Overview

• On his SiriusXM podcast, Conan O'Brien said the fourth season of HBO’s Hacks triggered PTSD because it mirrored experiences he lived through as a late-night host.
• He praised the depiction of Deborah Vance’s late-night comeback, noting the show accurately captures monologue development and guest-booking pressures he faced on Late Night, The Tonight Show and Conan.
• O'Brien laughed at a scene where Jimmy Kimmel improvised a line about having “custody” of Kristen Bell after "Conan died," praising its deadpan delivery.
• Hacks co-creator Paul W. Downs confirmed the Kimmel line was unscripted and expressed the cast’s desire to feature O'Brien in a future cameo.
• Co-creator Lucia Aniello has clarified that O'Brien’s character remains alive in the Hacks universe, leaving the door open for his appearance.