Lisa Kudrow Reflects On Playing 'The Comeback's Val Longer Than Phoebe

The actress discusses her two-decade journey with the HBO mockumentary series ahead of its third and final season.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:00pm

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As Lisa Kudrow makes one last comeback as Valerie Cherish in the third season of HBO's The Comeback, she reflected on playing the character for longer than she played Phoebe Buffay on Friends. Kudrow co-created The Comeback in 2005, which follows the actress as she lets reality show cameras follow her around while attempting to revive her career. The Comeback returned for a second season in 2014, and the third and final season premieres on Sunday at 10:30pm ET on HBO.

Why it matters

The Comeback has developed a devoted following over its two-decade journey, with fans eager to see how Valerie Cherish's story concludes. Kudrow's reflection on playing Valerie for longer than her iconic Friends character Phoebe highlights the enduring appeal of the mockumentary series and its central character.

The details

In the third season of The Comeback, Valerie accepts the lead role on a new sitcom, How's It?, which is written by an AI program. As reality show cameras follow her around once again for this latest phase of her career, the actress and producer has to navigate the many cultural landmines of Hollywood in 2026.

  • The Comeback premiered in 2005.
  • The show returned for a second season in 2014.
  • The third and final season premieres on Sunday, March 16, 2026 at 10:30pm ET.

The players

Lisa Kudrow

An Emmy-winning actress best known for playing Phoebe Buffay on the sitcom Friends. She is the co-creator and star of the HBO mockumentary series The Comeback, in which she plays the character of Valerie Cherish.

Michael Patrick King

The co-creator of The Comeback, who has worked extensively in television including as an executive producer on the hit series Sex and the City.

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What they’re saying

“Yes, I have played Valerie longer than I've played Phoebe. But Valerie's always there, she's very right there, close by. She's the one doing commentary throughout my life.”

— Lisa Kudrow

What’s next

The third and final season of The Comeback premieres on Sunday, March 16, 2026 at 10:30pm ET on HBO.

The takeaway

Over the course of two decades, Lisa Kudrow has made Valerie Cherish, the central character of The Comeback, her own. Even as she remains beloved for her iconic role as Phoebe on Friends, Kudrow's commitment to Valerie has resulted in a character that has become just as enduring and impactful.