More than 20 years later, Lisa Kudrow is saying goodbye to one of television's most delusional characters. The Emmy winner closes the chapter with Valerie Cherish as The Comeback wraps its final chapter this Sunday with the episode 'Valerie Cherish.'
According to Deadline Hollywood, Kudrow said that being able to end Valerie's story felt deeply authentic to her own evolution as an actress. The actress described the farewell as hitting something that felt "absolutely true."
For Kudrow, the ending encapsulates what the entire series has been about — survival in an industry that can chew you up and spit you out. "That's how we survive," she explained, referring to the resilience Valerie Cherish has embodied throughout the mockumentary's run.
The beloved character — a washed-up sitcom star desperately trying to claw her way back to relevance while being filmed for a reality show — became a cult sensation since the show's debut. Valerie's cringe-inducing ambition, misguided confidence, and refusal to acknowledge her fading star power made her both tragic and oddly endearing.
Kudrow's willingness to play such an uncomfortable, unsexy character for two decades cemented her legacy beyond Phoebe Buffay. The mockumentary proved she could do complex, unflinching character work that made audiences squirm and laugh simultaneously.
The final episode airs Sunday, marking the end of an era for one of TV's most fearless comedic performances. Fans of the show are bracing themselves for what happens when Valerie Cherish finally gets the reality check she's been dodging since day one.
