Deborah Vance’s final run in Hacks season 5 is packed with high‑profile cameos, playing out across episodes as she fights to reclaim her stage and shape her closing act. The star power leans into meta moments and fan‑favorite nods that amplify the series’ farewell tour.
From a Vegas convention to a crossover with The Amazing Race, the guest list leans hard into spectacle while keeping the humor sharp. Here’s a compact roll call of notable appearances this season.
Season 5 guest stars and cameos
- Tony Kushner appears as himself in Episode 1, EGOT. Tasked with drafting Deborah’s memoir audiobook, he stirs up a push‑and‑pull over the direction of her story before she ultimately lets him go.
- Gigi Bermingham plays Esme in Episode 1, an ambitious actress who earns the ax when the Fatty Arbuckle project reshuffles the cast; the moment nudges other casting decisions forward.
- George Basil’s Stefan is the cautious director who sides with the producers, pushing for Esme’s ouster in Episode 1.
- Alanna Ubach returns as Amanda Weinberg, the Madison Square Garden booker who initially quakes at Deborah’s MSG announcement and later confirms the venue’s sell‑out after a publicity push.
- Soleil Moon Frye appears as herself during Episode 2, signing autographs at the Las Vegas convention and soaking in the fanfare around Deborah.
- Hannah Pilkes plays Cindy, introduced as a passionate Ava admirer who’s later revealed as the Little Debbies chapter president, stirring friction for Deborah.
- William “Billy” Baldwin appears as himself in Episode 2, swapping photobooth timeslots with Deborah amid the autograph‑convention chaos.
- Renée O’Connor comes on as herself in Episode 2, prompting a pitch for a Xena rewatch podcast and launching a manager–client dynamic with Jimmy.
- Bayne Gibby portrays a devoted Deborah fan who presents a seed‑based portrait, moving Deborah to tears during a meet‑and‑greet moment.
- Ann Dowd shows up in alien cosplay as an unnamed celebrity, delivering a bit of wisdom about fans while Deborah absorbs the moment.
- Alyssa Limperis plays Jenny in Episode 2, a longtime friend who crashes Ava’s 30th birthday and later shares a chaotic kiss with Jesse McCartney.
- Jesse McCartney appears as himself in Episode 2, serenading Ava with “Beautiful Soul” and nodding to a childhood poster moment from Hacks’ early days.
- Christopher Briney debuts as Nico Hayes, a charismatic rock star who flirts with Deborah across Episodes 3 and 9 before a romance hits a snag and then rekindles in public view.
- Grady Eldridge plays Eli in Episode 3, a flirtatious party guest who later reveals conflict about his magician ambitions and a choice to leave certain gigs behind.
- Lucia Aniello appears on screen as Meredith in Episode 3, a gossipy real‑estate agent who also serves behind the scenes as a Hacks co‑creator and showrunner.
- Anna Konkle’s Beth anchors Episode 4 as the events coordinator for the Who’s Making Dinner? anniversary bash, whose flirtation with Jimmy complicates Deborah’s plans.
- Peter Strauss portrays Frank Vance in Episode 4, Deborah’s late ex‑husband, appearing in a retro interview that nudges her toward a different comedic direction.
- Alan Blumenfeld plays Eddie Bean in Episode 4, a director Deborah and Ava cross paths with at the anniversary event, delivering a sharp, patronizing aside.
- Phil Keoghan appears as himself in Episode 5, kicking off The Amazing Race crossover that sends Deborah and DJ into a new televised arena.
- Trisha Paytas appears as herself across Episode 5 and Episode 9, racing alongside Jordan Firstman on The Amazing Race and later popping up on Trisha’s show with Deborah.
- Jordan Firstman stars as himself in Episode 5, partnering with Paytas and riffing with Deborah as they navigate the race’s chaos.
- Jonathan and Drew Scott appear as themselves in Episode 5, the Property Brothers duo joining the Race chaos and weighing in on the competition’s stakes.
- Richard Jefferson and JR Smith join as themselves in Episode 5, racing for charity while sharing the spotlight with Deborah’s publicity push.
- Elise Doganieri appears as herself in Episode 5, contributing the reality‑competition energy that ties Hacks into The Amazing Race universe.
- Alex Moffat plays Graham Sweeney in Episode 6, a shrewd tech investor whose interest in Deborah’s library exposes the tension between creativity and AI ambition.
- Sean Patton portrays Bruno Fox in Episode 6, a comic in residence whose hard‑living persona complicates Deborah’s agreement and ultimately leads to a moral turn in the story.
- Bob Mackie appears as himself in Episode 7, the legendary costume designer who supplies the coveted white jumpsuit Deborah eyes for her MSG moment.
- Cherry Jones plays Kelly Kilpatrick in Episode 7, a veteran comedian whose long‑standing feud with Deborah blossoms into a candid, if prickly, alliance over the jumpsuit ransom.
- Leslie Bibb is Monica in Episode 7, Kelly’s girlfriend whose free‑spirited dynamic adds tension and warmth to the Montecito arc.
- Katya Zamolodchikova appears as herself in Episode 8, playing Drag Queen Deborah for a promotional segment that spirals into a creative clash over the promo approach.
- Rhys Mitchell stars as The Amazing Steven in Episode 8, a rival illusionist whose publicity stunt with Deborah goes spectacularly wrong when the lights fail on the Strip.
- Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Envy and Jess Hilarious appear as themselves in Episode 9, trading jabs on The Breakfast Club as Deborah hypes her Central Park show.
- Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker appear as themselves in Episode 9, cut into a montage that captures the morning‑show hustle behind Deborah’s publicity push.
- Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar guest as themselves in Episode 9, The View era, forcing Deborah to navigate apologies and reconciliation on daytime television.
- Yamaneika Saunders plays Anastasia in Episode 9, a Parks Department official who becomes the final obstacle to Deborah’s Central Park plan before a personal connection helps move things forward.
The season leans into bigger stars to punctuate Deborah’s last act, while keeping the show’s wit intact. It’s a celebratory send‑off that leans on celebrity energy to amplify Hacks’ core drive: the art of performing under pressure.
Source: Original article
