Los Angeles, April 25, 2025 — The latest episode of HBO Max’s “Hacks” dropped a bombshell for fans, with Deborah Vance, played by Jean Smart, facing a nerve-racking moment that cracked open her tough-as-nails exterior. In a candid interview, series co-creator and star Paul W. Downs peeled back the curtain on a pivotal scene where comedy legend Carol Burnett, playing herself, dishes out advice to Deborah, and why Ava, portrayed by Hannah Einbinder, remains the comic’s unlikely lifeline.
The episode, which aired yesterday, sees Deborah, the trailblazing late-night host, grappling with a panic attack during a dress rehearsal for her new show. It’s a raw moment for a character who’s spent decades hiding vulnerabilities behind sharp wit. Rattled, she ends up at a cardiologist’s office, where a chance encounter with Burnett shifts the story. After some small talk, Deborah swallows her pride and asks the icon how to handle stage fright. Burnett’s answer is simple but heavy: pick one person in the audience and perform just for them.
Downs, who also plays Deborah’s manager Jimmy, explained the weight of this advice. Burnett’s words aren’t just a quick fix; they’re a roadmap for Deborah to reconnect with her craft under the crushing pressure of being the first woman to host a major 11:30 p.m. network show. The stakes are sky-high—her success could open doors for women in comedy, or slam them shut if she flops.
But it’s Ava, Deborah’s head writer, who emerges as the real anchor. When Deborah takes the stage for the premiere, panic creeps in again. She scans the crowd, and time seems to freeze. The audience fades, leaving only Ava, standing by the camera, laughing with a quiet warmth. Deborah locks onto her, and the show clicks into place. Downs described Ava as Deborah’s “Dumbo’s feather”—a reference to the Disney elephant who believed a feather gave him the power to fly. For Deborah, Ava is that psychological crutch, the one person who steadies her enough to soar.
The dynamic isn’t all warm fuzzies. Deborah and Ava’s relationship is a minefield of tension, fueled by past betrayals and clashing egos. Downs hinted that Deborah’s reliance on Ava, however begrudging, reveals a flicker of affection beneath the comic’s icy facade. The episode ends with Deborah nailing her debut, thanks to a little help from another cameo, Randy Newman, who adds a musical lift to the night.
Filming wrapped for the fourth season in January 2025, after starting in October 2024. The series, renewed last May, has racked up critical praise and awards, including Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress for Smart. Season four premiered on April 10, 2025, picking up minutes after the explosive season three finale, where Ava blackmailed Deborah to secure her spot as head writer. Guest stars this season include Julianne Nicholson and Michaela Watkins, with Burnett and Newman joining the cameo roster.
Downs, alongside co-creators Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, has steered “Hacks” since its 2021 debut, blending sharp comedy with unflinching looks at sexism and ambition in showbiz. The show’s fourth season runs on Max, with new episodes dropping Thursdays.