The Comeback Sparked Confusion as 2023 Strikes Played Out Near the WB Lot: People Were Honking Cars
The Season 3 premiere of The Comeback shines a light on the real-world Hollywood strikes, conveying genuine support despite the fictional context of the show.
Laura Silverman, reprising her role as documentarian Jane, recalled her experience on set, stating, “I drove to set that day. I brought my husband to visit for the first time, and he’s like, ‘Oh my god, there’s people picketing.’ And I was like, ‘Oh wait! No, that’s us.’”
Set in 2023, The Comeback features Valerie Cherish, played by Lisa Kudrow, as she navigates the pressures of supporting the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. Valerie’s internal struggles are highlighted against the backdrop of starring in a new sitcom written by AI. This season includes a cameo from former SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher.
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Dan Bucatinsky, returning as Valerie’s manager and co-producer Billy, noted the palpable atmosphere during filming: “Cars were honking the whole time.”
Michael Patrick King, co-creator alongside Kudrow, emphasized the community support, stating, “Every honk you hear is somebody going by, supporting whoever is striking in front of Warner Bros.”
In this final season, Valerie takes on the lead role in a new sitcom titled How’s That?, which is discreetly written by an AI program. Throughout the series, she once again faces the challenges of navigating Hollywood’s cultural landscape as reality show cameras follow her latest career moves.
First premiering in 2005, the mockumentary series returned for a second season in 2014. Season 3 will debut on Sunday at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO and will be available for streaming on HBO Max.
