The entertainment industry keeps changing, and nobody knows that better than Valerie Cherish. Lisa Kudrow brought back her famous character for the third and final season of “The Comeback,” and the second episode aired on March 29, 2026. This time around, Valerie finds herself in the middle of a new world where artificial intelligence writes television scripts, and she is trying to figure out how to make it work for her. The episode titled “Valerie Has a Secret” shows the actress dealing with complications she never saw coming, from keeping quiet about the AI technology to running into familiar faces from her past.
The new season started on March 22, 2026, and it follows Valerie as she lands the lead role and an executive producer title on a sitcom called “How’s That?!” But there is a catch. The network NuNet is using an AI program called Allassist, or Al, to write the scripts. Valerie is told not to talk about it, and this episode shows how hard it is for her to keep that secret while trying to do her job.
Valerie’s Secret About the AI-Written Sitcom
The second episode picks up right after Valerie learns the truth about her new show. The network executives made it clear that she cannot tell anyone that artificial intelligence is writing “How’s That?!” But keeping quiet is not easy for Valerie, who has always been honest with the documentary crew following her life.
Throughout the episode, Valerie struggles with this secret. She does not fully understand why people in Hollywood get so worked up about AI. To her, it looks like just another wave she can ride, similar to how she tried to become a social media influencer years ago because she had experience with reality television. She sees the technology as a tool that finally gives her value in an industry that has pushed her aside for years.
The situation gets more complicated when Valerie meets with James Burrows, the famous television director who appears as himself. She wants him to direct her new show, but she cannot explain the full situation to him. When she finally tells him and Jane about the AI, they become more interested, but Valerie knows she broke the rules by sharing the information.
Jane Returns to Valerie’s Life
One of the biggest moments in the episode happens when Valerie finds Jane, played by Laura Silverman, working at a Trader Joe’s near her apartment. Jane had left New York and stopped filming Valerie after the Broadway storyline in the first episode. Things have not gone well for her. She is deep in debt, cannot find anyone to fund her political documentaries, and lost her ranch to wildfires.
Valerie talks Jane into picking up the camera again. As soon as Jane starts filming, the show goes back to its original style with shaky hand-held shots and that real, unpolished feel. Jane’s return brings back the dynamic that made the show work in the first place. Valerie immediately starts talking to the camera again, sharing her thoughts and showing off for the lens.
The reunion also brings back the question of why Jane left. The episode shows that Jane ran away after a difficult time in New York, but she is ready to work with Valerie again. For Valerie, having Jane back means having someone who knows her story and has followed her career for years.
Sharon’s Comeback and Valerie’s New Power
Another familiar face shows up when Valerie runs into Sharon, played by Marla Garlin, at a restaurant. Sharon was the casting director for “Room and Bored” back in season one and also worked on “Seeing Red” in season two. She is eating dinner with her walking buddy, Jane Fonda, who looks at Valerie like she has no idea who she is.
Sharon wants to work on “How’s That?!” and Valerie is happy to hire her. But this time, things are different. In the past, Sharon did not always take Valerie seriously. Now Valerie has the power. She is the one deciding who works on her show. This shift shows how much has changed for Valerie, even if she still does not fully understand the technology behind her new job.
The scene at the restaurant also shows Mark, Valerie’s husband played by Damian Young, having a difficult moment. He runs into his former boss Greg and tries to leave without finishing his dessert. Mark lost his job for telling inappropriate jokes, and his reality TV project “Finance Dudes” is just a proposal, not a real show yet. He is struggling while Valerie seems to be moving forward.
Writers Josh and Mary Join the Show
The episode introduces the writers for “How’s That?!”, a married couple named Josh Abrams and Mary, played by John Early and Abbi Jacobson. They are the writers of record for the AI-generated series, meaning their names go on the scripts even though the computer does most of the work.
Josh and Mary are skeptical about the project. When Josh admits he adds his own jokes to the AI script, Mary sarcastically says “Great, keep teaching it,” showing she worries about making the technology better at replacing them. But they are glad to have Valerie on board. Their last show “Fetch” was about four women at a dog park, and they wrote it for “women of a certain age.” This connects to why Valerie fits their new project.
The writers represent the real fears people in Hollywood have about artificial intelligence. They see it as something that could take their jobs, and they are not happy about working on a show that uses it. But they also need the work, so they stay quiet just like Valerie.
The AI Debate in Hollywood
The episode does not shy away from showing how people in the entertainment business feel about AI. Brandon Wallick, played by Andrew Scott, runs the Allassist project for NuNet. He ends a Zoom call quickly when Valerie starts talking about her concerns with the technology. He insists the network is following the Writers Guild rules about AI use, but he also knows people get upset when they hear those words.
James Burrows sums up the new show by calling it “Newhart meets Fawlty Towers but with a woman.” That sounds fine on the surface, but Jane points out what is really happening. She says people do not want anything challenging, and the AI is giving them exactly that.
The show’s look changes throughout the episode to match the theme. Early scenes show Valerie stuck on Zoom calls with dozens of employees, each waving at her from little boxes on a big screen. The real world feels distant and blocked off. But when Jane returns with her camera, everything goes back to the familiar style that viewers know.
The Final Scene and What It Means
The episode ends with a small moment that critics have pointed out as important. Valerie is in her car, and the GPS voice keeps telling her where to go. She ignores it and tells Jane’s camera that the last time she did not listen, she saved five minutes.
This moment shows how Valerie thinks about technology. The AI picked her for the show. The algorithm decided she has value again. But she still wants to be in control. She listens when it benefits her, but she ignores it when she thinks she knows better.
The episode also includes a quick look at Valerie on “The Traitors,” the reality competition show. She was sent home in the second episode after accidentally revealing she was a traitor. Her reaction saying “It’s so stressful” went viral, and a network employee holds up his phone to show her the meme during a meeting.
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Release Details and Where to Watch
“The Comeback” Season 3 Episode 2 aired on HBO on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time. For viewers in different parts of the world, here is when it became available:
- United States (Pacific Time): 7:30 p.m. on Sunday
- United Kingdom: 2:30 a.m. on Monday (early morning)
- India: 8:00 a.m. on Monday
- Australia: 1:30 p.m. Monday (Australian Eastern Time)
The episode is available to stream on Max (formerly HBO Max) at the same time it airs on television. Subscription plans start at $11 per month for the ad-supported version. The ad-free plan costs $19 per month, and premium 4K streaming is $23 per month.
For viewers in the United Kingdom, the series streams on Sky Go and Now TV. The third season has eight episodes total, with new episodes arriving every Sunday through the finale on May 10, 2026.
After each episode, fans can watch “The Comeback’s Official HBO Companion Video Podcast” on Max. Host Evan Ross Katz talks with Lisa Kudrow, Michael Patrick King, and cast members about the storylines and how the show was made.
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For more television news and updates on returning series, keep checking back for the latest entertainment coverage.
