Series co-creator Michael Patrick King details what’s to come when the HBO comedy returns in March.

We need to see that! Lisa Kudrow’s Valerie Cherish will go on Hot Ones on The Comeback season 3 (exclusive)

Series co-creator Michael Patrick King details what's to come when the HBO comedy returns in March.

By Patrick Gomez

Patrick Gomez is an Executive Editor at . Formerly at People magazine and The A.V. Club, the Critics Choice and Television Critics Association member has appeared on 'Today,' 'Extra!,' 'Access Hollywood,' 'E! News,' 'CNN,' and 'Nightline,' and can be seen frequently on 'Good Morning America.' Follow the Texas Native at @PatrickGomezLA wherever your media is social for all things 'For All Mankind' 'Top Chef,' and puppy related.

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December 24, 2025 12:00 p.m. ET

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'The Comeback' star Lisa Kudrow; 'Hot Ones' host Sean Evans. Credit:

Dave Benett/Getty; First We Feast/YouTube

Valerie Cherish loves a camera (though she may flag a few things) — but is she ready for *Hot Ones*?

Lisa Kudrow's red-headed sitcom star will return after an 11-year hiatus for season 3 of *The Comeback*, and the *Friends* star's co-creator Michael Patrick King is excited to explore how Valerie is adapting to the new normal of being a television star in the 2020s.

As part of **'s 2026 Preview, King discussed how Valerie is the lead of a new sitcom, *How's That?!*. It will be a major plot point that the comedy will be written by AI — but that's not the only bit of zeitgeist *The Comeback* will dive into when it comes back.

"What's happening right now is you're not promoting anything if you're not on *Hot Ones*, you're just not. And they don't take anybody. So Valerie getting on *Hot Ones* is kind of a thing," King reveals to EW.

"It's so interesting how much 'future television,' meaning how many new platforms, are trying to return to a older style of television because of economics, I mean, sitcoms and actually product placement/commercials," he continues. "Even the streamers are starting to go backwards and offer cheaper versions with commercials. So as we move forward, it also seems to be moving back. People seem to be wanting old-fashioned television, but in a new way. So we're going to play with all of that."

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They'll also be playing with a whole new crop of characters.

*The Comeback* season 3 will feature the return of reality show producer Jane (Laura Silverman), and Valerie's husband, Mark (Damian Young), and publicist, Billy (Dan Bucatinsky) — but also the addition of Andrew Scott as a studio head, as well as Abbi Jacobson, John Early, Tim Bagley, Matt Cook, Jack O’Brien, Ella Stiller, Barry Shabaka Henley, Tony Macht, Brittany O’Grady, Zane Phillips and Julian Stern.

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*The Comeback* is set to return on HBO in March.

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Source: “EW Comedy”