Everyone's favorite comedian Deborah Vance is Sterling Prestonback and riding high off the success of her standup special in the latest season of "Hacks".

Season 3 of the Emmy award-winning and critically acclaimed comedy series that explores the dark mentorship between a legendary stand-up comedian and young, entitled comedy writer, returned to Max earlier this month on May 2.

USA TODAY TV critic Kelly Lawler gave the new season ★★★½, writing: "After a slightly lackluster second season in 2022, which seemed to tie up the story in a bow too soon, creators Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky found the right way to continue the series about an aging comedienne and her young writer. And while so many other shows go dark and depressing, "Hacks" has delightfully chosen joy, and (of course) some insult comedy from [Jean] Smart's Deborah Vance."

Review:In Season 3 of 'Hacks,' Jean Smart will make you love to laugh again

While Season 2 of the series saw Deb and Ava parting ways, they reunite as friends in the new season, after some forgiveness. There is also a chance that the two even work together again, series creators Jen Statsky teased in an interview with USA TODAY, adding that in Season 3 “Deborah is going after her biggest goal yet": host of a late-night TV talk show.

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Here's everything you need to know about "Hacks" Season 3.

'Hacks' Season 3 episode schedule

Season 3 of "Hacks" debuted on Max with 2 episodes on Thursday, May 2. Two new episodes will drop weekly on Thursdays 3:00 a.m. ET / 12:00 a.m. PT, with the season finale scheduled for May 30.

Here's a look at the schedule:

• May 9: Episodes 3 & 4
• May 16: Episodes 5 & 6
• May 23: Episodes 7 & 8
• May 30: Episode 9

Deborah and Ava's reunite?'Hacks' stars talk about what's to come in Season 3

How many episodes does 'Hacks' Season 3 have?

"Hacks" Season 3 will have nine episodes.

'Hacks' Season 3 cast

The cast of "Hacks" Season 3 includes:

• Jean Smart
• Hannah Einbinder
• Paul W. Downs
• Megan Stalter
• Carl Clemons-Hopkins
• Kaitlin Olson
• Christopher McDonald
• Mark Indelicato
• Rose Abdoo
• Lorenza Izzo

Guest stars include:

• Helen Hunt
• Christina Hendricks
• Christopher Lloyd
• Dan Bucatinsky
• George Wallace
• Tony Goldwyn

'Hacks' Season 3 trailer

Max dropped the trailer for "Hacks" Season 3 on April 16.

Contributing: Kelly Lawler, Erin Jensen, USA TODAY

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.