Hannah Einbinder Overwhelmed with Emotion Filming 'Hacks' Episode 2 with Jesse McCartney

The actress shed tears of joy during a surprise birthday party scene with the 2000s pop star.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 1:38am

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An extreme close-up photograph of sparkling sequins and shattered glass, capturing the high-fashion glamour and energy of a celebrity performance.The emotional energy of Hannah Einbinder's fan-girl reaction to Jesse McCartney's surprise performance on the set of Hacks radiates through the screen.Boston Today

In the latest episode of the acclaimed comedy series Hacks, Hannah Einbinder's character Ava is surprised with a birthday party that includes a special performance by 2000s pop star Jesse McCartney. Einbinder, who was a big fan of McCartney growing up, was visibly emotional and shed tears of joy during the filming, much to the amusement of her co-star Jean Smart.

Why it matters

The emotional scene highlights the personal connection between the actress and the guest star, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the on-screen moment. It also showcases the show's ability to incorporate nostalgic pop culture references that resonate with the audience.

The details

In the episode, Ava (Einbinder) returns home to find a surprise birthday party thrown by her friends, which includes a private serenade by McCartney performing his hit song 'Beautiful Soul'. Einbinder, who had a poster of McCartney on her wall as a teenager, struggled to contain her excitement and emotions during the filming, with co-star Jean Smart noting that Einbinder was 'absolutely thrilled' and 'in tears' for most of the takes.

  • The episode is part of Hacks Season 5, which is currently streaming on HBO Max.

The players

Hannah Einbinder

The actress who plays Ava on the comedy series Hacks, and was a big fan of Jesse McCartney growing up.

Jesse McCartney

The 2000s pop star who guest stars in the latest episode of Hacks, performing a private serenade for Einbinder's character.

Jean Smart

Einbinder's co-star on Hacks, who described the actress's emotional reaction to McCartney's performance.

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What they’re saying

“'She was absolutely thrilled,' Smart revealed to DECIDER, describing her co-star's reaction to seeing the 'Leavin'' singer in the episode.”

— Jean Smart, Co-star

“'I was in tears,' Einbinder shared, adding that it wasn't even something she had ever registered as a remote possibility at the start of the show. 'I never could have even had the audacity to dream it up. It was so amazing. And I cried every single take.'”

— Hannah Einbinder, Actress

“'He does, he knows I love him so much, and he certainly was only minorly freaked out at the amount I was crying,' she said as she and Smart burst into laughter, 'He's like, 'Okay.''”

— Hannah Einbinder, Actress

What’s next

Hacks Season 5 is currently streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering weekly.

The takeaway

The emotional scene between Einbinder and McCartney showcases the show's ability to incorporate nostalgic pop culture references that resonate with the audience, while also highlighting the personal connection between the actress and guest star.