HBO has officially confirmed that “The Comeback” is, well, making a comeback.
The beloved series co-created by Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King, known for his work on “Sex and the City,” is set to make a comeback with its highly anticipated third, and reportedly last, season in 2026.
But if you know “The Comeback,” you know the word final doesn’t carry much weight.
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Lisa Kudrow’s ‘The Comeback’ Returns
Debuting in 2005, the show, which cleverly satirizes reality TV and the self-absorbed nature of Hollywood, made a surprising return for a second season in 2014. Now, after 12 years since that revival, Valerie Cherish is making a reappearance in the entertainment scene.
“Valerie Cherish has once again found her place in today’s television landscape. It comes as no shock to either of us,” noted Kudrow and King in a joint statement issued by HBO.
Kudrow announced the news in character via a cheeky behind-the-scenes video. Dressed as Valerie, she starts off excitedly proclaiming, “This is the last one, alright, the last time. Never doing this again. Well, I’ve got a new show. How’s that? And I’m so excited about it!”
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But in true “Comeback” fashion, her director isn’t satisfied and pushes her to keep re-recording the announcement until Valerie eventually storms off set. “Should I turn the camera off?” the cameraman asked. “No… I’m pretty sure she’ll come back,” the director deadpans.
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Season 3 Begins Production This Summer
Production for Season 3 begins this summer, with a premiere expected in 2026 on HBO and Max.
Returning alongside Kudrow are original cast members Dan Bucatinsky as Valerie’s ever-nervous publicist Billy, Laura Silverman as reality show producer Jane, and Damian Young as her long-suffering husband Mark.
One notable absence is Robert Michael Morris, who played Valerie’s beloved hairdresser and confidant, Mickey. Morris passed away in 2017, and his presence will no doubt be deeply missed.
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How ‘The Comeback’ Went From Canceled To Critically Revered
When “The Comeback” premiered in 2005, it was ahead of its time, so much so that many viewers didn’t know what to make of it.
In fact, critics initially dismissed the show as too uncomfortable, and HBO canceled it after one season, despite Kudrow earning an Emmy nomination for her performance. But in the years that followed, “The Comeback” became a revered gem among TV insiders and fans alike.
Valerie’s catchphrases, “I don’t want to see that!” and “Hello, hello, hello!” became memes, and the show was celebrated for its brutal, honest portrayal of a woman navigating ageism and misogyny in Hollywood.
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Valerie Cherish’s Emmy Redemption
The second season in 2014 saw Valerie attempt to produce a pilot for Andy Cohen. Valerie is also cast in an HBO series called “Seeing Red,” playing a fictionalized version of herself in a show about the life of Paulie G. (played by Seth Rogan), the sitcom writer who tormented her.
In the years since, “The Comeback” has only continued to grow in stature.
Earlier this year, Variety ranked Kudrow’s portrayal of Valerie Cherish as the fourth greatest TV performance of the 21st century.
And now, in 2026, she’s back again.
Lisa Kudrow Honors Matthew Perry By Binge-Watching ‘Friends’
The actress recently opened up about how tough it is to move on without Perry in her life anymore but is honoring him in the best way she can… by binge-watching “Friends.”
“Honestly, I wasn’t able to watch it because it’s too embarrassing to watch yourself. But if I make it about Matthew, then that’s OK,” the actress told The Hollywood Reporter. “And it’s just celebrating how hilarious he was, and that is what I want to remember [about him].”
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“Everyone is hilarious. I’m blown away by Courteney Cox. I’m blown away by Jen. Matthew, obviously, is just uniquely hilarious. No one ever knew that cadence or comedic rhythm before him. Matt LeBlanc is hilarious. And David Schwimmer, too,” she continued of her former co-stars. “Sometimes I even laugh at what I’ve done.”
She concluded by saying, “So yeah, I mean, that’s my own little way of celebrating [the anniversaries], just watching it. But it’s embarrassing. At home, if anyone walks in the room and I’m watching ‘Friends,’ that’s a horrible look, I think, don’t you?”
