Hacks has been renewed for season 4.
The popular comedy series starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder will return to the MAX, it was announced on Thursday.
The news came just hours after a dramatic Season 3 finale appeared on the Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service.
The series has also been a hit with critics, as Jean, who recently opened up about the shocking death of her husband Richard Gilliland, won two Primetime Emmy Awards in the categories of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for seasons one and two.
Hacks has been renewed for season 4 as announced on Thursday, as the popular comedy series starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder will return to the MAX.
Hacks follows a dark mentorship that forms between a legendary Las Vegas comedian named Deborah Vance, played by Jean, and a comedy writer titled 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 heart disease.
The actress, who was married to Gilliland for 34 years before her death at age 71 in March 2021, said losing the love of her life was “the worst” and she will “never get over it.”
In a clip 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 became ill with chest pains.
She said: ‘Because it was a huge shock. It was so unexpected. And you know, I thought I had COVID or something. The places I took him for tests. I didn’t do anything except a COVID test.
Smart said she “went back to one of those places” to talk to the person in charge after her husband’s death.
The series has also been a hit with critics, as Jean won two Primetime Emmy Awards in the categories of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series 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 titled Ava Daniels, played by 29-year-old Hannah.
“I said, ‘Let me ask you something. I told him that if he brought my 71-year-old husband here, who was complaining of pain when breathing deeply, and said, “What would you do for him?” He said, “Well, the first thing we do is an AKG.” I told him, “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 truly gone.
She said: ‘I have lost a brother. That’s a different experience, completely different. Losing your partner of 35 years. I mean, literally half of my life that I lived with him is just indescribable.
‘And if you go through this period of thinking it’s just not real. It’s just that this isn’t real. 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 the first season 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 spoke about working after Richard’s death while speaking to The New Yorker in 2022.
“I still had a week of Hacks left to do,” he said. ‘That was difficult. I had to do a funeral scene. I was a mess, but it actually turned out to be a lot of fun.’
Jean recently reflected on the shocking death of her husband Richard Gilliland, three years after he died from heart disease, pictured in 2020.
The actress, 72, who was married to Gilliland for 34 years before her death at age 71 in March 2021, said losing the love of her life was “the worst” and she will “never get over it” ( in the photo from 2017).
Their work together included television films such as Audrey’s Rain and Just My Imagination, as well as the stage play It Had To Be You.
Smart: Shares sons Connor, 34, and Forrest, 15 (pictured in 2021) with Gilliland
Hacks stars Smart and Hannah Einbinder, with Smart playing iconic Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance opposite Einbinder’s Ava.
She continued: “I was a mess, but it actually turned out to be a lot of fun.” But he was one of those actors who never got the chance to really show what she could do. A couple of times on stage she did it.
But he really sacrificed his career so I could take advantage of my opportunities. I wouldn’t have all this if it weren’t for him.
They met when Gilliland landed the recurring role of JD 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 hit 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 Floyd Gerhardt in the black comedy-crime drama series Fargo (2016), for which she received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series.
She also earned the same nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Agent Laurie Blake in Watchmen (2019).
Along with Designing Women (1986-1991), her television career highlights also include two Primetime Emmy Awards for Frasier (2000-2001) and another for Samantha Who? (2007-2009).
He has also starred in such notable films as Sweet Home Alabama (2002), Garden State (2004), I Heart Huckabees (2004), Youth in Revolt (2009), The Accountant (2016), and A Simple Favor (2018).