HBO Max brings Hacks back for second run

WarnerMedia-owned US streaming service HBO Max has renewed its comedy series Hacks for a second season.

Sarah Aubrey

Season one, from creators Paul W Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, explores a dark mentorship that forms between a legendary Las Vegas comedian and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old. The season will conclude this Thursday with the final two episodes.

The series is produced by Universal Television with Downs and Aniello producing via their Paulilu banner, Statsky via First Thought Productions, Michael Schur through Fremulon and David Miner through 3 Arts Entertainment.

Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max, said: “We knew immediately that Lucia, Paul and Jen brought us a winner. We couldn’t be happier about the tremendous response from our viewers and critics alike, and we salute the executive producers; Jean, Hannah and the rest of the brilliant cast; and our partners at Universal.”

In related news, HBO Max is also launching a docuseries for children and their parents from Sesame Workshop, the company behind long-running kids’ show Sesame Street.

Premiering later this month, Through Our Eyes follows five filmmakers as they spotlight the perspectives of children on some of today’s most challenging issues: homelessness, parental incarceration, military caregiving and climate displacement.

The 4×30’ films are designed for co-viewing by adults and kids aged nine and over.