Dan Bucatinsky Returns as Billy Stanton in Final Season of 'The Comeback'

The actor discusses his long-running partnership with Lisa Kudrow and the show's satirical take on Hollywood's changing landscape.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 3:58pm

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As Valerie Cherish returns for one last close-up on HBO's 'The Comeback', her (somewhat) trusty friend and manager Billy Stanton is back as well. Dan Bucatinsky, who co-produces and stars alongside Lisa Kudrow in the mockumentary reality series, discusses his 25-year working relationship with Kudrow and the opportunity to explore how the entertainment industry has evolved over the past decade through the lens of Valerie's story.

Why it matters

The Comeback has long been praised for its biting Hollywood satire, and the final season promises to tackle timely topics like the rise of AI-generated content and the changing landscape of the industry. Bucatinsky's return as the eccentric Billy Stanton allows the show to further explore these themes through the dynamic between Valerie and her manager.

The details

Bucatinsky and Kudrow first met on the set of Kudrow's husband Don Roos' 1998 indie comedy The Opposite of Sex, and soon after started their production company Is or Isn't Entertainment. They've produced several projects together over the past 25 years, including the original run of The Comeback in the mid-2000s. For the final season, Bucatinsky's Billy Stanton will be given more of the spotlight as he navigates his own ambitions and threatens to let Valerie down in the process. Bucatinsky notes that while he is nothing like the "child" that is Billy, he has drawn on his own experiences as a longtime creative partner to inform the character's arc.

  • The Comeback Season 3 premieres on Sunday, August 17, 2025 at 10:30pm ET on HBO.
  • Bucatinsky and Kudrow first met on the set of The Opposite of Sex in 1998.

The players

Dan Bucatinsky

An actor and producer who co-stars alongside Lisa Kudrow in The Comeback and has worked with her for over 25 years through their production company Is or Isn't Entertainment.

Lisa Kudrow

An acclaimed actress and comedian who co-created The Comeback and stars as the lead character Valerie Cherish. Kudrow is also Bucatinsky's long-time business partner and close friend.

Michael Patrick King

The co-creator of The Comeback who developed the series with Kudrow after she pitched the idea of a reality show following a comedic character she had created.

Robert Michael Morris

The late actor who played Mickey, Valerie's friend and confidant, and whose passing is honored in a special episode of the final season.

Jack O'Brien

A Tony Award-winning theater director who joins the cast in Season 3 as Tommy Tomlin, a friend of the late Mickey.

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What they’re saying

“To have her in my life as like a sister to me, in my personal life, but professionally, to get to watch her do what she does, to get to see she is razor sharp, she has a razor sharp instinct about character, about emotion, about comedy, she's brilliant. And so, when I get to act with her, I feel incredibly lucky.”

— Dan Bucatinsky

“Don't think that I didn't have a fantasy that Rob's twin brother was Billy, and that Billy shows up to deliver Valerie Cherish as a late night guest for Deborah Vance.”

— Dan Bucatinsky

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

This season of The Comeback explores how the entertainment industry has evolved over the past decade, tackling timely topics like the rise of AI-generated content. Bucatinsky's return as the eccentric Billy Stanton allows the show to further examine these changes through the dynamic between Valerie and her manager, proving that mission-driven, character-driven comedy can still thrive in an ever-shifting landscape.