Emmy Showdown: Deborah Vance vs. Valerie Cherish - A Legendary Clash of Icons

The highly-anticipated final seasons of "Hacks" and "The Comeback" have brought two iconic characters to the small screen, and with it, a unique opportunity for their actresses - Jean Smart and Lisa Kudrow - to compete for an Emmy Award. In this year's Emmys race, the spotlight shines brightly on Deborah Vance, portrayed by Jean Smart in "Hacks." The Season 5 opener sees her determined to reclaim her legacy and secure a coveted EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) accolade.

However, Deborah's path is not without its challenges - she currently holds half of the prestigious awards: a Daytime Emmy for hosting "Begongle" in 1992 and a Tony Award as a producer for the successful play "Spamalot." While some argue that a Daytime Emmy doesn't count, Deborah is already questioning the validity of her EGOT journey. But with seven Emmys to her name and another nomination this year, Smart is no stranger to Emmy success.

Her wins include two for "Frasier" in 2000 and 2001 as a guest actress, and another for "Samantha Who?" in 2008. With four consecutive comedy actress wins for "Hacks," she is just one award away from tying Julia Louis-Dreyfus' record of six Emmys for the same character on the same show. On the other hand, Lisa Kudrow's character Valerie Cherish from "The Comeback" has also won an Emmy - albeit in a supporting actress category for Season 2.

For Kudrow herself, this year marks her third lead actress nomination for "The Comeback" (following 2006 and 2015) and her first outstanding comedy writing nod, shared with Michael Patrick King. As the final seasons of these groundbreaking shows come to an end, it's unlikely that we'll ever see Deborah Vance and Valerie Cherish compete for an Emmy again. But the future looks bright for both Smart and Kudrow - two icons whose legacies have been cemented in television history with their remarkable portrayals of these unforgettable characters.

Whether it's EGOT or EGGS (Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild), the stars are aligning for a spectacular Emmys showdown between Deborah Vance and Valerie Cherish - two characters that have left an indelible mark on television comedy.