The Emmy Awards 2025 delivered both triumph and frustration for HBO Max’s acclaimed comedy Hacks. The series received 14 Emmy nominations, including a coveted nod for Best Comedy Series, which it previously won. While the show continues to earn praise and recognition, Season 4 also suffered some surprising snubs in key acting categories.
The only comedy to outperform Hacks in number of nominations was The Studio, which amassed a stunning 23 nods. Still, Hacks held its ground, especially for its lead performers, writing, directing, and several craft categories.
Major Emmy Nominations for Hacks Season 4
-
Best Comedy Series: Hacks is once again in the running alongside other major contenders such as Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Nobody Wants This, Only Murders in the Building, Shrinking, The Studio, and What We Do in the Shadows. Season 4 saw Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) rise as talk show host and head writer, making it a season of career fulfillment and tension.
-
Best Comedy Actress: Jean Smart continues her Emmy streak, now nominated for the fourth time. Having previously won in 2021, 2022, and 2024, Smart enters this year’s race as a top contender against Quinta Brunson, Uzo Aduba, Kristen Bell, and Ayo Edebiri.
-
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Hannah Einbinder earned her fourth nomination for portraying the sharp-witted Ava. However, Megan Stalter, often praised as the funniest character in the series, was snubbed again — a shock to many fans.
-
Best Comedy Writing: Hacks submitted just one episode — the emotional “A Slippery Slope” — and it paid off. Writers Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, who previously won for writing and producing, are back in the spotlight.
-
Best Comedy Directing: Lucia Aniello scored a directing nod for the same episode, highlighting the team’s focused submission strategy. She is joined in the directing category by Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), Nathan Fielder (The Rehearsal), and others.
-
Best Comedy Guest Actress: Julianne Nicholson and Robby Hoffman were both nominated, celebrating their scene-stealing performances. However, Kaitlin Olson, Lauren Weedman, and Jane Adams were left out.
Surprising Emmy Snubs
-
Megan Stalter (Supporting Actress): Despite widespread praise for her role as Kayla Schaefer, she was left off the list once again.
-
Paul W. Downs (Supporting Actor): A former nominee, Downs did not receive an acting nod, although he was nominated as a writer and producer.
-
Christopher McDonald (Guest Actor): McDonald has been a core presence on Hacks since its inception but was overlooked this season, even after a previous nomination.
-
Tony Goldwyn, who played a controversial executive, was also snubbed in the Guest Actor category.
See More ...
Craft and Technical Nominations (7)
Hacks also earned recognition in several technical categories, including:
-
Best Casting
-
Best Cinematography (“I Love LA”)
-
Best Costumes (“Heaven”)
-
Best Hairstyling (“I Love LA”)
-
Best Music Supervision (“I Love LA”)
-
Best Picture Editing (“I Love LA”)
-
Best Production Design (“A Slippery Slope”)
Despite missing a few key acting nominations, Hacks remains a powerhouse in the Emmy comedy race, with strong writing, direction, and lead performances keeping it in the conversation. As the competition heats up, the show still stands a strong chance of adding more trophies to its decorated run.
