Hannah Einbinder Reacts Hilariously at the Emmys

At the 2024 Emmys, life imitated art for Hacks stars Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart in a moment that was both unintentional and completely hilarious. During the awards ceremony, Smart won her third Emmy for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as the seasoned comedian Deborah Vance on the Max show, marking her sixth Emmy overall. However, the highlight came not just from her victory, but from Einbinder's reaction as the two shared a moment that could have been scripted in their comedy series.

As Smart stood up to accept her award to the cheers of a standing ovation, Einbinder rose to give her co-star a congratulatory hug. But in a situation reminiscent of their characters' dynamic on Hacks, Smart didn’t notice Einbinder and unintentionally ignored her. Einbinder, channeling her inner Ava, gracefully sat back down, giving the audience a laugh with how naturally she handled the moment. If this were a scene in Hacks, Deborah would likely have purposefully ignored Ava's attempt to hug her. However, in reality, Smart didn’t realize what happened, which made the situation even more authentic and funny.

Smart later delivered a speech full of humor, stating with mock sincerity, "It's very humbling, it really is... because I just don't get enough attention," drawing laughter from the audience. She also made light of the name changes surrounding the network, thanking executives at HBO and jokingly adding, "Just what we needed, another network," when mentioning Max.

Backstage, Smart reflected on the emotional moment, expressing how the standing ovation had caught her off guard. She said she was "really stunned" but found the response "incredibly touching." This memorable evening not only celebrated her achievement but highlighted the charming and real-life chemistry between Smart and Einbinder, who have captured the hearts of Hacks fans with their on-screen and off-screen camaraderie.