By the time Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) arrived in Paris for the “Hacks” series finale, the dazzling HBO comedy had already spent five seasons arguing that humor can be more of a lifeline than a laugh.
For Deborah, comedy was a way to maintain control over a changing trajectory in Hollywood. For Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), it became a means of processing uncertainty in her own career. And for nearly every other character on the Emmy-winning series, jokes functioned as both an act of warm generosity and subtle self-preservation.
Speaking during a recent USG University panel moderated by IndieWire, the cast and creative team behind the final season of “Hacks” reflected on the role comedy has played in the show’s storied success and in their own lives over the past five years.
“We started in comedy just because we loved it,” said “Hacks” co-creator Jen Statsky. “The goal was first and foremost to make people laugh and to make people have a good time.”
As the show evolved, Statsky said the “Hacks” writers’ room also came to appreciate comedy as a means of engaging with larger ideas about changing pop culture and politics. “It’s easier to put an idea into the world if you’re laughing with it. It expands your mind,” she said.
“It’s like a primary language,” agreed Einbinder. “It’s how we communicate. It’s how we connect. It’s how we show our love for each other. It’s how we playfully dig at each other. It’s just how we talk.”
That flexibility has allowed “Hacks” to tackle everything from generational conflict in the workplace to shifting dynamics playing out across the modern entertainment industry without losing its sense of fun. According to series regular Robby Hoffman, who joined the cast as Randi in Season 4, “Hacks” comedy style also allows for people with vastly different perspectives to coexist in one scene.
“Different characters [are] allowed their own perspectives,” Hoffman said. “You can come from different places and still get along.”
That philosophy extends beyond the writing. Production designer Rob Tokarz joined IndieWire’s “Hacks” Season 5 panel on the crafter and argued that jokes make complexity more accessible.
“When people are laughing, you’re able to get into their brains a little bit more,” Tokarz said. “I think the things that come after, they’re heard.”
“We’re constantly adapting,” co-creator Lucia Aniello agreed. “We’ll watch the take and then we really feel it and adjust it on the fly. You’re really listening for the rhythm.”
With “Hacks” having wrapped up its legendary run on May 28, that belief remains central to what the show does best: finding uncomfortable truths that prove humor can offer both escape and connection at the same time. Watch IndieWire’s panel with the co-creators, cast, and production designer above.
“Hacks” is produced by UTV, a division of Universal Studio Group. It is now streaming on HBO Max.
IndieWire partnered with Universal Studio Group for USG University, a series of panels celebrating the outstanding artistry and artisans behind the 2025–2026 television season across NBCUniversal’s portfolio of shows. USG University, a Universal Studio Group program, is presented in partnership with the Motion Picture & Television Fund.
