The Comeback

Lisa Kudrow stars as Valerie Cherish, a self-absorbed former sitcom star who lets a camera crew document her attempt to kick-start her dormant career, in this satire of reality TV, Hollywood egos and insecurities, and the short shelf-life of celebrity. Playing the ever-smiling host, 40-year-old has-been Valerie is caught swallowing her pride on camera week after week, taking a supporting role in a raunchy, youth-skewing sitcom, and being demoted to embarrassing comic relief while a hot young actress (Malin Akerman) winds up with all the publicity and public focus. Sex and the City producer Michael Patrick King co-created the original show with Kudrow for HBO a decade ago, and the 2005 first (and only) season's 13 episodes were indifferently received, the series did earn three Emmy nominations. In 2014, Kudrow and King launched an eight-episode follow-up in which Valerie attempts to produce her own reality show (with a crew of amateurs and students) while landing a role playing a fictionalized (and highly unflattering) version of herself in a show that is based on the tempestuous behind-the-scenes action of her old sitcom. Valerie isn't particularly self-aware or considerate but is very tuned in to every slight and insult in her orbit. Ultimately, The Comeback is a rather vicious comedy series, a show business satire about a shallow narcissist willing to endure the worst emotional cruelties in order to feed her neediness. Extras include audio commentary with Kudrow and King, a behind-the-scene featurette, and deleted scenes. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)