Lisa Kudrow’s Hilarious Post-Friends Role In The Comeback

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Following the end of Friends, Lisa Kudrow appeared in The Comeback, a show many found even funnier than Friends. She played a character even more hilarious than Phoebe Buffay, the role that made her famous. It’s unusual for stars of hugely popular shows like Friends, Seinfeld, or The Office to find success with another hit series. Creating a show that truly resonates with audiences, like those shows did, is incredibly difficult and rare.

Although Lisa Kudrow didn’t appear in another show as massively popular as Friends, she did star in one that many found even funnier. Just over a year after Friends finished its ten seasons, Kudrow partnered with Michael Patrick King, known for Sex and the City, to create a new show specifically for her, appropriately named The Comeback.

The Comeback Stars Lisa Kudrow As A Washed-Up Sitcom Star

The Comeback features Lisa Kudrow as Valerie Cherish, an actress who had a hit sitcom called I’m It! in the late 80s and early 90s. The series begins as Valerie tries to revive her career after more than a decade away from the spotlight, with a new show called Room and Bored.

The fact that Kudrow created The Comeback immediately after Friends ended is interesting on multiple levels. It’s a clever, self-aware move, but also deeply personal. Actors, even successful ones, constantly worry about staying relevant and finding work, and Kudrow used that anxiety as the basis for the show’s humor.

The show is presented as if it’s real footage recorded by a documentary film crew. The first season follows the filming of a reality TV show within the show, called The Comeback. The second season shows the crew working on a pilot for a new reality show with Andy Cohen. This style perfectly highlights awkward, embarrassing moments and portrays the characters in a very unflattering way.

Valerie Cherish Is Even Funnier Than Phoebe Buffay

Phoebe is a wonderfully quirky and unpredictable character, known for her silly songs and often outlandish comments. However, I find Valerie even funnier. The show’s documentary-style format and HBO’s freedom from censorship allowed Lisa Kudrow to fully embrace awkward and challenging moments, resulting in a performance that was both hilarious and surprisingly relatable.

The Comeback Is Returning For Season 3 In 2026

The show The Comeback is known for the long gaps between its seasons. The first season came out in 2005, and the second in 2014. Fans have been waiting for a third season ever since, but HBO has now confirmed it’s happening, with a planned release in 2026. That makes now a great time to start watching or revisit The Comeback.

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2025-12-14 15:12