Lisa Kudrow Returns to Iconic Role in New HBO Season

Lisa Kudrow is stepping back into one of her most loved roles, and this time it’s official—HBO is bringing back “The Comeback” for a third season. The network confirmed the news after the show’s 20th anniversary on June 5.

Created by Kudrow and Michael Patrick King, the comedy series first came out in 2005. It was revived for a second season in 2014, and now, after more than a decade, it’s set to return again in 2026. HBO says this will be the “final season,” but considering how the show keeps coming back, that label might not really mean much.

Kudrow returns as Valerie Cherish, a former sitcom actress who’s always chasing her big moment. She’ll be joined by Dan Bucatinsky as her publicist, Laura Silverman as Jane, the producer behind the reality show inside the show, and Damian Young as her husband Mark.

One cast member who won’t be returning is Robert Michael Morris, who played Valerie’s hairstylist and best friend Mickey. He passed away in 2017. Guest stars haven’t been announced yet, but the last season included names like Seth Rogen and Malin Åkerman.

In a statement shared by HBO, Kudrow and King said, “Valerie Cherish has found her way back to the current television landscape. Neither of us are surprised she did.”

When “The Comeback” first aired, it introduced Valerie through a mock reality show. She was trying to reboot her acting career by starring in a not-so-great sitcom, all while being filmed every step of the way for a reality series also called “The Comeback.” The idea was pretty bold at the time, and critics didn’t know what to make of it. Some thought it was too uncomfortable to watch. The show was canceled after one season.

Back then, Kudrow had just wrapped up “Friends,” and King had finished “Sex and the City.” They were known for more traditional hits, so “The Comeback” caught people off guard. Still, Kudrow was nominated for an Emmy for her performance, and so was King for directing.

After the cancellation, the show slowly became a fan favorite. Valerie’s awkward one-liners like “Well, I’ve got it!” and “I don’t want to see that!” turned into memes. HBO eventually gave it a second chance with a new season in 2014. Earlier this year, Variety named Kudrow’s Valerie one of the best TV performances of the 21st century.

Season two ended with Valerie skipping the Emmys—where she was likely to win—to be with Mickey in the hospital. That moment showed real growth in her character, even after years of chasing fame and dealing with painful moments in front of the camera. Her success finally came, but it cost her a lot, including some strain in her marriage.

Amy Gravitt, executive vice president of comedy at HBO and Max, said in a statement, “No matter what the industry throws at her, Valerie Cherish is a survivor. On the 20th Anniversary of her debut, Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow have brilliantly scripted her return to HBO and we can’t wait to see that.”

Along with Kudrow and King, John Melfi and Dan Bucatinsky are back as executive producers. Production starts this summer, and the new season is set to hit HBO in 2026.

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