‘Hacks’ Ends Its Emmy Reign As ‘Widow’s Bay’ Takes Over

78th PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS — Pictured: Jean Smart, winner of the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Award for “Hacks”, poses in the press room during the 78th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026. — (Photo by: Randy Shropshire/NBC via Getty Images)

NBC via Getty Images

As one Emmys darling came to an end, another emerged as its potential successor.

Hacks has concluded its Emmy run with a total of 14 wins and 86 nominations. The fifth and final season made Emmy history as both the most nominated single season of a comedy series, and most nominated final season of a comedy series.

However, Hacks only walked away with two awards at this year’s Emmys: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Single-Camera Comedy Series, with the latter awarded at last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys.

During Monday’s broadcast, Hacks lost Outstanding Comedy Series, in addition to several other awards, to new Apple TV+ horror comedy Widow’s Bay.

Hannah Einbinder and Meg Stalter lost Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series to Kate O’Flynn. Meanwhile, Paul W. Downs lost Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series to Stephen Root. The Hacks series finale lost both Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series to the Widow’s Bay pilot.

Though Hacks only walked away with one award during the televised ceremony, the show’s team still had plenty to celebrate.

Jean Smart made Emmy history as the first actor to win the same category for the same role in all eligible seasons of a multi-season series. Smart accepted her fifth and final award for her role as Deborah Vance to a rapturous standing ovation from the audience.

Hacks has been no stranger to grabbing attention at the Emmys. When the show began in 2021, it made a strong impression on the Television Academy, winning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.

Then in 2024, Hacks pulled off a major upset by winning Outstanding Comedy Series over the incumbent The Bear. Actor and writer Paul W. Downs accepted the award with an appeal to his industry peers to write more roles for actors over 60.

Hacks joins the company of Veep, as another highly decorated show that lost Outstanding Comedy Series in its final season.

But the television award season is not over yet. Hacks and Widow’s Bay will have more chances to face off once again in 2027, as both shows are eligible to compete in the upcoming Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes and Actor Awards.