Friends icon Lisa Kudrow is poised to grace television screens once again as her critically acclaimed sitcom, The Comeback, makes a dramatic return after a twelve-year hiatus. The beloved actress, now 62, will reprise her role as the tenacious Valerie Cherish, a former television star navigating the turbulent waters of Hollywood's comeback trail.
A Long-Awaited Return to the Spotlight
Originally debuting on HBO in 2005 for a single season, The Comeback experienced a surprise revival in 2014 for its second series. Now, more than a decade later, the show is confirmed to premiere its third and final season on March 22nd in the United States, marking its swansong. Kudrow, who co-created the series with Michael Patrick King, known for his work on Sex and the City, returns to the titular role that has defined her post-Friends career.
First Look at the New Season
A freshly released trailer offers audiences an enticing glimpse into the upcoming series. It reveals Valerie securing a leading role in a new sitcom titled How's That?, only to be utterly stunned upon discovering that the scripts are being generated by artificial intelligence. This plot twist promises to explore contemporary themes of technology's encroachment on creative industries, adding a modern edge to the show's signature blend of cringe comedy and emotional depth.
The series derives its name from the initial season's narrative, which picks up years after Valerie's early sitcom success with I'm It! has faded. In a meta-fictional twist, Valerie documents her attempted return to television fame through a reality show also called The Comeback, creating a layered commentary on celebrity, aging, and the entertainment business.
Critical Acclaim and Lasting Legacy
The Comeback has garnered significant critical praise over its run. The first season holds a respectable 63% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 19 reviews, while the second series boasts an impressive 85% score from 35 critiques, highlighting its growth and resonance with audiences and critics alike.
The Independent lauded the second series, stating: "The result is one of the best comedies of the year, by turns excruciating and emotionally involving. Anchored by a clever script which never laughs at Valerie despite the many small daily deaths she faces and a wonderful central performance from Kudrow who somehow manages to make self-obsession seem both necessary and touchingly brave."
Similarly, The Guardian offered insightful analysis: "Valerie is not a monster. She is very often right... She is always professional and has been in the business long enough to know that a joke about puppies as Korean barbecue won't work, but her insistence to get the writers to change it results in them writing an especially cruel replacement quip. That's what differentiates Valerie from all the other narcissistic monsters in TV comedies. She has real, true feelings and is self-actualized enough to know when she is slighting someone and when she has been slighted."
This final season promises to deliver the same sharp wit, emotional complexity, and satirical edge that has defined The Comeback, providing a fitting conclusion to Valerie Cherish's tumultuous journey through the highs and lows of television stardom.
