Experts slugfest: ‘Hacks’ is back in the Emmy race with its best season yet

“Hacks” is back — and better than ever! Gold Derby editors and Experts Christopher Rosen and Joyce Eng are here to discuss the Max comedy’s triumphant return and Emmy hopes.

After missing eligibility last year, “Hacks” dropped the first two episodes of its nine-episode third season on Thursday. While the show has also skipped a year in the narrative with a one-year time jump, it has not skipped a beat in quality. The jokes are still hilarious, the season-long storyline clicks, and Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are on fire. But will Emmy voters embrace the show again?

SEE Experts slugfest: ‘Baby Reindeer’ becomes a surprise sensation and Emmy contender

“Hacks” has won six Emmys, from 32 nominations, two of which were for Jean Smart in Best Comedy Actress. But the five-time Emmy champ is facing her toughest competition yet in reigning supporting actress winner Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”), who is competing in lead for Season 2. Edebiri is first in the odds and could hand Smart her first defeat ever in a comedy category. Or could the hiatus actually work in Smart’s favor? And with Edebiri gone from the category, is supporting actress Einbinder’s to lose? Or might “The Bear” just win it again with Abby Elliott or Liza Colón-Zayas?

Elsewhere, we discuss two new limited series premiering this week, Elisabeth Moss‘ “The Veil” and Jeff Daniels‘ “A Man in Full.”

Email your questions to slugfests@goldderby.com.

Timestamps:
Intro and the return of “Hacks” (0:00)
“Hacks'” Emmy chances (14:35)
“The Veil” reactions (37:08)
“A Man in Full” reactions (41:12)
Listener questions (51:05)