Hacks season 4 centers on Hannah Einbinder’s Ava Daniels as she cements her rise to head writer, reshaping the dynamic with Deborah Vance
When casting began in 2020 for the HBO Max hit Hacks, creators Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky sifted through hundreds of auditions for Ava Daniels, a 20-something comedy writer who teams with Vegas legend Deborah Vance. They ultimately chose Hannah Einbinder, a then-little-known stand-up with no prior TV series experience, a decision that propelled her toward four Emmy nominations and reshaped the show’s arc in Season 4.
Downs notes that Einbinder stood out in a pivotal audition scene where Ava, enraged by a tweet about a closeted senator and his gay son, threatens to kill herself. Many performers who read for the part were funny and talented, but Einbinder delivered the moment with a dry, sardonic edge—the voice of a writer who speaks blunt truth. That audition sealed Ava’s power shift as she blackmails Deborah into naming her the head writer of a new late-night show, a turn that makes Season 4 distinctly Ava-centric.
Einbinder herself acknowledges that Season 4 offered the writers fresh mountains for her character. She recalls Ava’s explosive meltdown after discovering her team exploited her gesture-based team-building efforts, a scene that pairs high-volume shouting with the destruction of a $70 branzino. It’s a moment that pushed Einbinder beyond previous acting territory and showcased the range the showrunners believed she could inhabit.
Her journey to Hacks began with a steep learning curve. On Day One, Einbinder admitted she knew little about making a TV show beyond a basic acting handbook, Michael Caine’s Acting in Film. Downs praises her disciplined preparation, noting that she comes to scripts with extensive notes and a deep commitment to inhabiting the dialogue as if it’s the first time it’s spoken. Einbinder’s quick adaptation is partly rooted in her background—her mother, Laraine Newman, an original Saturday Night Live cast member, exposed her to a life around entertainment, while her own path included competitive cheerleading, which she says contributed to her sense of showmanship, teamwork, and coachable discipline.
Einbinder’s career has been a blend of stand-up and on-screen work. After college at Chapman University, where she majored in broadcasting, she warmed up for comedian Nicole Byer and then toured as an opening act for the likes of Chelsea Handler and Dana Gould. She became the youngest comedian to perform on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in early 2020, a breakout moment that helped define her unique voice. She reflects on the broader comedy landscape with nuance, noting the political currents in late-night television and how they shape what audiences hear from hosts.
Beyond Hacks, Einbinder has pursued film projects that signal a broader artistic ambition. Her HBO Max stand-up special Everything Must Go (2024) showcases personal anecdotes that helped connect her to new collaborators, including Jane Schoenbrun, who cast her in Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. Schoenbrun described Einbinder’s on-camera energy as “deranged physicality” that suited a project aimed at a more artful register than a traditional sitcom. In Miasma, Einbinder plays a queer director drawn into a psychosexual frenzy, signaling a shift toward projects that blend humor with boundary-pushing storytelling.
In the near term, Einbinder remains tied to Hacks, with Season 5 renewal already announced and expectations high that the show will continue its momentum. When asked what she hopes for Ava as Hacks approaches its end, Einbinder keeps her answer grounded in character realism—and a touch of humor: she’d like Ava to cure her acne and grow her hair out, a lighthearted wish that underscores the character’s human stakes amid a high-pressure career ascent.
What this means for fans and the broader industry
– Hacks has evolved into a vehicle for character-driven storytelling, with Ava Daniels at the center, reflecting a trend toward female-led, writer-centric narratives in prestige streaming television.
– Einbinder’s growth—from stand-up breakthrough to a complex television lead—highlights how stand-up roots can inform and enrich scripted performances, especially when the performer brings a dry, self-aware comedic sensibility.
– The show’s willingness to push Ava into new emotional and dramatic heights, including the infamous branzino meltdown, demonstrates a commitment to expanding character dimensions while maintaining the sharp wit and financial-sparring banter that define Hacks.
Summary
Hacks Season 4 marks a turning point as Ava Daniels moves to the forefront, aided by Hannah Einbinder’s meticulous preparation and unique comedic voice. The season deepens Ava’s power struggle with Deborah Vance, while Einbinder’s off-screen projects signal a broader artistic ambition that blends humor with more provocative and emotionally felt storytelling.
Additional notes for editors and readers
– Keywords to emphasize for SEO: Hacks, Hannah Einbinder, Ava Daniels, Deborah Vance, Season 4, HBO Max, Emmy nominations, Paul Downs, Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky, Late Show, Miasma, Jane Schoenbrun.
– Potential engagement angles: how Ava’s leadership changes the show’s writing room dynamics, the balance of humor and vulnerability in Season 4, and Einbinder’s recent film projects as a indicator of her evolving career strategy.
– Suggested pull quote for social: “Ava’s ascent isn’t just a power grab—it’s a transformation that reveals what the show can do when its young writer’s voice finally takes the lead.”