Few actors in Hollywood history have traversed the landscape of comedy and drama with as much grace, grit, and sheer talent as Jean Smart. Now, with a sensational fourth season of Hacks that not only solidifies her legacy but elevates it, Smart finds herself in the perfect creative storm—one that even stars Carol Burnett, Better Call Saul, and over 400 co-stars she’s “gotten in the sandbox with.”
The Carol Burnett Moment That Turned Into a Career Full Circle
It’s more than just a cameo. When Carol Burnett appeared as herself in the Hacks season 4 episode “I Love L.A.,” the comedy legend and Jean Smart’s on-screen alter ego Deborah Vance shared a quiet, profound moment about stage fright. The scene—set in a doctor’s office waiting room—could have been fluff, but instead, it landed with the emotional weight of a monologue from King Lear.
“Pick one person in the audience and do the show just for them,” Burnett advises Deborah. It’s practical wisdom from a performer who turned it into survival strategy. And for Deborah (and Smart), stepping onto a late-night stage for the first time wasn’t just another plot point—it was a breakthrough.
“If I can be here when I’m 91, I’ll be the luckiest woman in the world,” Smart said of Burnett during a recent FYC event. And the feeling was mutual. Burnett, who described herself as “thrilled to get in the sandbox” with Smart, clearly sees in Jean the same fearless joy that defined her own career.
Hacks Isn’t Just a Show for Jean Smart — It’s a Celebration of Her Legacy
Smart’s reunion with Burnett wasn’t just fan service for the ages—it was a carefully crafted storytelling moment from Hacks creators Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky. As Statsky put it, “We never want to just shoehorn someone in just to have them. So this [moment] felt like a really lovely moment.”
And what a moment it was. Filming at Television City—the very ground where Burnett forged her own legacy—gave the scene an almost mythic resonance. It was a torch-passing, a silent acknowledgment that Deborah Vance’s (and by extension, Smart’s) journey is part of a continuum of women in comedy who’ve battled for recognition, relevance, and respect.
“Hacks wouldn’t exist without her and people like her,” Downs said of Burnett. For Smart, who rarely asks for photos with celebrities, the chance to share a scene (and a smile) with Burnett was nothing short of a “pinch-me moment.”
Behind the Laughter: Jean Smart’s Emotional Resonance Gives Hacks Its Soul
What separates Jean Smart from so many of her contemporaries is her ability to mine emotional truth from comedic gold. The scene with Burnett may have stolen the spotlight, but Smart’s performance throughout Season 4 reveals a character—and an actress—still evolving.
Deborah’s panic attack during her late-night dress rehearsal, her fraught relationship with Ava, and her desperate need to prove herself one last time—all of it lands because Smart makes it real. There’s a moment during Deborah’s big monologue when time seems to slow, and the audience fades away—all except for Ava.
It’s a small visual cue, but one packed with meaning. As TVLine’s Einbinder (Ava) put it, “It’s a little bit of her acknowledging the fact that she does need Ava and she does care about Ava.” Even in the face of conflict, Smart lets us see the flicker of connection. It’s subtle. It’s powerful. It’s Jean Smart.
From Whale Blubber to Staircase Falls: The Untold Stories Behind Smart’s Comedy DNA
If the Burnett episode gave us one gift, it was unlocking a conversation between two comedic generations about risk, timing, and the sheer joy of performance. In a joint interview with ELLE.com, Smart and Burnett reminisced about everything from guest-starring on Hot in Cleveland (where they played mother and daughter) to the wild lunch habits of Carol Channing.
Burnett shared a hilarious anecdote about taking ill care of herself just to stay energetic for a show—“Now listen to me and pay attention, whenever you’re on the road, do not eat just any old frozen elk.” Smart’s laughter at these stories is genuine, and it’s easy to see how much she draws inspiration from Burnett’s fearless improvisation.
“There’s nobody like her,” Smart said. And the feeling goes both ways. Carol remembered thinking one of her stories was made up—only to realize it wasn’t. These are moments not just between stars, but between artists who understand the alchemy of comedy.
Jean Smart’s Career Is a Masterclass in Adaptation and Perseverance
At 73, Smart is in the middle of what might be the most celebrated chapter of her career. But as she herself acknowledges, this isn’t comeback—it’s continuum. Her roles in Hacks, Palm Royale, and Better Call Saul aren’t just gigs; they’re opportunities to explore different facets of her talent.
And she’s loving every minute of it. “I’d do it even if I just had one line,” she said about her role in Better Call Saul. The excitement she felt on that set led directly to Palm Royale, where she again found herself working with a dream team of Kristin Wiig, Allison Janney, and Laura Dern.
“I make a list of all the people I’ve worked with,” she said. “It came to over 400.” That’s more than experience—that’s a legacy.
Jean Smart and Hacks Give Us Hope That Comedy Can Age Gracefully—and Powerfully
In a media landscape obsessed with youth and novelty, Jean Smart stands as a beacon of what longevity, talent, and smart choices can build. Hacks doesn’t just give her material to work with—it gives her a platform to reflect, challenge, and celebrate the very idea of a woman’s career in entertainment.
And with a little help from Carol Burnett, Jean Smart has shown us all how to step into the spotlight—no matter your age—and truly shine.