Deborah and Ava’s Reunion Sparks ‘Chills’

While Deborah Vance may be up, Ava Daniels has her downs.

In Max’s new trailer for season 3 of Hacks, Deborah (Jean Smart) finds herself at the top of the world after her standup comedy special becomes wildly successful.

After various red carpet events, photo shoots and jetting off to unknown destinations on a private jet, Deborah unintentionally reunites with Ava (Hannah Einbinder) in an elevator after firing her from her writing staff a year ago.

“Can you hold the door?” Ava asks before stepping in to discover Deborah on the other side of the doors. The duo both let out an astonished gasp and awkwardly stare in disbelief.

Where Deborah is met with adoring crowds, Ava encounters a string of bad luck. After spotting one of Deborah’s billboards in Los Angeles, California, she rear ends an orange bus and bangs up her car.

Eventually, Deborah seemingly hires Ava back on to her staff, who accepts the positions but has a list of demands.

“This isn’t the same as before,” Ava warns. “No more jokes about my physical appearance.”

When Deborah tries to argue “those are grandfathered in,” she recruits her housekeeper Josephina who reads from a text on her phone, “Ava, do you need me to give your hair CPR? Because it is limp and lifeless.”

The two go on to face their fair share of challenges. “I’ve got all these eyes on me know, I’m finally respected. Anything I want to do, I have to do now,” Deborah admits before the camera transitions to a shot of Kayla (Megan Stalter) pulling out her arm and exclaiming, “Full body chills, feel!”

“I was perfectly content being a gorgeous Vegas comic and then you come along and you make me want more,” Deborah exclaims, to which Ava replies, “So you’re mad at me for pushing you to be better?”

In early March, Max announced the new season of the comedy series will begin streaming this May. According to a press release obtained by PEOPLE, there will be nine episodes in total with the first two debuting on May 2, followed by two new episodes premiering each week culminating in the season finale on May 30. 

Hacks season 3, which stars Smart, Einbinder, Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter, will follow 72-year-old Smart’s character legendary comedian Deborah Vance as she enjoys the success of her hit standup special. Meanwhile, Ava pursues new opportunities back in Los Angeles. 

The Emmy-winning show, which premiered its first season in 2021, follows the complex relationship between comedian Deborah and comedy writer Ava, who come from two very different generations.

Other returning cast members include Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald, Rose Abdoo and Lorenza Izzo. Meanwhile, Helen Hunt, Christina Hendricks, Christopher Lloyd, Dan Bucatinsky, George Wallace, and Tony Goldwyn were previously announced as guest stars.

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Hacks season 3 premieres Thursday, May 2 on Max.