Lisa Kudrow has stunned fans with a complete hair transformation as she returns to her beloved role in The Comeback, exactly two decades after the groundbreaking comedy first aired.
A Striking New Look for Valerie Cherish
The 62-year-old actress was photographed on Wednesday filming scenes for the highly anticipated third season in Los Angeles, showcasing a dramatic departure from her usual appearance. Gone were Kudrow's signature light blonde tresses, replaced by strawberry red hair styled in bouncy curls with face-framing bangs.
Kudrow maintained her character's distinctive fashion sense, wearing a frilly white blouse paired with blue bell-bottom jeans and a brown belt. She completed the ensemble with a tan handbag and heels, proving Valerie Cherish's style evolution continues twenty years on.
The Long-Awaited Return
The Comeback marks its 20th anniversary this year, having first premiered on June 5th, 2005. The beloved series, co-created by Kudrow and Michael Patrick King, was officially renewed for its third season by HBO in June.
In a joint statement, Kudrow and King expressed their enthusiasm: "Valerie Cherish has found her way back to the current television landscape. Neither of us are surprised she did."
HBO's Amy Gravitt added her support, noting: "No matter what the industry throws at her, Valerie Cherish is a survivor. On the 20th anniversary of her debut, Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow have brilliantly scripted her return to HBO, and we can't wait to see that."
From Teaser to Reality
Fans received their first taste of the revival back in June when Kudrow posted a video to YouTube and Instagram, slipping back into Valerie's distinctive character. In true Valerie fashion, she declared in that familiar snippy tone and nasally accent: "This is the last one, last time. Never doing this again."
After several takes where she stumbled over lines, Kudrow announced, "Well, I've got a new show, how's that and I'm so excited," before dramatically storming off set.
This revival comes eleven years after season two concluded, with creators having long discussed a potential third installment. The delay was partly due to King's commitment to And Just Like That, which has now concluded.
The Comeback season 3 is scheduled to premiere on HBO and HBO Max in 2026, giving fans plenty of time to revisit the first two seasons of this critically acclaimed series that remarkably predicted reality television trends before they became mainstream.
