Kristen Bell’s Hacks Cameo Ends 8-Year TV Streak—And Sparks Jimmy Kimmel Feud

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WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Hacks season 4, episode 5.

Kristen Bell’s unexpected appearance in episode 5 of season 4 of “Hacks” marked the end of a nine-year run without appearing on TV. Among the numerous guest stars in this season, Bell portrays herself, shopping for groceries, who is then approached by Deborah Vance, played by Jean Smart, to appear on her newly acquired late-night talk show. Despite having a short scene, Bell’s presence lends an authentic Hollywood ambiance to the series, which has gained more of a showbiz feel as its main setting shifts from Las Vegas to Los Angeles.

The title of “Hacks” season 4, episode 5, “Clickable Face,” alludes to Bell’s online influence, a topic debated by Deborah’s television executives and producers throughout the episode. Eager to reclaim her show’s initial success, Deborah seeks to regain popularity as the most-watched late-night talk show during its first week. In “Hacks” season 4, episode 5, it is Jimmy Kimmel who humorously illustrates that the struggle for late-night dominance can be tough and ruthless when it comes to securing A-list celebrities.

Hacks Season 4 Is Kristen Bell’s First TV Cameo As A Fictionalized Version Of Herself Since 2017

She Also Appeared As Herself In The Hollywood Comedy Series Nobodies

Bell is set to appear alongside industry greats like Carol Burnett and Merrill Markoe in the fourth season of Hacks, portraying herself in a cameo role. Although she’s made several appearances as herself in reality or documentary shows, her role in Hacks season 4 is unique because it will be the first time since a 2017 episode of Nobodies that she has played a semi-fictionalized version of herself.

Just like the show Hacks, Nobodies was a series in the entertainment industry that followed a group of friends working on a children’s program. This creative venture was brought to life by Hugh Davidson (Robot Chicken), Larry Dorf (The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window), and Rachel Ramras (Mike Tyson Mysteries), who not only produced it but also starred as themselves in the series. Running for 24 episodes over two seasons between 2017 and 2018, Nobodies also showcased guest appearances by celebrities such as Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Allison Janney, Bob Odenkirk, Jason Bateman, and others.

In the 4th season, 5th episode of Hacks, Deborah humorously notes that Bell is well-known for her roles on classic TV shows like Veronica Mars. However, she’s arguably more famous as the voice of Anna in Disney’s Frozen and Frozen II, as well as popular comedy films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek. Notably, she made a surprise appearance as herself in the final episode of Gossip Girl after portraying the main character throughout all six seasons. More recently, she starred alongside Adam Brody in Netflix’s acclaimed romantic comedy series Nobody Wants This.

Does Kristen Bell Really Only Appear On Jimmy Kimmel’s Late-Night Show?

She Has Certainly Favored His Show Over Other Late-Night Competitors

In the 4th season, episode 5 of Hacks, Jimmy Kimmel – playing himself – advises Deborah to stay away from “KB” since he’s reserved her for show bookings as he’s previously claimed exclusive rights. According to the episode, Kimmel has spent years securing this first booking on his renowned late-night program by making generous donations towards her “gluten-free energy bars“, adjusting his phone settings to match her green text bubbles, and even appearing in a diaper on a billboard.

As a fan, I must admit that Jimmy Kimmel’s jest about having “rights to Bell after Conan departed” on the show “Hacks” was humorous, but there might be some basis in reality behind the jest. In fact, Bell has made more appearances on Kimmel’s late-night program than any other competitor, which speaks volumes about their friendship and camaraderie. Bell first graced Kimmel’s stage back in 2004, and since then, he’s been a frequent guest, appearing as both a featured personality and an actor for specific skits, totaling an impressive 40 times.

Compared to her appearances, she has been on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” five times and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” four times. Moreover, Bell also hosted an episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in 2017, indicating that Kimmel may not have been completely joking about his “Hacks” season 4 joke.

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2025-05-02 04:51