Hannah Einbinder won outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for Hacks at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, marking her first Emmy after four career nominations for the role of Ava Daniels. The ceremony took place at the Peacock Theater and aired on CBS with streaming on Paramount+.
Einbinder closed her acceptance with a line that was partially censored on the broadcast, saying, “Go Birds, f— ICE and free Palestine,” a rare overt political moment on the telecast. She prevailed in a field that included Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear), Kathryn Hahn and Catherine O’Hara (The Studio), Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary), and Jessica Williams (Shrinking).
The win extends a strong night for Hacks, which also saw Jean Smart take lead actress in a comedy; at 73, she became the oldest woman to claim that category. Einbinder’s recognition arrives in a year when she also captured the Critics Choice Award for supporting actress in a comedy.
Hacks, which follows veteran comic Deborah Vance and writer Ava as they fashion a late-night platform, returned this season with Deborah securing the desk and Ava stepping into a head-writing role. Backstage chatter included a forward-looking note: Einbinder has said the series is expected to conclude with its fifth season, framing Sunday’s award as part of a late-run surge for the show.
Host Nate Bargatze presided over a brisk broadcast that delivered several early surprises across drama and comedy, with winners from Severance and The Studio punctuating the first hour.
Einbinder, a stand-up who has steadily built awards momentum since Hacks premiered, has now translated consistent nominations into a win on one of television’s biggest stages. Her bleeped sign-off instantly became one of the night’s most discussed moments, underscoring how acceptance speeches can double as real-time statements while the industry celebrates its year in TV.
