Lisa Kudrow is set to make a big return in a popular comedy series

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.

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!”

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.

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.

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.

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.