HBO's Hacks Season 5: Christopher Briney's Audition Secrets and Guest Stars

The final season of HBO's Hacks is packed with surprises, including guest appearances from stars like Tony Kushner and Jesse McCartney. Christopher Briney shares his amusing audition story, revealing how he faked his singing skills to land a role. The season showcases a brief romance between Briney's character and Jean Smart's Deborah Vance, leading to unexpected heartbreak. With a talented cast and a legacy of Emmy wins, Hacks concludes its journey with this exciting season. Dive into the details of the show's final chapter and Briney's unique experiences on set.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 24, 2026, 16:36 IST

Exciting Cameos in the Final Season of Hacks

The concluding season of HBO's acclaimed series Hacks has featured several familiar faces and surprise cameos. In Season 5, audiences have seen appearances from Tony Kushner, Billy Baldwin, and Jesse McCartney. While McCartney portrays himself, Christopher Briney, known for his role in The Summer I Turned Pretty, takes on the character of Nico Hayes, a pop star reminiscent of Harry Styles. The storyline includes a fleeting romance between Nico and Jean Smart's character, Deborah Vance, which ultimately leads to heartbreak for both.

Briney's Unique Audition Experience for Hacks

In a conversation with Decider, Briney shared insights about his Zoom audition for Hacks. During the audition, he was asked if he could sing, to which he confidently replied yes, despite not being a singer. He humorously noted that he felt compelled to "fake it till you make it." After reading several scenes, he was invited to Las Vegas for filming, describing the experience as "super weird, super cool." When questioned about his decision to lie about his singing skills, he joked that it was an opportunity he couldn't refuse, especially being part of such a renowned comedy series.

By the time of filming, it seemed Briney had picked up some vocal skills. In the episode titled No New Tricks, he portrays Nico Hayes, who comes to Las Vegas for a residency, inspired by Deborah's influence. Their connection blossoms at a party, leading to a brief romance that is cut short when Deborah calls the paparazzi to document their outings.

Overview of Hacks Season 5

Created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, this HBO comedy features a talented cast including Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Megan Stalter, Paul W. Downs, Rose Abdoo, and Mark Indelicato. Jean Smart has received four consecutive Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Deborah Vance, and the show won the Outstanding Comedy Series award during its third season.

Smart's character is a seasoned stand-up comedian who enlists the help of a young comedy writer, Ava Daniels (Einbinder), to rejuvenate her career. It was announced last year that this season would mark the series' final chapter.