Jean Smart has won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, reclaiming her title from “Abbott Elementary” creator and star Quinta Brunson after “Hacks” was forced to bow out of competition at the beginning of the year due to production delays pushing back its third season.
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Smart used her acceptance speech to have a laugh at the expense of her frequently-renamed employer. She began by thanking “everybody at HBO” before playfully correcting herself and saying “Max.” While “Hacks” is overseen by HBO executives, it has not been branded as an HBO series since Warner Bros.’ flagship streaming service changed its name from HBO Max to Max in 2023.
“Just what we need, another network!” Smart quipped.
This means Smart has now won an Emmy in this category for every season she’s played Vegas comic and showbiz legend Deborah Vance. She also continues to hold the record as the oldest woman to ever win in this category.
This latest season of “Hacks” saw Deborah fight for one of her deepest dreams: Getting to host her own late night show on a major broadcast network. Despite the odds set against her, with the help of her writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder), manager Jimmy (Paul W. Downs), and many others, by the end of the season, Deborah is able to score that coveted seat behind the desk. However, she still has a lot to learn about sharing power and while she was initially against giving Ava the chance to be her head writer on the show, her protégé is quick to pick up some lessons from her and blackmails her way into the job anyway. This tees up a contentious Season 4 that will, in all likelihood, put Smart back into the awards race next year as well.
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In addition to delays surrounding last year’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, production on Season 3 of “Hacks” was also forced to take a break as a result of health issues Smart was dealing with as early as February 2023. She wrote in an Instagram post during that time, “February is American Heart Month — a time when the nation spotlights heart health, so it feels important to share with all of you that I’m recovering from a recent, successful heart procedure. I am fortunate to have excellent professional care and support from family and friends while I continue to recuperate.”
Not only has Smart won three Emmys for “Hacks,” but she’s also won previously in the Supporting category for her stint on the ABC sitcom “Samantha Who?” and twice for guest appearances on “Frasier” in the early 2000s. Smart has also been nominated multiple times for her roles in “24,” “Fargo,” “Watchmen,” and “Mare of Easttown.” Along with her Emmy wins, for her performance in “Hacks,” Smart has also won a Golden Globe, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Critic’s Choice Awards, and many other accolades.
Following the first season premiering in 2021, the show’s creators spoke with IndieWire about its impact and what Smart brought to the table. At the time, Downs in particular said of choosing Smart for the role, “It’s a very short list of women in that age bracket, and Jean was at the top for us. Also, she really was emblematic of the character in that, even though she’s worked prolifically and has never been maligned by the industry in the same way Deborah had, we always felt that she was under-appreciated for the range and amount of talent that she has. To give her a starring role to shine in is one of our proudest accomplishments.”
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