It’s the ultimate May/ December romance.
In the fifth and final season of “Hacks,” which follows legendary comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart, 74), she has an unexpected whirlwind romance with rock star Nico (Christopher Briney, 28). Their age gap is an eye-popping 46 years.
“I did think, oh god, I hope he isn’t just cringing,” Smart told Deadline, referring to “The Summer I Turned Pretty” actor.
The Emmy-winning actress added, “He’s thinking, ‘Oh, I’d really like to be on that show, but oh damn, really?’ But he made me feel very comfortable and we had fun.”
Warning: Spoilers ahead! Do not proceed unless you’ve watched “Hacks” Season 5 episode 3, “No New Tricks.”
In the episode, a publicist tells Deborah that Nico — a much-younger rock star — is a “huge fan.” They have a friendly first meeting, and Deborah is later told that he wants to get dinner with her.
She assumes it’s “a PR stunt for publicity,” and she happily agrees to it, telling her friends that it’s a “fake date.”
As he spends an evening wining and dining her, Nico tells her that he got emancipated from his parents when he was 15 after his dad sold his homecoming photos to E! News.
“When I know what I want, I don’t hesitate,” Nico tells Deborah as he kisses her. Deborah initially looks surprised, but she’s into the kiss. So, there’s no sex scene, but they do share a steamy smooch.
As they leave their date, they’re swarmed by the paparazzi. Later, she gushes to Ava (Hannah Einbinder), “We actually have so much in common, he’s sexy and smart and funny. We made out!”
Briney told TV Insider that he did have “nerves” about appearing on the show.
“[It’s] one of those shows that wins Emmys, and everybody talks about it, and it’s an industry show. So, I think everybody has their own level of imposter syndrome, but I was like, f–k, I hope I can hang.”
He told the outlet that “there’s definitely some Harry Styles” in Nico. He also gushed that Smart is “lovely” and “she made time to chat and welcome” him on set.
Unfortunately, Deborah and Nico’s relationship is short lived. It falls apart by the end of the episode, not because of their age gap, but because he’s offended that she called the paparazzi to take photos of them.
“I feel violated,” he says.
Deborah defends herself by saying that she called the paparazzi because she thought he only wanted to date her “for the publicity — which I totally get!” But, she adds, once she knew that he “genuinely” liked her, “I realized I felt the same.”
Nico isn’t convinced, and tells her, “I can’t do this,” referring to their relationship. He kicks her out of his car, which is swarmed by photographers, and snarks at her, “maybe you can get a ride home with your paparazzi friend.”
Showrunner Jen Statsky told Deadline that they wanted this plot line to show that, “women don’t stop having sex and being sexy at any age.”
“We also always thought it’d be funny and interesting that [Deborah] would date this international rock star that maybe wasn’t exactly her type and dressed a little bit more like her than other people she dated,” she went on. “And so that was just always a story line that excited us.”
Briney is a rising star, as “Hacks” is his second TV role. He rose to fame playing teens, like his starring role on Prime Video’s teen romance show “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” He plays Conrad, who is in a love triangle with Belly (Lola Tung) and his brother Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). The show is getting a follow up movie. He was also in the 2024 “Mean Girls” movie.
Smart is an industry legend with a long career – including “Designing Women,” “Frasier,” and “Watchmen.” She also the reigning champ of the Emmys, as she’s won for all four past seasons of “Hacks.”
The final season of “Hacks” airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on HBO Max.
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