"The Comeback" (2005) TV series

Creators:

Michael Patrick King
Lisa Kudrow
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

5 June 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Valerie Cherish was TV's IT Girl. Now IT's a different story.

Plot:

A one-time sitcom star (Kudrow) tries to resuscitate her career.

Plot Keywords:

Sitcom | Washed Up Star | Show Within A Show | Husband Wife Relationship | Hair Stylist

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Lisa Kudrow	...	Valerie Cherish (13 episodes, 2005)
Laura Silverman	...	Jane (13 episodes, 2005)
Damian Young	...	Mark Berman (13 episodes, 2005)
JT Alexander	...	Comeback Crew (13 episodes, 2005)
Craig DeSilva	...	Announcer (13 episodes, 2005)
Malin Akerman	...	Juna Millken (12 episodes, 2005)
Robert Michael Morris	...	Mickey Deane (12 episodes, 2005)
Robert Bagnell	...	Tom Peterman (11 episodes, 2005)
Lance Barber	...	Paulie G. (11 episodes, 2005)
Bayne Gibby	...	Gigi (8 episodes, 2005)
Kellan Lutz	...	Chris MacNess (8 episodes, 2005)
Jason Olive	...	Jesse Wood (8 episodes, 2005)
Kimberly Kevon Williams	...	Shayne Thomas (8 episodes, 2005)
Bill Escudier	...	Milo (7 episodes, 2005)
Tom Virtue	...	Eddie (7 episodes, 2005)
Nathan Lee Graham	...	Peter (6 episodes, 2005)
Vanessa Marano	...	Franchesca (6 episodes, 2005)

Series Directed by
Michael Patrick King		(4 episodes, 2005)
Michael Lehmann		(4 episodes, 2005)
Greg Mottola		(2 episodes, 2005)
David Steinberg		(2 episodes, 2005)

Series Writing credits
Michael Patrick King		(6 episodes, 2005)
Lisa Kudrow		(3 episodes, 2005)
John Riggi		(2 episodes, 2005)
Michael Schur		(2 episodes, 2005)
Linda Wallem		(2 episodes, 2005)

Series Produced by
Dan Bucatinsky	....	executive producer (13 episodes, 2005)
Eric M. Cyphers	....	associate producer (13 episodes, 2005)
Mickie Reuster	....	associate producer (10 episodes, 2005)
Michael Patrick King	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 2005)
Lisa Kudrow	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 2005)
Denis Biggs	....	producer (2 episodes, 2005)
Amy Harris	....	producer (2 episodes, 2005)
John P. Melfi	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 2005)
John Riggi	....	co-executive producer (2 episodes, 2005)
Michael Schur	....	co-producer (2 episodes, 2005)
Linda Wallem	....	co-executive producer (2 episodes, 2005)

Series Cinematography by
Nancy Schreiber		(12 episodes, 2005)

Series Film Editing by
Michael Berenbaum		(1 episode, 2005)
Darryl Bates		(unknown episodes)
David Rogers		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Elizabeth Barnes		(13 episodes, 2005)
Meg Liberman		(13 episodes, 2005)
Camille H. Patton		(13 episodes, 2005)

Series Production Design by
Kitty Doris-Bates		(1 episode, 2005)

Series Set Decoration by
Michele Poulik		(2 episodes, 2005)

Series Costume Design by
Tom Broecker		(3 episodes, 2005)

Series Makeup Department
Kristina Vogel	....	key makeup artist (13 episodes, 2005)
René Dashiell Kerby	....	key makeup artist / assistant makeup artist (12 episodes, 2005)
Candy L. Walken	....	hair stylist: Ms. Kudrow (12 episodes, 2005)
Brad Scott	....	key hair stylist (4 episodes, 2005)
Robin Siegel	....	makeup artist: Ms. Kudrow (3 episodes, 2005)
Leigh Ann Cho-Pitchon	....	assistant hair stylist (2 episodes, 2005)
Cyndra Dunn	....	key hair stylist (2 episodes, 2005)
Marianna Elias	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Leslie Waldman	....	unit production manager (2 episodes, 2005)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Colleen Casey	....	second second assistant director (12 episodes, 2005)
Adam Ben Frank	....	second assistant director (12 episodes, 2005)
Michael A. Allowitz	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 2005)
Eric Tignini	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 2005)

Series Art Department
James Torvinen	....	property master (12 episodes, 2005)
Pierre Gonzalez	....	swing set dresser (3 episodes, 2005)
Fernando Reinhard	....	swing set dresser (3 episodes, 2005)
Trevor Rudolph	....	swing set dresser (3 episodes, 2005)
Jeff Snyder	....	on-set dresser (3 episodes, 2005)
Jeff Tirado	....	leadman (3 episodes, 2005)
Donovan H. Miller	....	assistant property master (2 episodes, 2005)
Brock Helfer	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
John Benson	....	supervising sound editor (13 episodes, 2005)
Tim Chilton	....	foley artist (13 episodes, 2005)
Mark Cookson	....	sound effects editor (13 episodes, 2005)
Tamara Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer (13 episodes, 2005)
Mark Fay	....	boom operator (12 episodes, 2005)
Lawrence L. Commans	....	boom operator (7 episodes, 2005)
David Beadle	....	adr editor / dialogue editor (3 episodes, 2005)
David Hancock	....	mix assistant (2 episodes, 2005)
Mark Weingarten	....	sound mixer (2 episodes, 2005)
Tommy Goodwin	....	foley mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Tom Kendall	....	visual effects producer (6 episodes, 2005)

Series Stunts
Robert Alonzo	....	stunt performer / utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Oliver Keller	....	stunt grip (unknown episodes)
Boni Yanagisawa	....	utility stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Thomas Bango	....	first assistant camera (13 episodes, 2005)
David Irwin	....	rigging gaffer (13 episodes, 2005)
John R. Priebe	....	gaffer (13 episodes, 2005)
Calvin Starnes	....	best boy grip (13 episodes, 2005)
Steve Charnow	....	lamp operator (3 episodes, 2005)
Iain O'Higgins	....	best boy electric (3 episodes, 2005)
Rick Robertson	....	camera operator / camera operator: "a" camera / ... (3 episodes, 2005)
Joe Romeo	....	dimmer board operator / lamp operator (3 episodes, 2005)
Rob Abbey	....	video assist operator (2 episodes, 2005)
Marie Chao	....	second assistant camera (2 episodes, 2005)
C.E. Courtney	....	dimmer board operator (2 episodes, 2005)
Jesse Jareswsky	....	lamp operator (2 episodes, 2005)
Troy Kohrs	....	grip (2 episodes, 2005)
Andrew Lemon	....	second assistant camera / video camera engineer (2 episodes, 2005)
Jamie Maxtone-Graham	....	camera operator / camera operator: "b" camera (2 episodes, 2005)
John McKain	....	grip (2 episodes, 2005)
Michael Eaton	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Paul Horn	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Ryan Huston	....	rigging electrician (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Angi Burk	....	casting assistant / casting assistant: Los Angeles (3 episodes, 2005)
Kevin Goldson	....	extras casting (2 episodes, 2005)
Elizabeth Barnes	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barcie Waite	....	costume supervisor (3 episodes, 2005)
Lisa Wujick	....	key costumer (3 episodes, 2005)
Barbara Gordon	....	costumer (2 episodes, 2005)
Maurice Palinski	....	costumer (2 episodes, 2005)
Ivette Silberman	....	costumer (2 episodes, 2005)
Phyllis Corcoran-Woods	....	costume supervisor (unknown episodes)
Ric Spencer	....	costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Michael Zurer	....	first assistant editor (13 episodes, 2005)
Pankaj Bajpai	....	colorist (3 episodes, 2005)
Grace Naughton	....	post-production coordinator (3 episodes, 2005)
Dino Donofrio	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 2005)
Meghan Robertson	....	post-production assistant (2 episodes, 2005)
Jonathan Slater	....	on-line editor (2 episodes, 2005)
Richard Glazerman	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Deva Anderson	....	music consultant (13 episodes, 2005)
Delphine Robertson	....	music consultant (13 episodes, 2005)

Series Transportation Department
Michael Bangs	....	driver (2 episodes, 2005)
Tom Lyons	....	transportation captain (2 episodes, 2005)
Joel Renfro	....	transportation coordinator (2 episodes, 2005)
Lee Sanders	....	driver (2 episodes, 2005)
James Westdorpe	....	driver (2 episodes, 2005)
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Timothy Meehan	....	writers: assistant / production assistant to writer (13 episodes, 2005)
Julie Camino	....	production coordinator (12 episodes, 2005)
Maggi Solso	....	assistant location manager (12 episodes, 2005)
Jack Gutowitz	....	production assistant (10 episodes, 2005)
Jennifer Getzinger	....	script supervisor (5 episodes, 2005)
Jeremy Guzowski	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 2005)
Mike Tsucalas	....	set production assistant (3 episodes, 2005)
Cheryl Andryco	....	set production assistant (2 episodes, 2005)
Allison Belanger	....	assistant: Ms Kudrow (2 episodes, 2005)
John Flavin	....	assistant: Mr Melfi (2 episodes, 2005)
Helene Forman	....	production accountant (2 episodes, 2005)
Katie Lavery	....	production secretary (2 episodes, 2005)
Mel Ray Sandvik	....	assistant production accountant / first assistant accountant (2 episodes, 2005)
Anthony Steinhart	....	key set production assistant (2 episodes, 2005)
Jerri Whiteman	....	payroll (2 episodes, 2005)
Gabriel Ynda	....	assistant location manager (2 episodes, 2005)
Dan Burks	....	set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Lorenzo dela Rosa	....	additional set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Diane H. Newman	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Cristie Schoen	....	chef (unknown episodes)
John Trujillo	....	layout board (unknown episodes)
James William Visconti III	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Oorala J. Yamada	....	additional set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Christopher Zatta	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Home Box Office (HBO)
• Is or Isn't Entertainment
• Warner Bros. Television
• Working Class Films (I)

Distributors

• Home Box Office (HBO) (2005) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2005) (Canada) (TV)
• LivingTV (2006) (UK) (TV)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• LOOK! Effects (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Runway  post-production

Runtime:

USA:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Quotes:

Valerie Cherish: You see puppies, I see Korean barbeque!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: The Prodigal Daughter Returns (#6.9)" (2005)

Laughing all the way to the bank

Lisa Kudrow's HBO Special Series "The Comeback" is a rare hybrid that combines reality TV and satire directed to the television industry and the people behind the scenes.

Ms. Kudrow's persona of a dippy untalented actress pays off big time in her take of this larger than life personality she is portraying, Valerie Crash. She is hopeless, but what most people don't get it, the joke is on the viewer because this series wants to make it appear that way. In fact, Ms. Kudrow seems to know perfectly well what to give to her public, as shown in the different episodes we have seen.

"The Comeback" has some of the best writers working on television these days. The creators, Michael Patrick King and Michael Lehmann, direct with great style. They seem to know what goes on during the production of some of what we watch as comedy on television. The writing is pretty accurate and again, some great minds are behind this.

Ms. Kudrow seems to be having great fun with Valerie, a woman who has no clue about anything.