Valerie Cherish Faces AI Takeover in 'The Comeback' Season 3

HBO satire takes on the threat of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry

Mar. 20, 2026 at 9:03am

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In the third season of HBO's showbiz satire 'The Comeback', Lisa Kudrow returns as Valerie Cherish, a former sitcom star navigating the rise of AI in the entertainment industry. As Valerie lands a lead role and executive producer position on a new network sitcom written by an AI program, she must confront the implications of this technological disruption on her career and the livelihoods of her peers.

Why it matters

The Comeback explores how the threat of AI is impacting the creative class in Hollywood, raising questions about the future of human labor, collective action, and the role of technology in an industry built on human talent and storytelling.

The details

The season opens in 2023 with Valerie Cherish taking on the role of Roxie Hart in a Broadway production of 'Chicago' during a writers' and actors' strike. Returning to Los Angeles, she is offered the lead and executive producer role on a new network sitcom, 'How's That?!', which is written by an AI program called 'Al' that the network is keeping secret. Valerie must navigate the challenges of working with the AI-generated content and keeping the network's secret from the show's cast and crew, who are struggling with the implications of this technological disruption on their careers.

  • In 2023, Valerie Cherish is performing in 'Chicago' on Broadway during industry strikes.
  • Valerie is offered the lead role and executive producer position on the AI-written sitcom 'How's That?!' in the present day.

The players

Valerie Cherish

A former sitcom star navigating the rise of AI in the entertainment industry, played by Lisa Kudrow.

Al

A generative AI program that is secretly writing the scripts for the sitcom 'How's That?!'

Josh and Mary

The bitter, checked-out showrunners of 'How's That?!' who are plotting their exit from the TV business.

James Burrows

The acclaimed TV director who agrees to shoot the pilot of 'How's That?!' out of grim curiosity.

Fran Drescher

The union president and fellow sitcom veteran who warns Valerie that 'AI is coming for all of us.'

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What they’re saying

“A.I. is coming for all of us.”

— Fran Drescher, Union President

“This is not the normal TV evolution, network to cable, cable to streaming. It's an extinction event.”

— Bradley Whitford, Veteran TV Writer

“I am not helping to build the scaffold that kills my profession.”

— Mary, Showrunner

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Comeback's third season offers a bleak and timely satire of how the rise of AI is disrupting the entertainment industry, raising questions about the future of human labor, collective action, and the role of technology in an industry built on human talent and storytelling.