HBO's THE COMEBACK Returns 11/9

"B level" TV star Valerie Cherish was a pioneer of reality television. Now, it's ten years later - there's more TV than ever and she wants back in.

Lisa Kudrow (Emmy® winner for "Friends") stars as the embattled Valerie Cherish, a fading TV "It Girl" who was once so desperate to stay in the spotlight that she allowed cameras to follow her every move as she appeared on a new sitcom, with disastrous results.

When the comedy series THE COMEBACK returns for eight episodes starting SUNDAY, NOV. 9 at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, Valerie thinks she has it all figured out this time. She doesn't.

Valerie has hired a student film crew to shoot footage that she hopes will get the attention of Bravo, and put her back on the map. When she discovers her former nemesis Paulie G. (Lance Barber), who's fresh out of rehab, has a new HBO show called "Seeing Red," based on his experiences working with her, an irate Valerie crashes the HBO offices crying defamation - but ends up getting the role that's based on herself.

The show was created by Michael Patrick King (Emmy® winner for HBO's "Sex and the City") and Lisa Kudrow, who serve as executive producers along with Dan Bucatinsky (Emmy® winner for "Scandal"). In addition to Kudrow, cast regulars include Lance Barber as Paulie G., Robert Michael Morris as Mickey, Laura Silverman as Jane and Damian Young as Mark Berman.

The first season of THE COMEBACK, which debuted in 2005 on HBO, explored the madness of television, a Beverly Hills lifestyle, the dual roles of wife and stepmom, the trouble with growing older in Hollywood, and the bravery of a comic-tragic 40-year-old actress who was desperate to look like she was keeping her head above it all. The series was singled out by TIME and Entertainment Weekly as one of the ten best shows of the decade.

In the new episodes, Valerie continues her search to attain the spotlight, but this time around, it illuminates a whole new series of problems when she achieves the visibility she wants.

November's episodes:

Episode #14: "Valerie Makes a Pilot"

Debut date: SUNDAY, NOV. 9 (10:00-10:40 p.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 9 (12:40 a.m., 3:20 a.m.), 10 (midnight) and 12 (9:15 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Nov. 10 (6:45 p.m.), 13 (9:45 p.m.), 14 (8:30 p.m.) and 15 (3:00 p.m.), and Dec. 28 (6:15 p.m.)

While shooting footage for a self-produced reality TV pilot she hopes will get picked up by Bravo, Valerie Cherish learns that her nemesis, Paulie G., is creating a series for HBO about a sitcom writer and his relationship with a neurotic older actress - a redhead named Mallory Church. After dropping in on Andy Cohen's lunch, an incensed Valerie crashes the HBO offices to create a "table flipping scene" worthy of a Bravo show, as she tells them to cease and desist.

Also featured in this episode are Dan Bucatinsky as Billy, Malin Akerman as Juna, Mark L. Young as Tyler, Lillian Hurst as Esperanza, Marla Garlin as Sharon, Carlos Jacott as James, Jhoni Marchinko as Catherine, Vanya Asher as Connor, Andy Cohen as himself, RuPaul as himself, Lisa Vanderpump as herself and Carla Hall as herself.

Written by Michael Patrick King & Lisa Kudrow; directed by Michael Patrick King.

Episode #15: "Valerie Tries to Get Yesterday Back"

Debut date: SUNDAY, NOV. 16 (10:00-10:30 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 16 (midnight, 2:00 a.m.), 17 (midnight), 18 (12:45 a.m.) and 19 (9:30 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Nov. 17 (4:45 p.m.), 20 (9:45 p.m.), 21 (8:30 p.m.) and 22 (12:30 p.m.), and Dec. 28 (7:00 p.m.)

Preferring she use a professional crew for behind-the-scenes footage of "Seeing Red," HBO asks Valerie to bring back Jane, the producer who followed her on "Room and Bored." Meanwhile, Val's publicist, Billy, gets her an appointment with celebrity stylist Brad Goreski for the Golden Globes.

Also featured in this episode are Dan Bucatinsky as Billy, Mark L. Young as Tyler, Lillian Hurst as Esperanza, Carlos Jacott as James, Jhoni Marchinko as Catherine, Vanya Asher as Connor, Kate Comer as Rada and Brad Goreski as himself.

Written by Michael Patrick King & Lisa Kudrow; directed by Michael Patrick King.

Episode #16: "Valerie Is Brought to Her Knees"

Debut date: SUNDAY, NOV. 23 (10:00-10:30 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 23 (midnight, 2:00 a.m.), 24 (12:30 a.m.), 25 (midnight), 26 (9:30 p.m.) and 28 (8:30 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Nov. 24 (5:30 p.m.), 27 (midnight) and 29 (3:00 p.m.), and Dec. 28 (7:30 p.m.)

The first day on set for "Seeing Red," Valerie meets her A-list movie star co-star -Seth Rogen (playing himself) - who will be portraying Mitch, the fictionalized Paulie G. Later, Valerie does her best to put on a brave face while filming a fantasy sequence in the show.

Also featured in this episode are Mark L. Young as Tyler, Brian Delate as Ron Wesson and Rose Abdoo as Marianina.

Written by Amy B. Harris; directed by John Riggi.

Episode #17: "Valerie Saves the Show"

Debut date: SUNDAY NOV. 30 (10:00-10:30 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 30 (midnight, 2:00 a.m.) and Dec. 1 (11:45 p.m.), 2 (midnight), 3 (9:30 p.m.) and 5 (8:30 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Dec. 1 (6:30 p.m.), 4 (10:00 p.m.), 6 (1:00 p.m.) and 28 (8:00 p.m.)

Valerie makes an impulsive decision when she learns that some of her "Seeing Red" scenes may be cut. Later, she brushes up on her improv skills at The Groundlings Theatre.

Also featured in this episode are Seth Rogen as himself, Mark L. Young as Tyler, Lillian Hurst as Esperanza and Brian Delate as Ron Wesson.

Written by Amy B. Harris and John Riggi; directed by John Riggi.

THE COMEBACK was created by Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow; executive producers, Michael Patrick King, Lisa Kudrow and Dan Bucatinsky; co-executive producers, Amy B. Harris and John Riggi; producer, Jim Kleverweis.

To post a comment, you must register and login.