.
