Val Gives ’Em the Old Razzle-Dazzle
Vulture • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The Comeback, praised for its prescient take on reality TV and celebrity culture, returns for a third season after 12 years, now addressing AI anxiety and the dominance of streaming in the entertainment industry.
- Valerie Cherish, the faded sitcom star, is attempting a Broadway debut in Chicago while being filmed for social media and reality-style content, showcasing her trademark blend of self-awareness and comedic struggle.
- The season shifts from a mockumentary format to a more traditional Steadicam style, tracking Valerie’s career ups and downs, including a new AI-written sitcom offer and an indie film role that forces her to confront aging and relevance.
- The episode introduces new characters like Tommy Tomlin, a nod to the late Mickey, and features Broadway cameos, while humorously exploring themes of Gen-Z fragility, industry challenges, and Valerie’s enduring desire for approval.
- Despite career setbacks and personal challenges, Valerie’s resilience shines through as she navigates the evolving entertainment landscape, ultimately deciding to take the AI sitcom meeting, reflecting her complex relationship with the industry and its changes.
