Anyone who loved Phoebe on "Friends" can get their Lisa Kudrow fix in the very un-Phoebe-esque satirical comedy, "The Comeback." Kudrow stars in the series, which she co-created with Michael Patrick King, and plays Valerie Cherish, a has-been sitcom actress who lands a new role after years of not finding work. The mockumentary-style show follows Valerie as she "got it:" a role in the sitcom "Room and Board." Valerie prepares to re-enter the spotlight and find a new place for herself in an ageist and sexist world that often has a short shelf-life for actresses.
"The Comeback" is a meta look at Hollywood. In the series, Cherish is taking part in a reality show called "The Comeback," which is supposed to be a companion piece to "Room and Board." Valerie can be simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking as she struggles with a return to a world she once knew but that no longer embraces her and instead, more often than not, humiliates her.
Narcissistic, insecure, and lacking self-awareness, Valerie should be someone that audiences hate, but in Kudrow's hands, she's compelling and emotional. A particular standout is her relationship with Mickey (Robert Michael Morris), her hairdresser and best friend. In some ways, the show is more similar to "The Office" due to its super high cringe factor, but any fan of Lisa Kudrow would be remiss to miss out on "The Comeback."
