‘The Comeback’ Didn’t Earn a Happy Ending — But It’s Still Nice to Get One

May 10, 2026 8:00pm PT ‘The Comeback’ Didn’t Earn a Happy Ending — But It’s Still Nice to Get One

By Alison Herman

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Alison Herman

TV Critic

aherman2006

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SPOILER ALERT: The following piece contains plot details from the series finale of “The Comeback,” now streaming on HBO Max.

Five minutes before the credits roll, “The Comeback” is set to end on a grim note. Valerie Cherish, the sitcom actor and pioneering reality star played with insistent cheer by comedic master Lisa Kudrow, is in a trap. She’s finally the face of a hit show, the classical multi-camera “How’s That?!” on the streaming service NuNet. But she’s also the face of television written by artificial intelligence, a fact over 70% of the audience seems to have no problem with. 

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