In the Season 5 premiere of “Hacks,” Jean Smart’s character, Deborah Vance, is determined to restore her legacy by pursuing the prestigious EGOT status.
The concept of achieving an EGOT, which involves winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, has been a topic of interest for some time. However, it has gained more attention as celebrities increasingly transition between television, film, theater, and music.
In the episode titled “EGOT,” Deborah reveals she is already halfway to achieving this goal. She owns a Daytime Emmy for hosting the 1992 USA Network game show “Begongle,” where celebrities played Boggle on a shaky floor. Additionally, she earned a Tony Award as a producer after Eric Idle persuaded her to invest in “Spamalot,” which won the Tony for best musical in 2005.
Deborah’s EGOT journey includes a caveat, as there is debate over whether a Daytime Emmy should count, with some arguing it should only include the more competitive Primetime Emmy.
Currently, there are about 22 individuals who have achieved EGOT status. Some, like Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Hudson, and Alan Menken, reached it through Daytime Emmys, while others, such as Steven Spielberg, did so as one of many producers on a Tony-winning production. Spielberg’s Grammy win secured his EGOT, revealing he was an uncredited producer for “A Strange Loop,” which won a Tony in 2022.
Including honorary awards, the EGOT tally rises to 28. It is expected that this number will increase as more stars aim for EGOT status by exploring various awards categories. For non-singers seeking a Grammy, categories like audio book, spoken word, or comedy might be preferable, unlike Deborah’s fictional attempt to release a Regional Mexican/Tejano album.
In “Hacks,” it is disclosed that Deborah lost out on a co-creator and writing credit for her 1970s sitcom “Who’s Making Dinner,” which could have led to a Primetime Emmy win. In contrast, Jean Smart has been more fortunate, with seven Emmy wins and an eighth potentially on the horizon. Two of her wins were for her guest role on “Frasier” in 2000 and 2001, and she also won as supporting comedy actress for “Samantha Who?” in 2008.
Smart’s success continued with “Hacks,” winning comedy actress awards in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025. If she wins again in 2026, she will be just one win shy of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who holds six wins for “Veep.” With five wins as Deborah Vance, Smart ties with Don Knotts from “The Andy Griffith Show” and Candice Bergen from “Murphy Brown” for second place in the same role category.
Although she hasn’t achieved an EGOT, Smart can claim an “EGGS” — “Emmy, Golden Globes, SAG-AFTRA Actor.”
Deborah Vance isn’t the only fictional character on the real-life Emmy ballot for outstanding comedy actress. Valerie Cherish, portrayed by Lisa Kudrow in “The Comeback,” received an Emmy for outstanding comedy supporting actress at the conclusion of Season 2 for her role in the fictional HBO dramedy “Seeing Red.”
For Kudrow, this year marks her third nomination for lead actress in “The Comeback,” following nominations in 2006 and 2015, and her first nomination in outstanding comedy writing with Michael Patrick King. Kudrow has previously won an Emmy for outstanding comedy supporting actress for “Friends” in 1998.
Between a Valerie Cherish and Deborah Vance Emmy showdown, Deborah might have the upper hand due to Smart’s remarkable winning streak. Regardless of the outcome, with “Hacks” and “The Comeback” concluding, this year is the final chance to see these iconic characters compete. Hopefully, it won’t be the last for the talented stars who bring them to life.
