Why Lisa Kudrow’s ‘The Comeback’ Is Making a Triumphant Return After 11 Years

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You don’t need to wait for a grand entrance; instead, consider this as a revival: Lisa Kudrow’s series titled The Comeback, which airs on HBO, will make its comeback for its third (and presumably last) season in 2026. However, the title might remind you of the “it’s been 84 years” meme from the Titanic, given that the second season aired in 2014 and the first one debuted back in 2005.

The length of time Kudrow has been on “The Comeback” surpasses her tenure on “Friends”, despite the former having significantly fewer episodes (215 fewer). It’s quite puzzling. A viewer born when the show premiered would be able to legally drink by the third season. Yet, one might wonder why Valerie Cherish’s story has taken so long to unfold, and why is the third season being marketed as the final? Given “The Comeback’s” history, it’s not impossible that a fourth season could air in 2045. Most of the delay can be attributed to scheduling issues, cancellations, and revivals.

In today’s TV industry, it’s common for shows to have several years of hiatus between six to eight episodes in each season. However, The Comeback was way ahead of this trend, as its longest break was a whopping nine-year gap between Seasons 1 and 2. So if you’re fans of Euphoria or Stranger Things, just be grateful for the regular releases! Let’s delve into The Comeback and explore why it only manages about one episode per year.

‘The Comeback’s Original Run and First Comeback

In June of 2005, a little over a year after Lisa Kudrow completed her iconic role as Phoebe on the popular sitcom “Friends,” the show “The Comeback” debuted on HBO. In this series, Kudrow played Valerie Cherish, a struggling B-list actress trying to find work after her sitcom ended a decade prior. Valerie’s TV comeback comes in the form of a reality show named similarly, “The Comeback“. As she navigates an industry that has moved on without her and deals with every move being documented, this first season concluded in September 2005. It was quickly cancelled afterwards, receiving mixed reviews from both critics and audiences, making it easy to overlook as it came and went.

The television series amassed a dedicated fanbase throughout its lifetime. Its witty critique of the reality TV genre received acclaim, and it was recognized as one of the top comedies from the late 2000s to early 2010s. Reality TV gained significant popularity following the initial season’s airing. The majority of critics agreed that The Comeback was visionary for its time. Kudrow and co-creator Michael Patrick King always maintained hope for additional episodes after the original run had ended.

In 2014, The Comeback made its comeback for its second season. During this run, Valerie capitalized on the surge of reality TV by proposing a concept to Andy Cohen. Eventually, she was cast as herself in HBO’s fictional series titled “Seeing Red,” which portrayed a sitcom writer who had collaborated with Valerie during her previous television return in the first season. The second season received more favorable reviews, adopting a mockumentary and found footage style. However, the possibility of renewing or canceling the show remained uncertain in 2014.

The Comeback Season Release Date
The Comeback Season 1 June 5, 2005
The Comeback Season 2 Nov 9, 2014
The Comeback Season 3 2026

The Second Comeback of ‘The Comeback’ and the Future of TV

During the summer of 2020, which saw a surge of virtual reunions due to COVID-19, the cast of The Comeback gathered on Zoom for a special event. This gathering aimed to raise funds for what was then called The Actors Fund of America. Later in the following year, Kudrow suggested that The Comeback might return once King finished work on the miniseries And Just Like That. However, this series went ahead and postponed any possible revival of The Comeback.

Back in early 2025, whispers of The Comeback’s second comeback started swirling around. Fast forward to June, and HBO made it official – we’re getting a third season (and supposedly the final one). Set for a debut in 2026, this season will bring Valerie Cherish’s tale full circle, 12 years after Season 2 and 21 years after Season 1. I, along with Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King, will be back on board, joined by other original stars like Laura Silverman, Dan Bucatinsky, and Damian Young. As for Paulie, portrayed by Lance Barber, there’s no confirmation yet, but he just finished playing a much more lovable role as George Sr. in Young Sheldon. Fingers crossed that we see him back on our screens!

Given the enduring fan love for The Comeback over two decades and the current trend of TV reboots, it’s plausible that The Comeback will make a comeback itself. The Comeback, with its innovative content and unconventional airing patterns, was ahead of its time. Traditional yearly 22-episode seasons are becoming rare, with only a few broadcast network shows maintaining that production schedule. Instead, cable and streaming platforms have opted for shorter seasons, releasing new content every couple of years. This approach helps reduce costs and gives actors more opportunities to work on other projects.

In the summer of 2005, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” made its debut, following closely on the heels of “The Comeback.” Unlike many shows, “Always Sunny” releases just 8-10 episodes for each season, every other year. This compact production schedule gives its actors the opportunity to pursue other TV roles, like Kaitlin Olson’s ABC series “High Potential.” In the past, she might have had to hold off on another starring role until “It’s Always Sunny” finished its run. However, by creating fewer episodes for one show, they can devote more time to other projects.

In a potential shift for TV series, shows like “The Comeback” could have extended runs by releasing episodes over multiple years and even decades. For instance, Lisa Kudrow’s character, Valerie Cherish, had a significant role spanning two decades, despite probably spending less than a year on set in total. If this marks the end of her journey, it’s been quite an impressive 20-year run. However, if more seasons are planned, we’ll eagerly wait for the next one, which might be several decades down the line. Don’t forget to catch up with “The Comeback” on Max!

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2025-07-05 19:32