Lisa Kudrow Reflects on Continuing ‘The Comeback’ After Robert Michael Morris’ Passing: “Mickey Will Always Be Special”
The upcoming third and final season of The Comeback will bring a poignant moment for fans as they will bid farewell to a beloved character. Premiering on HBO on Sunday, March 22, the season will address this character’s death directly and feature a heartfelt tribute in its fourth episode, set to air on April 12. While Val reconnects with former hairstylist Tommy Tomlin, portrayed by Jack O’Brien, producers emphasize that he is not intended to serve as a substitute.
“Mickey’s character was so original, and his impact was so specific, that I felt like a proxy,” O’Brien remarked. “Like that had to be completed, it had to be delivered in some sense.”
O’Brien noted that Morris, who was co-creator Michael Patrick King’s drama teacher, made his on-screen debut in the series back in 2005. As a four-time Tony-winning writer, lyricist, director, and producer, O’Brien resonated with the experience of stepping into the role. “There’s a little tradition there, that he wasn’t thinking of himself as a professional actor at that point,” he said. “And I think it was a great joy for him at the end of his life to be thought of that way. So, I just sort of borrowed the guise and carried that affection toward, because I realized that everybody watching it would miss him. And it was a lovely thing to be asked to do.”
O’Brien clarified that his performance was not an imitation of Morris, but rather an effort to honor his memory. “I was asked basically to carry him forward, and I felt that’s what I did.”
Lisa Kudrow, Ella Stiller and Jack O’Brien in ‘The Comeback’ Season 3
King praised O’Brien’s approach, highlighting his “authenticity, and a gravitas, and a heart” that, while different from Morris’s, brought depth to the character: “We wanted Valerie to have someone with a heart, who saw her as a star, which is why the I’m It connection was important. He saw her as a star, still.”
King added that integrating this new character was crucial in helping Valerie process her grief. “Lisa didn’t even consider doing The Comeback once Michael died… He couldn’t be replaced. So, we came up with the idea that maybe Valerie hasn’t really felt it yet.”
Kudrow echoed this sentiment, stating, “Yeah, it felt very Valerie too, because it’s something that’s difficult, so it’s not happening.”
Morris had appeared alongside Kudrow since The Comeback’s premiere in 2005. Following its second season in 2014, the highly anticipated third season will air on Sundays at 10:30 PM ET on HBO and will also be available for streaming on HBO Max.
In this final season, Valerie takes on the lead role in a new sitcom titled How’s That?, which is being scripted by an AI program. As cameras once again follow her career journey, the actress faces the cultural challenges of Hollywood in 2026.
