Lisa Kudrow is stepping back into the high heels of Valerie Cherish, one of TV’s most tragically hilarious characters, for a third season of HBO’s The Comeback. HBO announced the news just after the show marked its 20th anniversary, with Kudrow and co-creator Michael Patrick King reuniting for what’s being called the final season. But let’s be real, after premieres in 2005, 2014, and now 2026, that word has lost all meaning.
Production begins this summer, and Kudrow will be joined once again by Dan Bucatinsky as Valerie’s endlessly frazzled publicist, Laura Silverman as the stoic reality producer Jane, and Damian Young as her ever-patient husband Mark. The late Robert Michael Morris, who played Valerie’s lovable hairdresser Mickey, will be notably missed.
The first season of The Comeback followed Valerie, a washed-up sitcom actress clawing her way back into relevance as she starred in a horrifically bad show, all while being filmed for a reality series. What unfolded was a painfully sharp look at fame, ego, and Hollywood’s brutal treatment of women. It bombed with critics at first, only to become a cult classic.
After its abrupt cancellation, Valerie’s catchphrases and cringe-worthy moments lived on, turning her into a pop culture icon. The 2014 revival earned both Kudrow and King Emmy nods and solidified the show’s status as a misunderstood gem.
Now, over a decade later, Valerie returns scarred, seasoned, and still desperately seeking validation. When we last saw her, she skipped her Emmy win to be at Mickey’s side in the hospital, a shocking moment of selflessness. But can a woman like Valerie ever truly grow… or will she always be performing?
Either way, Kudrow’s comeback as Valerie promises to be as biting and brilliant as ever.
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