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Kudrow's 'The Comeback' Returns After 21 Years
29 Mar
Summary
- Lisa Kudrow returns as Valerie Cherish after a 21-year hiatus.
- The new season features an AI-written sitcom premiering on HBO.
- The show's unique run includes three seasons over two decades.
The HBO comedy The Comeback has returned for its third and final season, debuting in 2026 after a 21-year hiatus. Starring Lisa Kudrow as actress Valerie Cherish, the show's unusual schedule has seen only three seasons released over two decades. The premiere episode of this final season introduces a new sitcom for Valerie, uniquely written by AI, and humorously targets reality television franchises like The Real Housewives.
Co-creator Michael Patrick King spoke about the "enormous magic" Lisa Kudrow brings to the role, emphasizing how Valerie Cherish is distinct from Kudrow's iconic Friends character, Phoebe Buffay. This differentiation allowed The Comeback to re-establish itself with a strong foundation despite its long breaks. The decision to bring the show back was a deliberate wait for the right creative moment and for the stars to align, as King described.
The series, which originally premiered in 2005, saw its second season air in 2014. The extended gaps between seasons were not problematic for HBO, which maintained an "open invitation" for the show's return. With the third season now airing, answers about its conclusion may be revealed in the finale airing in May 2026. New episodes can be found Sundays at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO and are available for streaming on HBO Max.
