Hacks and The Amazing Race Crossover: A 3-Year Dream Realized in Final Season

In the fifth and final season of “Hacks”, it’s revealed that DJ (Kaitlin Olson) has always dreamed of competing on “The Amazing Race” alongside her mother, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart). What began as a creative fantasy for the HBO Max comedy became a reality, thanks to a years-long collaboration between the shows’ creators.

Lucia Aniello, one of “Hacks”’ three creators, told TheWrap about her long-standing admiration for “The Amazing Race.” She said,

“I love ‘The Amazing Race.’ I’ve been a huge fan of the show for a long time. We’ve always flirted with the idea of what it would be like for Deborah to go on an ‘Amazing Race.’”

The crossover wasn’t entirely unexpected. “Hacks” had previously referenced “The Amazing Race” in Season 2, where Deborah watched the show with her writing partner and eventual best friend, Ava (Hannah Einbinder). The connection deepened when Variety’s Michael Schneider introduced the “Hacks” team to “Amazing Race” co-creator Elise Doganieri, turning the idea into a full-fledged production.

Directed by Jeff Rosenberg and written by Pat Regan, the episode titled “D’Amazing Race” follows Deborah and DJ as they team up to compete on the reality series. Initially reluctant—using the opportunity mainly to promote her Madison Square Garden show—Deborah gradually comes to appreciate DJ’s dedication to the game. By the episode’s end, their relationship reaches its healthiest point, with Deborah acknowledging her past criticism and admiring DJ’s fearlessness.

Aniello praised Olson’s performance, saying,

“Kaitlin Olson is truly the funniest person on God’s green Earth. She’s so funny, such a good dramatic actor, and she’s so lovely to be around. Her talent is endless.”

“For us to be able to mostly end DJ’s story through her going on ‘Amazing Race’ and Deborah coming to terms with the fact that she has misjudged some of DJ’s best qualities … It felt like, weirdly, the perfect match.”

The heartwarming conclusion required three years of planning, multiple filming locations, and a stunt involving a massive cheese wheel on a steep hill. Aniello joked,

“They talked me down because I wanted to do a whole season of 10 [‘Amazing Race’] episodes.”

“We could have had six seasons — ended it where we ended up but threw in a 10-episode arc.”

Production designer Rob Tokarz was tasked with recreating the look of a genuine “Amazing Race” episode. The team borrowed actual clue envelopes and blue clue boxes from the CBS series and ensured on-screen graphics matched the show’s style. A producer from “The Amazing Race” consulted with the HBO team to guarantee authenticity.

“Hacks” Season 5 concludes with Deborah and DJ’s emotional journey, proving that even in fiction, some dreams are worth the wait.