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Hacks
S4.E9
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
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IMDbPro

A Slippery Slope

  • Episode aired May 22, 2025
  • TV-MA
  • 38m
IMDb RATING
9.5/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
Jean Smart in Hacks (2021)
ComedyDrama

When Late Night is forced to censor an interview, Deborah and Ava get inadvertently embroiled in controversy. Meanwhile, Jimmy hits rock bottom and Kayla gains clarity on where she belongs.When Late Night is forced to censor an interview, Deborah and Ava get inadvertently embroiled in controversy. Meanwhile, Jimmy hits rock bottom and Kayla gains clarity on where she belongs.When Late Night is forced to censor an interview, Deborah and Ava get inadvertently embroiled in controversy. Meanwhile, Jimmy hits rock bottom and Kayla gains clarity on where she belongs.

  • Director
    • Lucia Aniello
  • Writers
    • Lucia Aniello
    • Paul W. Downs
    • Jen Statsky
  • Stars
    • Jean Smart
    • Hannah Einbinder
    • Carl Clemons-Hopkins
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    9.5/10
    1.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lucia Aniello
    • Writers
      • Lucia Aniello
      • Paul W. Downs
      • Jen Statsky
    • Stars
      • Jean Smart
      • Hannah Einbinder
      • Carl Clemons-Hopkins
    • 8User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos2

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    View Poster

    Top cast34

    Edit
    Jean Smart
    Jean Smart
    • Deborah Vance
    Hannah Einbinder
    Hannah Einbinder
    • Ava Daniels
    Carl Clemons-Hopkins
    Carl Clemons-Hopkins
    • Marcus
    • (credit only)
    Megan Stalter
    Megan Stalter
    • Kayla
    Paul W. Downs
    Paul W. Downs
    • Jimmy
    Rose Abdoo
    Rose Abdoo
    • Josefina
    • (credit only)
    Mark Indelicato
    Mark Indelicato
    • Damien
    Helen Hunt
    Helen Hunt
    • Winnie Landell
    Dan Bucatinsky
    Dan Bucatinsky
    • Rob
    Katie Couric
    Katie Couric
    • Katie Couric
    Julianne Nicholson
    Julianne Nicholson
    • Dance Mom
    Tony Goldwyn
    Tony Goldwyn
    • Bob Lipka
    Bresha Webb
    Bresha Webb
    • Cece Heaumeaux
    Eric Balfour
    Eric Balfour
    • Ethan Sommers
    Aristotle Athari
    Aristotle Athari
    • Lewis
    Merrill Markoe
    Merrill Markoe
    • Merrill
    Robby Hoffman
    Robby Hoffman
    • Randi
    Jasmine Ashanti
    Jasmine Ashanti
    • Samira
    • Director
      • Lucia Aniello
    • Writers
      • Lucia Aniello
      • Paul W. Downs
      • Jen Statsky
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews8

    9.51.5K
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    Featured reviews

    10zaniemarudo

    Unbelievably funny. Full of Surprises.

    This episode might be the best of the season. Jimmy and Megan have one of the best comedy chemistry i've seen in the genre. Their lines bouncing on each others performance feels so authentic but also two actors giving their best in synchrony. The Dance Mom Arc is legendary and reaches one of its funniest peaks here. Pokes fun at the lifestyle in Los Angeles in a creatively hilarious way. Hacks is one of those comedies that raise the standard each season. A difficult feat but Hacks keeps reinventing punchlines and developing cohesiveness with the actors delivery better and every season! It's one of those shows that make you admire the Writers for making you laugh this much...no words. Legendary show.
    10alexdiflip

    Deborah's Turning Point

    This episode is likely my favorite of the entire series, and does a great job revealing how much both Deborah and Ava have changed, especially due to their ongoing feud this season. They both have incredibly touching moments, but after a great deal of excellent tension and misleads. Jean Smart absolutely destroys this episode and delivers every line with so much texture and detail that they reveal so much about her without being over the top in the slightest, and nearly brought me to tears by the end.

    This episode also has an excellent side storyline with Jimmy and Kayla. I figured that her arc would end this way, but it was still touching to see her stand her ground and how far she's come, from the spoiled girl she began as. Jimmy also has some of his best moments of the entire series in this episode, his freak outs reaching a monumental level (and having an amazing callback to Ava's breakdown earlier this season), and furthering his character and connecting him more to the main cast.

    Ultimately, this episode fires on all cylinders, keeping you on the edge of your seat and giving you a great deal of satisfaction, despite a major loss. It's wild how many ups and downs I felt during these 40 minutes, and it truly shows how well structured and paced this season has been. All of it built to this, and I can't wait to see what's next (though I'm a little scared). Amazing writing!
    10marshalll1717

    Incredible TV from start to finish

    This episode is the best of the entire show! The culmination of each character's arcs came together perfectly and the payoff was incredible as a viewer. Jean's Emmy was likely secured by the first episode, but this one for sure solidified her win. Anxious and excited to see how the rest of the show plays out and I hope they don't do anything to ruin the characterizations they've built out thus far. My heart was honestly pounding out of my chest watching the final act of this episode and I hope they are able to recreate that feeling down the line. I haven't been struck by and episode of TV like this in a long time! Perfect!
    10apao_rom

    Everyone did amazing

    OH. MY. GOD. This was the best episode of the whole damn show, EVERYONE did an ESPECTACULAR job, Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs, never disappoint they are always the ones that make me laugh and smile, Hannah Einbinder has been doing an outstanding work since several episodes ago, I've veen feeling it like a slow but really thrilling build up, she once again portrayed emotion in such an organic and amazing way, she's is great and more . But Jean Smart she did it beyond perfection, she was exceptional, the acting when she is live and telling the audience everything was overwhelmingly beautiful, she is a great actress and she was perfect in every way this episode, I can't even explain how great her acting was.

    Lucia Aniello you outdid yourself with this episode it felt and it was different from the very beginning you could see and feel the difference and it was an amazing episode. P. S: I love when Universal Studios is showed.
    10facujungla

    Probably The Best Episode Of The Series So Far!

    Hacks proves that it's not just the comedy of the moment, but also shows that you can reinvent yourself with each season, but more importantly, you can evolve your characters properly. This episode made Deborah finally see Ava as her friend, and this time, she does the right thing.

    I thought reaching late night was the highest the show could aspire to, but after seeing how this episode ended, it seems the future could be even more exciting with a new problem that we didn't see coming.

    Congratulations to the entire Hacks team!!!!!! It's been a long time since I felt this level of excitement watching a TV show!!!!!!

    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the awards show montage, Whoopi Goldberg is seen on the red carpet. Goldberg and Tony Goldwyn (Bob Lipka) both starred in Ghost (1990).
    • Quotes

      Rob: [immediately after taping a show containing a controversial joke] Ethan's publicist called Bob, and he wants it out.

      Deborah Vance: It's okay. We'll lose it.

      Cece Heaumeaux: Great.

      Ava Daniels: [incredulous] What?

      Deborah Vance: It's fine.

      Ava Daniels: No, it's not fine. It's censorship. This is a really slippery slope.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards (2025)
    • Soundtracks
      I Specialize In Love
      (uncredited)

      Written by Richard Scher and Lotti Golden

      Performed by Sharon Brown

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 22, 2025 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
    • Production companies
      • 3 Arts Entertainment
      • First Thought Productions
      • Fremulon
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 38m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital

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