A funny thing happened across three seasons over 21 years as HBO’s “The Comeback” comes back one last time: Sitcom star Valerie Cherish (Lisa Kudrow) grows into a more confident, better version of herself.
A character who seemed desperate and prone to humiliation in seasons one and two, Valerie, by the nature of her experience and hard work, comes into her own in season three and even commands respect due to her longevity in the industry and because she’s just a decent person.
Don’t worry, she’s still funny, sometimes foolish and still prone to malapropisms, but after almost losing her marriage to husband Mark (Damian Young) in season two because of her career focus, in season three Valerie’s also lost her best friend, makeup artist Mickey, who died of covid-19. (Actor Robert Michael Morris, who played Mickey, died in 2017 pre-covid.)
Mickey’s presence hangs over the whole season and the loss of Mickey accounts for some of Valerie’s newfound maturity. But this new season also serves as a tribute to Valerie’s resilience, perseverance and unwillingness to give up, determination she’s expressed in various ways since the show began.
In season three, “The Comeback” imbues Valerie with a savvy understanding of the business that comes with four decades working in Hollywood. She’s a survivor, but also one who generally treats other people well.
Many characters from the show’s past return; some for cameos, some for more. Jane (Laura Silverman), the documentarian who chronicled Val beginning with her first reality show (“The Comeback”) in season one, is featured heavily as Val stars in the sitcom “How’s That?!” for streaming service NuNet. But there’s a catch: The show is written by artificial intelligence, which leads to some entertaining discussions about the ethical implications of using AI in place of human writers and a conversation among actors who are initially appalled that their show is written by AI until they realize that with no writers to object, the actors can change (improve?) the dialogue that’s scripted.
In a season as upbeat as Valerie herself, “The Comeback” (10:30 p.m. Sunday, HBO, HBO Max) allows itself some moments of earned emotion, including Valerie’s latest interaction with her former show’s head writer, nemesis Paulie G (Lance Barber), and in an interview conducted by Jane, where Valerie downplays her past humiliations.
“I think you have to agree to be humiliated, and I never signed up,” Valerie says. “Just did the best with what I was given. Isn’t that what being a human being is? Make the best of it, adapt, keeping going.”
‘White With Fear’
When I saw the description for a new documentary airing on PBS, it stopped me in my tracks: Would PBS have aired a program on this subject if PBS was still receiving government funding? I’d like to think they would but it’s also certainly easier for PBS to air “White With Fear” without worry over a potential loss of funding since that already happened.
“White With Fear” (10 p.m. March 24, WQED-TV) explores “how some American conservatives and political operatives have successfully weaponized racism and fear for decades. … [and] uncovers the real-world consequences of deploying tactics that seek to demonize immigrants, spread Islamophobia and devise a strategic media campaign of racist rhetoric with real-world effects.”
Writer/director/producer Andrew Goldberg previously directed “Armenian Genocide” and “Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century: The Resurgence.”
More on WQED
PBS’s “Martha Graham Dance Company: We Are Our Time” (9 p.m. March 27 and April 3, WQED-TV) features film from a 1959 performance at WQED’s original studios at Fifth and Bellefield, newly restored from the archives, according to WQED CEO Jason Jedlinski.
“Beneath the Sole,” premiering with a sold-out screening at the Lindsay Theater in Sewickley on March 22, will be available to stream free on WQED on March 23. The film from director Ryan Rust follows a local shoe repairman and his ties to his community.
Renewed
Hulu renewed “Paradise” for a third and likely final season.
Netflix renewed Bert Kreischer’s comedy series “Free Bert” for a second season.
Channel surfing
Tina Fey hosts the premiere episode of “Saturday Night Live UK,” streaming on Peacock March 22 with English band Wet Leg as the first musical guest. … Jack Black hosts NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” April 4 with musical guest Jack White. … Sunday’s Oscars telecast on ABC drew 17.9 million viewers, down 9% since 2025 and the lowest rated Academy Awards show since 2022. … Following in Stanley Tucci’s footsteps, “Eva Longoria: Searching for France” debuts on CNN at 9 p.m. April 12. … John Krasinski reprises his role as the title character in the film “Jack Ryan: Ghost War,” streaming May 20 on Amazon’s Prime Video. … Season nine of “Rick & Morty” kicks off at 11 p.m. May 24 on Adult Swim.