'Hacks' Calls Out Tom Cruise's Coconut Cake in Season 3 Premiere - PEOPLE

Hacks is back and full of just as many pop culture references as before.

The first episode of the third season aired on Max on Thursday, May 2. Just like in previous seasons, the jokes were full of witty one-liners and name drops, with one scene focused entirely on Tom Cruise’s elusive coconut cake.

In the season 3 premiere of the Emmy-winning show, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) finds herself bouncing between red carpet events and photo shoots before unintentionally reuniting with Ava (Hannah Einbinder). Ava is her former writer who pushed Deborah to create a comedy special, but was subsequently fired in a push from Deborah to grow her own career.

Deborah and Ava reunite in 'Hacks' season three premiere.

Max/YouTube

The two run into each other in an awkward elevator ride. When Deborah steps off at her floor, the stiff conversation seems to end — until Ava knocks on her door. 

Ava eggs Deborah on to quip about her appearance, as she had always done when the pair worked together, but stops the conversation when she spots a baked good over Deborah’s shoulder.

“Is that the Tom Cruise coconut cake?” Ava asks.

“How the hell did you know that?” Deborah replies with a furrowed brow.

“It’s a famous cake,” Ava replies matter-of-factly. “Every Christmas he sends one to his entire contact list. I’ve read about it for years. Kirsten Dunst said it was one of the best cakes she’s ever had and she was in Marie Antoinette.”

She continues on to ask her former boss about how it tastes and is shocked when she replies that she isn’t planning to try it.

“So, no one’s eating the Tom Cruise coconut cake?” Ava says, eyeing the cake in a not-so-subtle manner.

Deborah sees through her question, rolls her eyes and offers Ava a slice, which Ava eagerly accepts.

“For the record, I’m not a Tom Cruise guy and I think leading man culture is really toxic but I do want to see what this tastes like simply from an anthropological standpoint,” Ava rambles before trying the dessert.

She dives in, taking a big bite out of the huge slice she carved out for herself, immediately rolling her eyes back in disbelief. “Yup, yup,” she says, pointing emphatically at the cake.

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Rosie O'Donnell receives Tom Cruise's cake every year. Bruce Glikas/WireImage; Rosie O’Donnell/Instagram

The Hacks reference is just a sliver of the lore around the Top Gun star’s coveted cake. 

Every holiday season, Cruise is known to send the $126 white chocolate coconut bundt cake made by Doan's Bakery in Woodland Hills, Calif. to his famous friends, including Tom Hanks, Jon Hamm and Rosie O'Donnell. The bundt is spread with cream cheese frosting and then covered with toasted coconut flakes. It is even available for shipping on Goldbelly for those who aren't local — or on Cruise's list.

The legend of the “Tom Cruise cake” grows every year as A-listers brag about the arrival of (or mourn no longer receiving) the coconut treat.

New episodes of Hacks will be available to stream on Thursdays on Max.

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