Hahn's first appearance on any television program was "Hickory Hideout," a local puppet show for children for then-NBC owned-and-operated station WKYC in Cleveland. (By the time of its cancellation, "Hickory Hideout" was airing across all of NBC's O&O stations.) While attending a festival, she was introduced to creator/producer Tim Kring. Hahn impressed Kring so favorably that he created the character of Lily Lebowski in "Crossing Jordan" specifically for her. The series aired from 2001 to 2007. Hahn has said of meeting Kring, "NBC and Tim Kring took a huge leap of faith in casting me. To be worked into a show that was in production and on the schedule is an amazing stroke of luck." On October 21, 2008, "TV Guide" reported that Hahn had signed a talent holding deal with Fox.