Hacks stars film final season amid Emmys Palestine remarks controversy

Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart were back on the Hacks set in New York this week, filming scenes for the show’s fifth and final season. The HBO Max comedy stars Smart as Deborah Vance, a battle-axe stand-up icon, and Einbinder as Ava Daniels, a young writer who becomes her employee. The pair were photographed in Midtown Manhattan in character, sprinting across a street with co-stars Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter and Mark Indelicato in tow as they dashed toward a party. The production continues toward a fifth season, with the show expected to wrap after completing that run.

Earlier this month, both actresses earned Emmys for Hacks. Einbinder won best supporting actress in a comedy series, while Smart also took home an Emmy for her performance. On the red carpet, Einbinder’s moment drew particular attention when she finished her speech with a line that referenced “Go birds” and “free Palestine,” a moment that quickly sparked polarized reactions on social media. Einbinder later described the moment as a response to a personal and political context, saying she felt compelled to speak up about Gaza given her background and relationships. She told reporters backstage that she believes it is important to distinguish Jews from the State of Israel, and she cited the need to discuss issues affecting frontline workers and communities in the region. The remarks reverberated online, with some praising the stance and others criticizing the delivery. She is among roughly 3,900 showbiz professionals who have signed a petition by Film Workers for Palestine urging a boycott of Israeli film companies deemed complicit in genocide, while stopping short of a broader cultural boycott.

Smart, who has been navigating a summer health issue, was seen this week still in character despite recent public appearances with a cane after a fall and knee surgery. She appeared at the Emmys able to walk unassisted, a moment that contrasted with a prior incident in July when she spoke about a fall that occurred while she was out with her sons. The actress recalled tripping on a hockey-puck-sized base of a temporary barrier during a cab ride, an accident she described publicly as a painful misstep that prompted a brief pause in her stage work.

On set this week, Einbinder and Smart resumed their on-screen partnership, embodying the dynamic that has driven Hacks since its inception: two people with starkly different sensibilities who clash but ultimately forge a complicated, if tempestuous, friendship. Einbinder’s Ava Daniels is the younger writer who becomes Deborah Vance’s employee, and the chemistry between the characters anchors the humor and emotional core of the series. The scenes captured by photographers included Downs as Jimmy, the duo’s harried mutual manager, with Stalter’s Kayla—described in the production as Kayla who evolved from assistant to co-manager—alongside Indelicato’s Damien, Deborah’s assistant. In the captured frame, the group rushed through a Midtown street, Kayla lugging designer shopping, Ava clutching a large bouquet, Jimmy carrying a gift basket and Damien hauling an oversized bottle, as if they were en route to a party or celebratory event.

Einbinder, the daughter of Saturday Night Live original cast member Laraine Newman, has been a rising voice in television comedy. Her breakthrough performance and the show’s sharp storytelling have contributed to Hacks earning acclaim and multiple Emmy nominations and wins this season. The duo’s on-set energy this week underscored the production’s pace as it advances toward its final season, with Downs and other behind-the-scenes collaborators continuing to steer the narrative toward a conclusive arc. The dynamic between Deborah and Ava remains a focal point, balancing satirical edge with moments of vulnerability that fans have come to expect from the series.

The broader context surrounding Einbinder’s Emmys moment reflects the broader intersection of entertainment and political discourse that has characterized a number of awards seasons in recent years. Einbinder’s remarks, which touched on issues about Israel and Gaza, drew questions about the role of personal beliefs in public performances. She has explained that her comments emerged from a personal sense of responsibility and a longstanding commitment to speaking out on behalf of communities affected by conflict, including frontline workers in Gaza. Critics and supporters alike noted the complexity of navigating politics in a space where performers also must consider their artistic and professional obligations. The conversation extended beyond the Emmys, with discussions about how performers can express political views while maintaining professional roles in high-profile projects.

Beyond the awards circuit, the Hacks cast and crew have continued to develop the show’s fifth season, with the writers room and production teams working to finish out the run while preserving the sharp tonal balance that has defined the series. The final season is expected to deliver the blend of biting humor and character-driven moments that fans have embraced, as the beloved mentor-mentee relationship between Deborah and Ava is brought to a formal close. In addition to Smart and Einbinder, the ensemble includes Downs, Stalter, Indelicato and others who contribute to the show’s distinctive voice. As filming proceeds, viewers will be watching not only for the culmination of the series’ narrative arc but also for any final creative choices that may reflect the cast’s public conversations, including the challenges and triumphs highlighted by this season’s Emmys cycle.}