Co-star and co-creator Paul W. Downs also addressed the crowd, noting that the team didn’t know if the series would initially sell, given that it featured two female characters, one of whom — stand-up comedy legend Deborah Vance, as played by Jean Smart — was over 60.

Deborah Vance hive, rise! The comedy inside a comedy TV series, Hacks, took home the prize for Outstanding Comedy Series to end the night at the 2024 Emmy Awards. Hacks co-creator Paul W. Downs called for more roles featuring people over 60 as he thanked the cast and crew,

Paul W. Downs (holding the Emmy) accepts the Emmy for outstanding comedy series for "Hacks" alongside co-creators Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, stars Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Rose Abdoo, Christopher McDonald and Carl Clemons-Hopkins Sunday in Los Angeles. Christopher Polk | Variety via Getty Images