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The Comeback

2005 – 2026Show3 seasons29 episodesTV-MA

ComedyDrama
77
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.9Metacritic687.8Rotten Tomatoes82%88%

A deeply moving, tense comedy series about show business and everyday modern life, with standout performances and characters.

Good for friends night · party vibe · binge-friendly

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, comfort or uplift.

Shows with

Episodes

3 seasons · 29 episodes · best: S2E8 "Valerie Gets What She Really Wants" 9.6

Episodes

8.0
8.7
8.4

Story

It's time to face reality.

For Valerie Cherish, no price is too high to pay for clinging to the spotlight. Desperate to revive her career, she agrees to star in a reality TV series, allowing cameras to follow her every move as she lands a part on a new network sitcom.

Feels like

  • Mockumentary Satire
  • Second-Wave Feminism Critique
  • Career Crisis Drama
  • Uncomfortable Comedy
  • Hollywood Meta-Commentary
  • Psychological Portrait
  • Sharp Dialogue
  • Existential Dread
  • Performance Art
  • Bittersweet Realism

Cast

24 of 79 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Michael Patrick King, Michael Lehmann, John Riggi
Written by
Michael Patrick King, Lisa Kudrow, John Riggi
Produced by
Amy Harris, Denis Biggs, Jonathan Ferrantelli

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

June 5, 2005 · May 10, 2026 · Ended

First aired
June 5, 2005
Last aired
May 10, 2026
Status
Ended
Length
3 seasons · 29 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Strong Language, Sexual Content, Drug Use
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
115 countries

Tropes

Face–Heel Turn, Genre Savvy, White-Dwarf Starlet +9

  • Face–Heel Turn
  • Genre Savvy
  • White-Dwarf Starlet
  • Vomit Indiscretion Shot
  • Rage Breaking Point
  • Drop-In Landlord
  • Breakup Breakout
  • Confession Cam
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold
  • Hypocrite
  • Jerk with a Heart of Jerk
  • Roommate Com

12 of 24 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Comeback?"

Questions about The Comeback

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Comeback?

HBO MaxSpectrum On Demand

In the United States, The Comeback streams on HBO Max and Spectrum On Demand. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 113 other countries.

Is The Comeback worth watching?

77
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 77 (IMDb 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes 82%, and Metacritic 68).

Does The Comeback get better after season 1?

Yes: season 1 has an IMDb average of 8.0, and season 2 peaks at 8.7. The highest-rated episode is Valerie Gets What She Really Wants (season 2, episode 8) at 9.6, and the lowest is Pilot (season 1, episode 1) at 7.4.

Will The Comeback make me laugh?

Very funny

Yes, a lot: the humor is mostly cringe comedy (10 of 10) and satire (9 of 10).

Is The Comeback plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (10 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does The Comeback use?

Face–Heel TurnGenre SavvyWhite-Dwarf StarletVomit Indiscretion ShotRage Breaking PointDrop-In LandlordBreakup BreakoutConfession CamJerk with a Heart of GoldHypocriteJerk with a Heart of JerkRoommate Comand 12 more

TV Tropes lists 24 tropes for it, including Face–Heel Turn, Genre Savvy, and White-Dwarf Starlet.