Valerie Cherish Battles AI and Studio Execs

Valerie Cherish's 2026 iteration in "The Comeback" reveals she is still her own worst enemy, particularly after signing onto an AI-scripted sitcom. Studio head Brandon Wollack manipulates Valerie by appealing to her ego, informing her of staff changes while she is prohibited from revealing the AI's involvement.

Valerie attempts to manage her cast's anxieties about the firings, attributing much of the writing to an unseen "Al." The promotion of Marco, a writers' assistant, to showrunner raises suspicions, especially when he tasks the AI with generating numerous unusable script revisions.

Valerie faces further complications with actors cast as whispering guests, a decision made by Marco due to personal connections. These issues, coupled with attempts to cut jokes and the overall bleakness of the industry, create a heavy sense of dread.

Despite the turmoil, Paulie G. is brought in as a new captain. He quickly identifies the AI's role and suggests creative changes, demonstrating the value of human writers. However, his dismissive attitude towards Valerie underscores the ongoing challenges she faces.

Valerie's attempts to salvage the show by working with Paulie are met with criticism, even from her husband, Mark. The episode highlights the industry's anxieties about AI, with Paulie admitting his fear of it surpasses his past issues with reality TV.