Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder will appear in character as Deborah Vance and Ava from "Hacks" for the first time outside the HBO Max comedy, in a one-off live show called "Deborah Vance & Friends & Enemies Live!". The event, timed to coincide with the start of Emmy Phase 2 voting, is being staged as the series campaigns for further awards recognition following its record-breaking fifth and final season.

The performance takes place on Friday at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, with doors opening at 6.30pm and the hour-long show beginning around 7.30pm; the sold-out event will also offer attendees drinks and snacks. "Hacks" earned 24 Emmy nominations this year, the most ever for a comedy season, and is the reigning outstanding comedy series winner. Smart is chasing a fifth consecutive lead actress win, which would make her the first woman to sweep the category across an entire series run and give her a tied-record eighth acting Emmy.