Lisa Kudrow has brought back her famously persistent character Valerie Cherish for one final run on television. The Comeback Season 3 premiered on March 22, 2026, marking the return of the HBO comedy after more than a decade away. The eight-episode final season follows Valerie as she lands what appears to be her biggest break yet—starring in and executive producing a new sitcom called How’s That?!—only to discover the show’s scripts are being written by artificial intelligence.
The first two episodes have already aired, and viewers are now looking ahead to what comes next in Valerie’s chaotic journey through modern Hollywood.
Episode 3 Release Schedule and Time
The Comeback Season 3 Episode 3 is scheduled to premiere on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time on HBO. The show follows a weekly release pattern, with new episodes arriving every Sunday at the same time.
The full release schedule for the final season:
- Episode 1 – Sunday, March 22 (aired)
- Episode 2 – Sunday, March 29 (aired)
- Episode 3 – Sunday, April 5
- Episode 4 – Sunday, April 12
- Episode 5 – Sunday, April 19
- Episode 6 – Sunday, April 26
- Episode 7 – Sunday, May 3
- Episode 8 – Sunday, May 10
All episodes become available on the streaming service Max (formerly HBO Max) at the exact same time they air live on HBO. For viewers in different time zones, the 10:30 p.m. ET release translates to 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
Where to Watch the New Episode
You can watch Episode 3 through two main options. The episode airs live on HBO at the scheduled time for those with traditional cable or satellite subscriptions. For cord-cutters, Max carries every new episode simultaneously with the live broadcast.
Several streaming services offer access to HBO content. DIRECTV Stream provides a five-day free trial for new users, which includes HBO channels. Sling TV also carries HBO as an add-on package, and Max itself offers direct subscriptions starting at $10.99 per month.
For viewers in the United Kingdom, the show streams on Sky and Now TV, with new episodes arriving every Monday following the US broadcast.
What Episode 3 Might Cover
The third season centers on Valerie Cherish’s return to network television. She gets the lead role in a multi-camera sitcom called How’s That?! at the same network where her previous show Room and Bored aired years earlier. Excited about the opportunity, Valerie accepts the part and even receives an executive producer title. But the excitement turns to shock when she learns the scripts are being generated by AI.
Early episodes have shown Valerie trying to navigate this new reality while dealing with the same self-awareness and awkward determination that defined her character in previous seasons. The show continues its signature mockumentary style, with cameras following Valerie’s every move as she attempts to make her comeback work.
The first two episodes introduced new characters, including Andrew Scott as a network president who insists on Zoom meetings even when he is in the next room, and Ella Stiller as Patience, Valerie’s 23-year-old social media manager.
A Special Connection to Friends
One meaningful detail from the new season involves where the How’s That?! scenes were filmed. Kudrow and the cast shot those sequences on Warner Bros. Stage 24—the exact same soundstage where Kudrow filmed her scenes as Phoebe Buffay on Friends for ten years.
During a CBS Mornings appearance, Kudrow shared her thoughts about filming there.
“We finished up Friends, which was one of the biggest things in my professional life—and life, period. And now I’m finishing up The Comeback trilogy in the same place where I finished the other most important thing. So, that made me a little emotional.”
She later joked with the New Yorker about the experience, saying she was trying to find a word that was not “mindfucky” to describe it.
Where to Catch Up on Previous Episodes
If you missed the first two episodes, both are available to stream now on Max. The platform also carries all episodes from Season 1 (2005) and Season 2 (2014), making it easy for new viewers to catch up on Valerie’s entire story before Episode 3 airs.
The first two seasons are short in length, with Season 1 running 13 episodes and Season 2 running 8 episodes. The show’s devoted following has grown over the past two decades, with many viewers discovering the series long after its original run.
The Cast for the Final Season
Lisa Kudrow leads the cast as Valerie Cherish. Returning cast members include Dan Bucatinsky as Billy Staton, Valerie’s loyal publicist; Laura Silverman as Jane, the documentary producer; Damian Young as Mark, Valerie’s husband; and Tim Bagley.
New additions to the cast for this final season include Andrew Scott, Matt Cook, Jack O’Brien, Ella Stiller, John Early, Barry Shabaka Henley, Abbi Jacobson, Tony Macht, Brittany O’Grady, Zane Phillips, and Julian Stern.
The season also marks the first without fan-favorite actor Robert Michael Morris, who played Valerie’s hairdresser Mickey Deane. Morris passed away in 2017.
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What Critics Are Saying
Early reviews for the final season have been positive. The season holds an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on initial critic reviews. Critics have noted how the show addresses modern entertainment industry issues while staying true to Valerie’s character.
The show creators, Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow, came up with the AI storyline after discussions about where Valerie would fit in today’s Hollywood. King explained at SXSW that they wanted to explore something that felt like it had the same energy as Valerie dealing with reality TV back in 2005.
The first two episodes screened at SXSW to enthusiastic responses from audiences who have followed the show since its original run.
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Keep checking back on VvipTimes for more updates on returning TV shows and what to watch each week.
